'^^^^:H.

^^^^^^^^^&^^^

WORKS ISSUED BY

Cijf

^^afelugt

^ocitt}).

HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES OR

SUMMER

ISLANDS.

No. I,XV.

C^hefe

arc the LitieS' tLitJJiiw thy ToCeihut tkcji

:

GrOCC and fflory, htyht^r hec (Tliy Faire-T>'ifcouer{es and, J^'owlc-Overmrcwes

*Tluitfhew thy

Of

Salyctacs,muck CivUlidd h/
thy Sirit;and
to it

tkcc-^S^-^
.

Bcjljhe^
.So.ikoiL

Glory (Wynk

art BrajFc widwut,hut (/oiaC Within^

THE

HISTOME OF THE BERMUDAES

SUMMEE ISLANDS.

EDITED,

JFvom a

IMS.

in

tfjc

Sloanc

(iToUfrtion, JSritisI^

fJluscum,

BY

GENERAL

SIR

J.

HENRY LEFROY,
;

R.A.,

C.B., K.C.M.G., F.ll.S., Etc.

TOBIIERLV GOVEKNOH OF THE BEBMUDAS;

AUinOR OF "MEMOEIALS op the DISCOVBBY and EAELY SlilTLEMENI OF THE SEBMUSAS OB SOMEBS ISLANDS''.

LONDON
PRINTED FOR THE IIAKLIYT SOCIETY.
MDCCOLXXXIS.

T.

BICUAHDS, PBINTER,

37, OREA.T

QUEEN

STRF,ET,

W.C.

C!)e

l^afelupt

^oeietp.

REPORT FOR

1882.

Since the last Report was submitted to the Members of the

Hakluyt Society, the Council has been able

volumes, which, with the three volumes
will

to issue

two

now
up

in the press,
to the

meet the just demands

of subscribers

end of

the present year.

The following vohimes were issued

year

to

members during the

1881 :
of William Baffin, 1612-1622.
Edited,

The Voyages

with Notes. and an Introduction, by Clements R. Markham,

C.B.,

r.RS.

The

Narrative
by

of

the

Portuguese

Embassy

to

Abyssinia,

Father Francisco Alvarez.

Translated

and Edited by Lord Stanley of Alderley.

And
hands:

the

three

following volumes

are

in

the

printer's

History of Bermuda (MS.

in the

British
J.

Museum,
Lefroy,

Sloane 750).

Edited by Lieut. -General Sir

Henry

K.C.M.G., C.B.

107225

Voyages of John
East
Indies.

Huigen van

Linschoten

to

the

Edited by Arthur Burnell, Esq., C.I.E., Ph.D.

Manuscript

Diary of Eichard

Cock,

Chief of the

English Factory in Japan, 1615-1622.

Thompson, Esq.

Edited by E. M.

Besides the volumes actually in the press, four others have

been undertaken by Editors.

It is satisfactory to find that the Society maintains the

average number of

its

Members, and indeed shows a conThere are

siderable increase in the last ten years.

now
is

234.

The

practical usefulness of the Society's

volumes

always

a source of gratification to Members, and special instances

of their value have, on several occasions, been noticed in

previous Eeports.

This year

it

has been brought under the

notice of the Council that the volumes relating to South

America have proved of very considerable assistance

to

Dr. Hayes of Boston, in the preparation of an exhaustive

article

on " The Alpaca and

its

Congeners", published in the

Bidldin of the American Association of Wool Manufacturers

for 1881.

The following three Members

retire

from the Council

;

Admiral Sir Eichard Collinson, K.C.B.

E. A.

Bond, Esq.
Esq., F.E.S.
for election
:

Augustus W. Franks,

and the following gentlemen are proposed

Captain Lindesay Brine, E.N.

B. F. Stevens, Esq.
J.

Wise, Esn,, M.D.

COUNCIL
THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.

COLOXEL H. YULE,
ADiiiBiL C. R.

C.B., Phesidkxt.
1 >
(.1

lUNE, C.B. DRINKWATER BETHUNE, MiJOE-GEXEEiL Sib HENRY RAWLIXSON, K.C.B.

Vice-Peesidknts.

W.

A.

TYSSEN AMHERST,
BADGER,

Esq., M.P.

Rev. De. G. P.
J.

D.C.L.

BARROW,

Esq., F.R.S.
Esq., F.S.A.
.

WALTER DE GRAY BIRCH,

Captain
E. H.

LINDESAY BRINE,
Esq.

R.N.

BUNBURY,

The Eabl of DUCIE,

Capiaut

F.R.S.

HANKEY,
J.

R.N.
C.B.,

Geneeai, Sie
R. H.

HENRY LEFROY,
Esq., F.S.A.

K.C.M.G.

MAJOR,

REAE-ADiiiBAL
E.

MAYNE,

C.B.

DELilAR MORGAN,

Esq.
C.B., F.R.S.

Admibal Sik Loed

ERASMUS OMMANNEY,
M.P.

ARTHUR RUSSKLL,
STEVENS,
Esq.

The Loed STANLEY, or Aldeblet.

B. F.

EDWARD THOMAS, Esq., F.R.S. LiEiTT.-GEir. Sie HENRY THUILLIER,

J.

C.S.I., F.R.S.

WISE,

Esq., M.D.

C.

R.

MABKHAM,

Esq., C.B., F.R.S.,

Honoeaby Secbetaky.

DEDICATION.

HON. JOHN HARVEY DARRELL,

BERMUDAS.

C.M.G.,

LONG THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL AND NOW AN EX-CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE

My

dear Mr. Darrell,

I

avail myself

of

privilege of authorship

not yet

entirely obsolete, to dedicate this

volume

to

you

as pre-eminently

the representative not only of the ancient English stock of our

oldest Plantation,

and the guardian of

its

best traditions, but also

of all that

it

has produced of eminence and distinction in the

present century.

The hope that one whom

I so

highly respect

would appreciate this further contribution to the history of his

native country, has been no small inducement to

me

to under-

take the task

now brought

to a conclusion.

With

sincerest regard

and esteem,
I

am, yours,
J.

H.

LEFROY.

June

1,

1882.

1)2

ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait of Captain John Smith

To face

Title

Map

of Bermuda, 1623

Portrait of Sir George Sommers

11

Vignette of Sir George Sommers' Loadstone

305

INTEODUCTION.

The volume, now

for the first time printed, forms

part of the Sloane

MSS.

in the British

Museum,

No. 750, and consists in the original of 363 pages

of closely written foolscap, exclusive of

some docu-

ments bound up with

hand.

it,

but written in a different

There

is

no Title-page or date, and no clue

to its authorship from beginning to end, except

is

what

supported by a very sparing introduction of the

personal pronoun, and by an

amount of

internal

evidence which leaves no doubt in the Editor's mind

that

we have here an unpublished work

of Captain
indi-

John Smith, the historian of Virginia

vidual of

the
most

whom

it

has been said, with

much
the

justice,

that

"he has

for nearly three centuries

maintained
dis-

the

unparalleled

honour

of being

tinguished

member

of the most
all

numerous family
however

(patronymically speaking) of

the tribes of men".^

is,

Well established as Smith's reputation

it rests

rather on the intrinsic interest of the subjects

on which he wrote, and the debt of gratitude we owe

to

him

as the editor, compiler,

and preserver of the

narratives of other men, than on the quantity of his

^

Allibone's Dictionary of English

Literatui-e,

etc.,

1870,

s.v.

Smith, John.

11

INTRODUCTION.
writings,

own

any addition to which must be acceptIn

effect,

able to his admirers.

the present work

needs no recommendation, for though the theatre of

the events described was a small one, and the Ber-

and could not possibly have, maintained the prominent place before the world which
not,

mudas have

they occupied on their

style of his narrative,

first

plantation, the graphic

and the vivid picture he gives

life in

of the social conditions of

his day,

have attractions

for those

who

delight to

must always throw them-

selves into the past,

ideas,

and to contrast

its habits, its

and its aspirations, with what succeeding centuries have brought forth. The MS. terminates abruptly with the trial of one

Thomas Harriott

of

Southampton

Tribe,

at

the

Assizes of 1622, and the appointment of Mr. John

Yates, to be Captain of Southampton Fort, and there
is

added, in a different hand, this important note.

"And
it.

here

it

urns the will of

God

to taJie

out of this ivorld

the writer of this Historye, hee intendinge

But as I hove heard from the last mouth^ the Comyanye of Adventurers Englande, accordinge to theire uwnted cavalUnge manner with preceedinge Gouernours, jplayed fast and loose w\th him as with the rest, and though hee stayed his full tyme at the Somers Islands, and tooke much care and paines, not only in the orderinge the strentheninge of the chiefe forts, plantinge of necessary es, and doeinge

a further progress, in merdioned Gouernours

ivhat possibly could he done in the Infancy of this pAantaiion, butt alsoc in establishinge honest and co7ivenient Laives for the

The

*'

last

mentioned Gouernour"
271.

is

Captain Nathaniel Butler,

See

appointed 1G19, and superseded about November 1622.

my

Memorials of Jkrmuda,

i,

p.

INTRODUCTION.

Ill

good of the place, ijett, he hath reticrned with very little profitt or thanks more from that ungrateful Company then those that
were hefure him."

From the

great prominence given to

Captain

Nathaniel Butler's sayings and doings in this History,

and from a note at the end of a chapter in the Fifth Book of Smith's History of Virginia, " collected out of their Kecords by N. B., and the relations of Mr. Pollard and diuers others", it might be hastily concluded that Butler was the author of the work but
;

the above extract clearly implies the contrary.

He

may have

furnished

Smith with the

collections in

question, or they

may have been

furnished by the
first

Rev. Nathaniel Bernard, one of the

ministers,

whose
Smith.

initials

are the same; but Butler long survived

(old)

He was Governor of

Providence Island,^

1638-1641, and appears to be the individual

dispersing treasonable and scandalous books,
1649.1

who was
for

committed to Newgate by the Council of State

in

June

He omitted to inform the

writer of the note quoted,

full

that although "he stayed his

time on the Island",

it

perhaps, or within a few days of it, he quitted

irregularly

very

and contrary to

his instructions, before

the arrival of his successor, and being the nominee

of

the

Court party, with which the commercial

element of the

Company was
by
Sir

at feud, he fared as one

or the other got the

upper hand.

In 1622, the comSandys, was in the

mercial party, led

Edwyn

ascendant.
1

Cat.

Sta. Catalina of

Dom. Papers, 1649-50, p. 208. some modern charts.

IV

INTRODUCTION.

The baptismal

register of Captain

John Smith

is

preserved at Willoughby, Lincoln.

"John, the son of

6th Jan-

George Smith, was baptized the sixth day of January

1.579."

That

is

to say, as

we now compute,

uary 1580.
actively

He

died on 21st June 1631, aged about

half,

fifty-one years
still

and a

rather unexpectedly, being

engaged on literary labour.

to erect

He had pub-

lished in that year his Advertisements; or,

Experience

Pathway of a Pkmtation^, in which he refers

in

to a History of the

Sea on which he was engaged

terms rather implying a conscious failure of strength.

" It
is

hard to conceive whether those inhumanes"

(tyrants
forrest,

and persecutors) "exceed the beast of the

the birds of the
aire,

the fishes of the sea,

either in numbers, greatnesse, swiftnesse, fiercenesse

whose actions and varieties, with such memorable observations as I have collected, vou shall
or
cruelty,

find with admiration in

my

God

be

pleased I live to finish

History of the Sea, if it.'' His last Will,

dated the same year, has been printed by Mr. Charles

Deane, in the Proceedings of the Massachussetts

Historical Society for 1867.

We

can scarcely sup-

pose that the present unfinished work, expressly entitled a History of

Bermuda, was any part of the

is

intended History of the Sea, but there

in the supposition that he
^

no

difficulty

had both works on hand.

New England
experience to erect a Plantation,

Advertisements for the unexperienced Planters of

;

or anywhere

or the

Pathway of

with the yearely x>roceedings of this Cottntry in Fishing and Planting

since the yeare 1614, to the yeare 1630,

and

their present estate,

etc.

By

Captain John Smith, sometimes Governour of Virginia, and

Admirall of

New

England.

London, 1631.

p. 26.

INTRODUCTION.

The

fulness of detail,

and the great prominence given

lost all their

to particulars as men's
political
I,

which

importance as soon
in the great

minds began to be absorbed

and religious struggles of the reign of Charles

it

preclude the idea that

was written much

it

after

1631.

The prominent
left

place given in

to Butler

marks
sonage

his influence in the composition,

but that per-

August or September 1619, and the writer was at home, and a member of the Virginia Company, when Sir Edwyn Sandys was Treasurer (1619-20), for, he says (p. 248) he was " noe less passionate than when I heard him, being Treasurour of the Virginia Company, for one only
England
in

yeare, to tearme the whole

Company

uniuste".^

This

is

the fact as regards Smith,

who returned

from
left

New England in 1617, and appears not to have it again. He was certainly at home when the

news arrived of the massacre of the settlers in Virby the Indians, 27th March 1622, as he offered himself to the Council of Virginia to go out and avenge it. Butler, on the contrary, left England for the Somers Islands, as just observed, about August
ginia,

1619, and cannot have returned before 1623, for he

left

Bermuda in October 1622 and went first to America.^ But there is even stronixer confirmation
^

Sir

Edwin Sandys was

this

elected Governor, April 28th, 1619.

"

Much about

time arrived a small barke of Barnestable,

which had been at the

Butler,

Summer lies, and

in her

Captain Nathaniel

who hauing beene Gouernor

there three yeares, and his

commission expired, he tooke the opportunity of this ship to see

Virginia,

At James Towne he was kindly entertained by

Sir

Francis Wvat, the Gouernor.

After he had rested there fourteene

VI

INTRODUCTION.

of Smith's authorship in the minute coincidences of

this

work with

his account of

Bermuda
first

in

Book

of his Generall History of Virginia,

pubhshed in

1624, which are so numerous as to show beyond a

was written subsequently to that pubHcation, and based on the same materials, an amplification, in fact, of the same narrative, with such fuller particulars and occasional corrections as were likely
doubt that
it

to

come

into his hands.

In Smith's lifetime no one

could have done this but himself.

Smith never was

in

Bermuda, he derived

all his

information from his opportunities as a

member

of

the Virginia Company, and from correspondence, or

personal narratives of returned planters.
his habitual way.
ties

This was
of authori-

And

the following

list

he quotes, will show how extensive his docu-

mentary materials were.

A List
to

"History of Virginia'^

of Authorities quoted by Captain John Smith, in his b signifies a reference (edit. 1626/

Bermuda.

Abbott, Jeffrey

...

83

INTRODUCTION.
PAGE

Vll
PAGB

Council of Virginia
Dale, Sir T.
.

109

Pots, Rich.

94
.

.116

Powell, Nath.

Davies, Jno.

.95
.174
.

Robinson, Edw.
Rolfe, J.
.

66,121 202
.

Evens, Juo. (b)

116, 125, 127

Feutou, R.
G.

P
.

50 94
121

Rosier, James,

1605 1603
(b)

20
59
18

Russell, Walter Salterae, Rob.,

Shelly, Henry,

Gurganey, Edw.

Hamor, Mr. Ralph Harlow, Capt. Edw. Harriugon, Edw. Heriot, Thos., 1585
Jordan, Master^

110, 116
.
.

.174
106

204
12

Simmons, W., D.D., W.S.

Smith, John
Sparkes, Thos.

.50
.
.

21, 39, 227, 244

(

.191
50,

(b)

174
9

Studley,Thos. (the

first Cape

IS
Layne, Ralph

...
.

50-248

Mei'chant in Virginia)

54

Tankard, W.,
Todkill,

.94
.

La Ware,

Lord, 1611

May, Henry, (b) N. B. (b) Momford, Thos.

.

.110 ,173
.

Anas

54, 59, 66, 83

Whitbourue, Capt. Chas.

White, Jno., 1589
Virginia
of
.

244

190
59

.16

Council,
. .

Letters

Phittiplace,

W.
.

83

Pollard, Mr. (b)

190

Wyffin, Rich.

109,139, 140 . 83, 96

.

Pory, John

.141
in pencil with a bracket,
in the

The

initials

W.C. written

thus, "]

W.C." occur nine or ten times

MS. they
;

are those of the Author of the " Epistle Dedicatorie"

to the Discovery of the

Barmvdas, now called

to Sir

mer Hands, 1613, addressed

which
is

the SomThomas Smith;

identical in text

with the Discovery of the

Barmudas
Sil.

otherwise called the

He

of Devils,

etc.,

by
is

Jourdan, 1610.

He

is

supposed to have been

(Neill, p. 54)

Dr.

Wilham Crashaw, D.D.

and there

nothing very improbable in the idea that the MS.

may have been hand, they may

gotten copyist.
^

overlooked by him.

On

the' other
for-

be simply the notations of some

Probably Sylvester Jourdan, page

to Sir

Thomas

Gates.

VIU

INTRODUCTION.

Smith's literary success bore no proportion to his

diUgence.

The Prospectus

of his History of Vir:

ginia concludes with these words

" These observations ai-e all I have for the expense of a thousand pound, and the losse of eighteene yeeres of time, beside all the travels, dangers, miseries and incumberances
for

my

countries good, I have endured gratis, and had I not

discouered and liued in the most of these parts, I could not

possibly have collected

the substantiall trueth from such

an

infinite

number

of variable Relations that would

make

composed of less than eighty sheetes, besides the three Maps, which will stand me neere in an hundred pounds, which some I cannot disbursse, nor shall the Stationers have the coppy for Therefore I humbly entreat your Honour^ either nothing. to adventure, or giue me what you please towards the impression, and I will be both accountable and thankfull not doubting but that the Story will give you satisfaction, and stirre up a doubly new life in the adventurers, when they shall see plainely the causes of all those defailements and
volume of
at least a

thousand sheetes, and this

is

how

they

may be am ended. -"^

:

Elsewhere he says "Though I had divulged, to

my

great labour, cost, and losse, more than seven thousand

bookes and maps, and moved the particular companies in London, as also noblemen, gentlemen and

merchants, for a Plantation,

to

all

availed no more than

fresh were the

hew
^

rocks with oister-shels, so

No

individual

the patron canvassed.

'*

See Prospectus of

lies,

The General I/istori/ of Virginia., the Somer and New England, with the names of the Adveuturei'S,
first

and the Adventures, from their

beginning

1584-,

to this

present 1G33, giving an Index or Table of contents."

Broadsides,

1623-49, Library of Society of Antiquaries, pp.

4.

INTRODUCTION.
living abuses of Virginia

IX
lies in

and the Summer

their memories."^

Posterity has, however, been more kind.

I subjoin

an eloquent tribute to his memory, boi'rowed from a

source where
to find
"
it.

we should perhaps have

little

expected

The

little

inus, A.D.

book of Antoninus (Marcus Aurelius Anton121-180) has been the companion of some great

men. Machiavelli^s Art of War, and Marcus Antoninus, were the two books which were used, when he was a young man,

by Captain John Smith, and he could not have found two and a man. Smith is almost unknown and forgotten in England, his native country, but not in America, where he saved the young Colony of Virginia. He was great in his heroic mind and his deeds of arms, but still greater in the nobleness of his character. For a man's greatness lies not in wealth and
writers better fitted to form the character of a soldier
station,

as the vulgar believe,

nor yet in his intellectual

capacity, which is often associated with the

meanest moral
high places,

character, the

most abject
to

servility to those in
:

and arrogance
greatness
life,

the poor and lowly

but a man's true

lies in the consciousness of an honest purpose in founded on a just estimate of himself and everything else, on frequent self-examination, and a steady obedience

to the rule which he

himself, as the

knows to be right, without troubling Emperor says he should not, about what
says and does."-

others
that

may

think or say, or whether they do, or do not do

which he thinks and

less

Not

gratifying to Smith's

admirers

is

the

genuine appreciation of Alexis de Tocqueville, himself pre-eminently qualified to value the

^
-

breadth of

Smith, Advertisements,

etc.,

sub 1618-19-20.

The Thoughts of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, ti-anslated by. George Long, M.A., 1875. Bohn.

X.

INTRODUCTION.
large
prescience,

view, the
tone,

and the manliness of

for

which characterize his writings, and atone

his unpolished style.

" Le premier de tons son fondateur,

le

les historiens cle la

Virginie est

Capitaiue Jean

Smith.

Le Capitaine
:

un volume in 4 intituld The general and New England, by Captain John Smith, sometime Governor in those countryes and Admiral (Ce volume of New England, imprime k Londres en 1627. se trouve 4 la Bibliotheque royale). L^ouvrage de Smith

Smith nous a

laisse

History of Virginia

est orne de cartes et de gravures tres curieuses, qui datent

du temps

oil il

a etd imprime.

depuis I'annee 1584 jusqu'en 1626.

estimd et merite de

I'etre.

Le rdcit de I'historien s'etend Le livre de Smith est L'auteur est un des plus celebres
le siecle plein

aventui'iers qui aient

la
fin

paru dans
:

d'aventures a

duquel

il

a vecu

le livre

lui-meme respire cette

ardeur de decouvertes, cet esprit d'entreprise qui caracterisaient les

hommes

d^alors

on y retrouve ces moeurs cheva-

leresques qu'on melait au negoce, et qu'on faisait servir a

Facquisition des richesses. " Mais ce qui est surtout remarquable dans le Capitaine

Smith,

c'est qu'il

mele aux vertus de ses contemporains des

le

qualites qui sout restees (^trangeres a la plupart d'enti-e eux;

son style est simple et net, ses recits ont tous

la v^rite, ses descriptions ne sont point ornees.

cachet de

" Cet auteur jette sur I'etat des Indiens a I'dpoque de la decouverte de FAmdrique du Nord des lumiferes precieuses.''^
I

have retained the orthography of the

is

original,

which

sometimes sufficiently quaint, partly for

us were

convenience of comparison with those parts of Smith's

History of Virginia which, he expressly

" writ with his
1

tells
ii

owne hand,"
;

chiefly

Books

and

vi.

Be

la

Democratie en Amerique
i,

par A. de

Tocqueville, Paris,

1864.

Tome

p.

298.

(note f.)

INTRODUCTION.

XI

The resemblance
for

in the spelUng

perhaps does not go

much, but

it

will be apparent at once

on turning

to that work.

The resemblance

in the tone,

when

he

is

referring to the factions that divided the Vir-

ginia

Company, and marred their great

enterprise, to

the greed and shortsightedness of the trading ele-

ment, and to the aspirations of the Colonists for a

larger

measure of self-government,

is

even

more

striking,
turer,

and very and valiant

characteristic of the bold advensoldier,

whose name

I venture,

with considerable confidence, to connect with this

volume.
I

have abstained from many references to

my premay

vious work, the Memorials of

Bermuda

but

remark generally that the present History, while

travelling over
goes, supplies

much

of the

same ground, as

far as it

some defects of that work,

especially as

to the Assizes of 1621-1622.^

1

am

greatly indebted to Miss Bellamy of Plyfor permission to

mouth,
original

engrave for this volume an

and unpublished portrait of Admiral Sir George Sommers, which she has inherited from her
ancestor, Dr. Bellamy, M.D.,

who was connected with

Sommers family.^ The darkened condition of the picture made it impossible to obtain a photothe
graph, but a faithful copy has been produced by an
^ Memorials of the Discovery and Early Settlement of the Bermudas or Somers Islands, 1515-1685. 2 vols. Longmans, 1877-79. 2 The name is spelt by Smith, in his History of Virginia, gener-

ally 'Somers',

sometimes 'Summers',

in this

work 'Sommers'.
'Somers.'

In

the parish register of

ally,

Lyme

Regis,

and

in Sirachy's Narrative, gener-

'Summers.'

The modern official form is

Xll

INTRODUCTION.

excellent amateur artist, Lieut. -Colonel B. A. Branfil,

late 86tli

Kegiment,

whom

have to thank for tak-

ing

much

trouble to do justice, in this likeness, to

one of England's greatest naval worthies.

J.

H. Lefroy.

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES OH SUMMER ISLANDS.

Lib.

I a.d.

1609.

Before we present you with the relation of matters of fact, it is fitt to offer to your vewe the stage wheron they wer For (it is well sayd) as geography without historye acted.
seemeth a carkasse without motion, so history without

geography wandreth as a vagrant without certaine habitation.^

The

ilands of the

Bermudaes, therfore^

lieing in a

huge

maine ocean, and two hundred leauges from any continent,

not farr from the mouth of the bay of Mexico, are situated in

32 degrees and 25 minutes of northerlye latitude, and are

distant from

England

to the west south-west

3300 miles or

there abouts, being in an equall eleuation with that of the

Holy Land, and

in perticuler very nere with the very citty

is
all

of Jerusalem, which

a clime of ye sweetest and most

others, especially

pleaseinge temper of

when

the naturall

heates are somewhat moderated by accidents of coolenesse,

as here is

by an open and maine ocean.^

inletts of sea,

They

consist of

diuers small broken ilands severed one from another by

narrowe breaches and

wherby are made many

;

necessary sandy bayes for the anchorage of botes

two comand two

modious and large soundes

for the vse of fishinge,

Verbatim from the beginning of the Fifth

Historie of Virginia,
''

New

England, and

the

Book of the Generall Summer Islands, 1624, p. 169.

an afterthought, not found B

This comparison with the Holy Land

is

in the History of Virginia.

THE HlSTOnYE OF THE BERMUDAES

Lieing thus together they become in
sickle^

excellent harbours.

forme not much vnlike a reaper's

being in their

whole longitude from east to west not aboue twentye miles English in the latitude (wher most extended) not fully two
;

and a and two

lime
in

halfe

the surface and outwarde posture of the whole

lieing altogether vneuen,

dales.

and distributed into smale

hills

As

for the soyle, the inner-most part of it is of

sortes, either a whitish soft rock, not

much

different

from our English marie, or a craggie hard rock whereof

is

made, the vppermost a light sandy mould, of coulour

in

some places whitish,

some redd, and

in others

brown,
store of

the which by

a naturall production affords great varietye of

tall

symples

many

and goodly coders,

infinite

palmitoes,

numbers

of mulberrie trees, wild

oliues,

very

many, with diuers others of unknowen both name and

vertue, whei'by (as yet) they

become not only namelesse,

in-

but

lost to

many

vsefull

employments, which time and

;

dustry noe doubte will one day discouer

and already cer-

taine of them, since the comeinge in of the

newe

guests,
effects,

haue gotten them appellations from their apparent

ground, with broad thick leaves,

as the prittle peare, the which growes like a shrub by the

all

ouer armed, with long

fruict

and sharpe dangerous thornes, the

not

being

in

forme

much

vnlike a smale peare, greene on the onside, but

full

inwardly reddish and

of juice, with grains not

much
;

vnlike a pomegranate; as likewise the poysonous weed, being

in shape but
little

different

from our English yuie

but

being touched causeth reddnesse, itchinge, and

ters, the

lastly blys-

which, howsoever, after a while they passe awaye of

;

themselues without further harme

yet because for the time

it

they are somewhat painefull, and in aspect dangerous,

hath gotten to

itselfe

an

ill

name, although questionlesse of

noe very
'

ill

nature.^
referred to
is

The plant

Rhu.-i foxico/lenJron, still

commonly

callod

the poison ivy.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

Now, besides

thes naturall productions of the earth, pro-

uidence and paines haue since the plantation ofFred diuers

other seedes and plants

which the soyle hath greedily

Hence, at the
pi'esent, are their

embrased and cherished.

a

great aboundance of figge-trees,

numbers

of plantans,

plenty of pome-granates,
trees,
trees,

many vines, orange and lemon wild olives, very many and great store of mulberrie goodly tobacco, and store of corne (I mean Indian
by ouer vnall

corne, for the Christian proues not as yet had,

kindnesse of the ground runnes

other proffitable rootes,

to grasse), besides

many

as an infinite quantitie of white,

redd, and orange-couloured potatoes, sugar canes, indicoe,

per-snipps,

exceedeinge

great

radishes,

the

Americane
what-

bread-roote, cassnda, the Indian

pompion, water-melons,
:

musk-melons, and the delicate pine-apple

soever els

briefly,

may

(in this

kind) be expected for the satisfaction

either of necessitye or delight.

Neither hath the ayre for her part bin wantinge, with

due supplies of many sortes of foules

greene plouer;

as the graye

and

some

ducks, and mallards, red-pshancks,

sea-wigeons, graye bitturnes, cormorants, the white and

graye heme, great store of sparrowes and robins (which

haue

lately bin destroyed

by the

catts),

woodpeckers, very

many crowes (who

newe
sight of

for a while overboldly

wonderinge at the

men) many of them findinge the cost of their

curiositie, the rest are

now flowne away, and seldome

scene,

only some few are sometimes found in the most solitary

partes, from whence, notwithstandinge they are generally

obserued to take their flight to

se,

about the sunnes settinge,

;

allwayes directinge their course to the north-west

whence

many

(not improbably) conjecture that

some vnknowen iland

and a smale

lieth out that

waye

nott farr of here are also, sometimes

of the yeare, faulcons, and farfalcons, osprayes,

kind of hawke, in shape and plume like a sparrow-hawke,

but larger winged, and hoofers for her praye, like a cay-

4
strell,

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

but thes being but seldome found, are
(iustly)

thought

to be only passengers.

But aboue

all

thes,

most deseruinge

obseruation and respect are thoes two sortes of birdes, the

one (from the tune of his voice), the other (from the
called the cahowe^

effect),
last,

and egge-bird;^ of the which thes

first

arriueinge with the

of the spring,

vpon the

first

of

May, a day constantly kept, falls a layeinge infinite store of egges, vpon certaine smale sandy ilands reserued for them
so
;

and so continue

all

that monethe, being

all

the while

tame and

fearelesse that they suffer themselues,

with

much many

adoe, to be thrust of their egges, the which, notwithsitt

standinge they laye and

vpon promiscuously

so that

thousandes of egges (being as bigge as hen's egges)

are yearely eaten, and

stricte inhibition,

many more would

it is

be,

but that by
(for

they are preserved.

For the cahowe

all

so soundes his voice),

a night bird, and

the daye

long

lies

hidd in holes of the rocks, whence both themselues

and

their

young are
I

in great

numbers extracted with

of

ease,

and proue

(especially the

young) so pleaseinge in a dish, as

ashamed

am

to

tell,

how many dosen

them haue bin

ther are

deuoured by some one of our northern stomachs, euen at

one only meale.
also,

which are

Some few other kindes of foule unknowen in our partes as the

;

tropick

birde,

which

is

as large as a pullett, in coulour white, with

in the tayle,

one only very long feather

(as I think)

and hath

its

name

by reason

it is

neuer scene, either to the north-

ward or southward,
of

far distant
is,

from one of the two tropicks.

Another smale birde ther

the which, by some ale-hanters

London
in

sent oner hether, hath bin

termed the pimresemblance putts

her note

plicoe,^ for so they

imagine (and a
place
so

little

them

mind of a articulates and this

;

dearely

beloued),

also, for the

most

part, is a bird of the

Cahow.
Egg-bird
Fimplieoe.

Puffinus obscurus,
;

dusky shearw.ater.

*
^

probably a teru.
Fiiulico, a

well-known place of resort near Hogsdeu,

OR SUMMER ISLANDS,
niglit,

and wlieusoeuer she sings

is

too true a prophett of

are the natiues of the

black and foule weather.

And

tlies

ayre; to which haue bin added, by the late inhabitants, great store of turkeys, and aboundance of cocks and hens,

which eueiy daye growe wilde; numbers of tame chicks,

and some fewe geese and house-pigeons ; but thes

like not so well, for

last

two
kill

by some disagreeinge foode they

the
field

themselues.
bulls, ther are

As

for the beasts of

cowes

and

which prosper exceedingly; hogges (wherof

some fewe

wilde) in great

numbers

Indian and English

goates likewise, but of noe great hope, for (like the pigeons)

they also are found dead and dieinge in euery corner

lastly,

and,

there are a late great increase of tame conyes, the

which, being reserued in certaine empaled places about the

houses, are ther fedd with the potatoe slipps, and other

simples natiue of the place, the

which they eate very

Concerning vermin, and

greedely

they fare well

withall.'^

noysome

creatures,

many
it

ther are not, only ratts and catts

(and you will think

famous
prietor.

strange thes two should stand toprobably

for

cakes

and

ale

named from

its

first

pro-

Lovewit.

" Gallants,

men and women

And

of all sorts, tag-rag, been seen to flock here

In threaves, these ten weeks, as to a second Hogsdea In days of Pimlico and Eye bright." The Alchemist, 1610, Act
Sir Lionel.
v, sc.

i.

" I have sent

my

daughter this morning as far

As

Pimlico, to fetch a draught of

Derby

ale,

that

it

May

fetch a colour in her cheeks."

Tu

Qiioque, 1614.

place of entertainment of the

it

same description near Chelsea borto the district.

rowed the name, and bequeathed

Virginian
peculiar
1

Captain Savile Reid, R.E., conjectures the bird to have been the
Partridge,

Ortyx

Virginiana,

the

male of

which has a

call.
is

This great increase of conies

of date subsequent to 1624, perhaps

attested

by the name Coney

Island.

Rabbits are kept now, but not in

uumbere to

affect the bill of fare.

THE HISTOKYK

01'

THli

BKUMUDAES
flies

gether) are too

common

the moscitoes and

also are
called,

somewhat over
by a Spanish
into chestes

busie, with a certain Indian

bngge

appellation, a caca-roche,^ the which, creepeinge

and boxes, eate and

all

defile

with their dung (and

;

thence their Spanish name)

wise the
litle
;

they meet with

as doe likein infinite

aunt, which are in the

summer time

wormes in the earth, and mould also, ther are but too many (but of them we shall saye somewhat more by and by), as likewise the grass-hopper, and a certaine
numbers
sommer-singinge
ingale and cukoe),
gi'eat
flie,

the sure token of the

esta-

blished springe (and in that respect as the English night-

whose loud note very much resemblinge

the whirle of a spindle, hath caused herselfe thereby to be

called the good-huswife.^

For venemous creatures ther are

certaine spiders,

none

at all

knowen

the serpent, snake, adder, toade, nor

;

any of those kindes wer euer seene there

but insteade of

indeed, of a very large size, are found hangeinge vpon the

trees
;

beinge dangerous, or any way

harmefull (as in other places), they are hei'e of a most

pleasinge and beautifuU aspect,
all

over, as
their

it

were, deckt
in

with
the

siluer,

gold,

and perle
trees) are

and

webbs (woven
silck,

sommer vpon
in

found to be perfect

and
so

that as well

respect of substance as coulour, and

stronge they are generally, that birds bigger, and by

much

stronger than sparrowes, are often taken and snarled in

them

as in netts.
all

But aboue
as

the rest of the elements the sea

liberall to thes islands
;

is

found

most aboundantly

hence haue they

easily

much

excellent fish

and of a much varietye most

;

taken as any place in the world

the most of which being

partes, haue lately gotten

vnknowen

to our

more northerly

them names,
'

either from their shapes or conditions, as the

is

Evidently the origin of Cockroach, which

Fidiccna lilnccn,

not from Cock, pace

Mr. Stormouth.
^

now

called Scissors-rjnndcr.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
large rock
fish,
;

from his like hewe^ and hauutiuge amouug

fish^

the rockes

the fatte hogge

(for this is
;

from his swine-like shape

and snoute and smell

not the old

knowen hogge
fish^

fishe

with

prickles on his back)

;

the delicate amber

;

from his tast

angell fish

cony

fish^
;

the smale yellowe tayle,

from that naturall painteinge

the great grouper, from his

odde and strange gruntinge

of

with many other kindes, some

them knowen

to the

Americans only, as the porguise, the

cavallo,

the garrfish; the rest in

common
the

to

them with

other continents, as they are in parallel with them, as the

whale,

the

sharke, the
;

pilote

fish,

sea-bream e, the
tortoise,

oyster, the lobster

and, for the amphybians, the

with diners other tedeous to reherse.^

briefly ej)itomized

And

thus haue you

this

mother natures beneficence towards

it

spott of earth.

Neither wer

ingenuitie in

me

to conceale

the perticulers wherin she shewes herselfe inclinable to the

step dame, especially since they are so fewe and gentle as

may, indeed, rather seeme

fitte

and necessarye antidotes

to

preserue against idlenesse and for the quickenning of industry, than any true cause of great trouble,
dispayere,

much

lesse

the

and of thes ther are only two, the windes and wormes (for as for their not haueinge streames of fresh
streightnesse
of the place
it),

water, the

and the situation and yet are they

in

therof, can in

no

possibilitie allowe

most places very

sufficiently supplied with wells,

not aboue

a fadome deepe, whei'einto through the sandy redd soyle

the sea-water being vented, and, as
leauinge
its
it

wer, strayned through

fresh, sauorye,

saltnesse behinde,

becomes very
for

and holsome.^

For the windes,

two moneths space

in

the autume, and as

many

in the spring, they blowe with ex-

traordinary boystrousnesse, and therby do greatly oflTend

'

Verbatim from the Generall Historic, from " But above

all

"
is

This

is

not an unnatural mistake of the writers.

is

The

fact

cor-

rectly stated, the explanation

soil rests

that rain water percolated through the

on the surface of the sea water.

THE HISTOEYE OP THE BERMUDAES

the houses on the land, the ships in the harbours, and oft

times blast the winter crops of corne (for the ilands haue

two haruests yearely), tearinge the tobacco and other plants.

The wormes (which many

deuore both
corne_,

times^ especially

vpon frequent

easterne gales, are found in wonderous number) do sodenly

tobacco, and almost euery greene thinge.

And
a

thus conditioned rest thes small ilands, in the midst of

is

huge maine ocean, whose violence

by
infinite

in their north east side

borne of and broken numbers of vncertaine

rocks being shallowely hidd for three leagues out at sea.

As

to the

southwarde of them

is

found a continued ledge of

the same mettall within halfe league of the shore, serueinge

to the

same purpose on that

side,

the which betwixt

them

(leauinge noe open approach to any part of the shore which

vessels of
nells

any burthen, saue onely through thoes two chan-

which gently and peaceably conueye the benefitt of

the sea through the straight and narrowe mouthes of the

two harbours into the large bosom e of the firme and rocky
earth)

proue therby so terrible and sure a

all

fortification

against

inuasiue attempts that waye, as by haueinge

some
fully

art

added vnto them at the harbours mouthes since

the plantation, they cause the whole peece to become as

impregnable, and as easily to be defended against any

as (I think)
for the

ennemye
dome.
place, I

any one in that nature of Christiannot a part of

As

health and generall salubritye of the

is

doubt not to affirme but that ther

it,

the world that can excell

that at the
first

fewe equall

it.

deny not but

entrance of newe commers most of them for

a while are troubled with a gentle flux, and

that neuer recouer
it,

some ther are

but (by
with

its
;

groweinge into extremitye)

but this generally worcks

purge out their

lives

all

thus only vpon such diseased bodyes as consist only of corruption,

wherby

it

seemes that the qualetye of the ayre

is

either to cure or kill quickly.

For the

serenitie, it

may

as

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
truely

that ther

be sayd of these ilands as euer it was of the Rhoodes,^ is noe one day through-out the yeare but that in
clearely

some houre therof the sunne lookes

out vpon them
;

and smilingly
ai-e

stinckiuge and infectioues micts

neuer

seen, nor the coffe

and reumatic unknowen.

For
is

their

tem-

perature,

it

is

admirable, noe colde ther

beyonde an

Enghsh
France.
ture and
fiction,

Aprill,

nor heate much greater than a hott July in

thus haveing presented you with the furnithis little theatre, not poetically

And

trimme of

and in
to

but in truth and realitye,

we

will

nowe proceede

the narration of such representations as have bin acted

vpon
It

it

since the discouery

and plantation.

was not long

after

Columbus

his fatall discovery of

America and particularly of the West-Indies, but that the Spaniards, who had as luckely embrased this offer, as the
Portugalls, and our
it,

Henry the

7th, improvidently neglected

in

their voiages to

and againe from thes

which the

partes, fell

within the sight, and some of them (to their cost) vpon the

rocks and sholes of thes shores

shipp called
losse of

first,

a Spanish

La Bermuda, wrecked vpon them and by the her selfe, bequeathed her name to the (vntill then)

namelesse Ilands ? whether her people saved themselves by

*

am

indebted to Mr. E. H. Bunbury, the learned author of the

:

History of Ancient Geography^ for tracing this allusion

"

Nunquam

ita

coelum nubilum

est,

ut in sole Khodos non

sit."

Solinus, c. xi, 31.

"NuUus unquam
Ven-em, v.
c,

dies tarn

magna turbulentaque tempestate

fuerit,
in

quin aliquo tempore ejus diei solem homines viderent."

10.

Cicero, Orat.

Cicero

is

referring to Syracuse,

but the same was evidently said of

it.

both places ; Solinus merely paraphasing

Ohjp., vii, 54.
*

Rhodes was dedicated

to

the Helios, "the Spotless God", from remote antiquity.

See Pindar,

Translated by T. C. Baring, M.A., M.P., 1875. Smith (or the writer) here repeats the common English belief of his day; on the other hand, it is much more probable that Herrera, whose
Historia General,, published in Spanish in 1601,
is

not likely to have

10
their botes

THE HISTORYE

01'

TUE BERMUDAES
shore,

and recovered the

for the

and so afterwards

shypped themselves
in the sea, or died
all

Continent in some small pin;

naces raysed out of her mines

or whether they perrished

:

vpon the land, I have not heard but by probabilitie as she was one of the first discoverers, so
first

from out of her thoes hoggs were

delivered

up

thither,

which since have multiplied into good encrease.

ever,

Howsonation;

most apparently
for

it

is,

that either then or since, these

Hands have bin

montories.

some time trode upon by that

left

witnesse certaine crosses

erected vpon rocks and pro-

Some

.peeces

of their

coyne found scattred

being here.
(as

vnder

trees,

and the

like signs of their

Vpon

which grounds, ioyned with some intelHgences

out of Spayne
it

they saye)

selfe,

a report hath bin raysed of a great

treasure, that should be hidd ther abouts,

which hath caused

hitherto have

divers greedy searches

which

all

of

them

proved vaine and

efiect-lesse.

And

truely this place hath

alwayes bin very adverse to the approaches of the Spainards,

whence

it is in

an anger by them styled the Ilande of Devills,

to this daye

and by ther marriners therfore

Besides thes, I find
also

shunned and

avoyded as much or more than their Vtopian purgatory.

that

one Henry Maye, an

Englishman, was
reason
it

welcomed hether by the roks (by may be that he came in a French bottome which
ill

wracked vpon them) but he himselfe and most of

his

com-

pany wer spared

and so scaped home,

to tell the tydeinges

both of his owne fortune and the fortune of the place.

thus farr of such pilgrims,

And

who

in

their peregrinations,

been known to him, would be correctly informed. Herrera says, " This island was called Bermuda, or La Garza, because the captain who discovered it was called Juan Bermudez, and his vessel La Garza" {Herrera, Dec. iv, lib, ii, cap. vi). I have shown in my Memorials of Bermuda that this must have been earlier than 1511, and therefore before the visit of Oievdo in 1515. Ilerrera had access to Spanish records, which
until the treasures of Simancas are catalogued,'
to us.

must remain unknown

Viftusc^fn^'c k>uvx.

M^^btat^il ^c

mf..

SIR

GEORGE SOMERS

from the origirmi P/ctia^e

/)ossess/o/i

of Miss Be/I^my.

/:

..

//

OB SUMAIEK ISLANDS. being cast upon

tliis

11

mayden

earth, fled

from her embraces,

and with

all

the speed they could retired themselves.

Here-

after we treate of thoes who by the like accidents, comeing to have a sight and knowledge of her perfections, have ac-

cepted the

offer,

and taken her to wife

(as it

wer) by a

wiUinge and ioyfull residence.

1609,

And
at

this

was

in the yeare

when

the Virginian

Company

London perceiveinge

that by the slack and lame supplyes of former times (which

alwayes came droopeingly on) that plantation went rather

which

backwards than forwards (being a worck, to speake truth, to bring it to perfection requires the power and purse
of a monarch) resolved to
fall
;

somewhat more

lively

and

substantially to the bussinesse

they therefore rigged and

set out for that voiage eight sayle of shipps,

whose

cheife

commandours wer. Sir Thomas Sir George Sommers and Captaine Newport
from
the

Gates, for the land-service

for the sea.

This fleete puttinge out from England, kept fayrely together

15th

of

May

vntil the

23rd of July,

when

(being gotten up

much about

the heighte of the Azores or

so terrible

Westerne Hands) ther sodenly arose

sion

and strong

a tempest of wind and weather as forced them to a disper-

and every one

to shift for themselves.

In which storme

the Admirall, called the Seaventure, wherein most of the

commandours were, being

lost sight of the rest,

a shipp of three

hundred tunnes,

and by the violence and extremitye of

the weather was carryed farr to the south-ward, at what

time springinge a leake and so maine a one as that she had

nine foote depth of water in her hold, she became everye

houre ready to founder in the sea,

spent with want of
inge.
rest,

all

her

men being

vtterly

and continuall bayleinge and pumpe-

Being

in this hard plight

and almost come

satt

to vtter

dispayre, Sir
halfe
'

George Sommers who

bound vpon the

deck condeinge the shipp^ to her most ease from the

in

^SVc

MS.

Qy. conuiiig?

In the History, etc,

it

is

"couing the

ship".

12

THE HISTOEYE OF THE BERMUDAES

blowes of the billowe, vnexpectedly discouei*s and cryes out Land this sodaine welcome news hurryeth all men aboue
:

hatches to looke out and see, what they could scarce belieue,
so that improuidently forsakeinge that taske which imported

them noe

lesse than their lines, they

gaue such aduantage to

their greedy enemye, the salt water,

at the large breach of their
after life,

which mainely entred

gapeinge
:

wooden

castle, as that in

they had well nigh swallowed their death

but

being vrged and brought back againe to their former defence,

by the better

settled discretion of their

commandours,

they thereby kept themselves aboue water with very

much
full

adoe, the crazeie shyp being the whilst hastned to her

speed by the spreadinge of

lusty gale of wind,

all

her canuas before a fresh and

and thus drew they nere the shore, to

;

the great comfort of the ignorant passengers

skillfull

but with the

this

and understandinge marrinour (who by

to a perfect

time

was come
gers of
before
;

knowledge

of the place and the dan-

it),

restinge as

much

horror and dispayre as euer

yet findinge noe better euasion and resoluinge to

if it

see a quick end, they determined

in the shipp

was possible

to thrust

upon a smale sandy bay, which

lay fayrest to

by three leagues, rubbed over, and they struck upon a rock the which they then presently vpon another, from whence also (expectinge
their eye, but before they
it

came nere

from euery blowe a death), they wer violently carried betwixt two rocks and ther stuck
fast.

The shyp being thus

if

luckely lodged, and being upright as

stocks, behold sodenly the

she had bin on the

to a calme,

wind giues waye

and

the billowes, which

by ouer-rakeing of her would haue shivered her in peeces, becomes peaceable and quiet, so that with great conveniencye and ease they unshypped all their
els

goods, victualls, and persons into their botes, and with ex-

treame ioye, almost to amazednesse, arrived

all

of

them

in

safetye on the shore, without lossc of auythinge, saue the

shyp only.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

13

Being thus gotten on drye-land^

prouision, euery
part, for the

witli their farnitvre

and

man

presently begins to playe a seuerall

:

good of the whole

which euen offered

some looked out for fish themselues to their hands others to

:

catch birdes and foules,

who

likewise with their multitudes

and tamenesse wearied the catcher with being caught ; the rest contriued cabbins to keepe themselues from weather,
which was a taske as
easily perfoi'med

as the other

by

reason of the store of palmitoe leaues, most proper for that

turne,

and the nerenesse of woode.

water,

The whilst the wisest

haveing digged but a

and most prouident among them bestowed a curious search

for fresh

the

which

also,

smale depth
first

into

the

bowells of the earth, at the very

essaye, flowed out

upon them,
first

to

good

satisfaction.

And
wer

thus rested they the

first

night,

dureinglhe which
fell

found (by such whose turnes

out to

watch

whilst others slept) the wilde natiue hoggs of the

Hands
some

who sentinge
tame

thes

newe commers, and

especially

liue swine, that they

had preserved and landed with

them, came presently to see in the darck what newes they

had brought with them, by which meanes, the next daye, an

eager chase began for the takeing of thes wild game, and
therby
so that

many

of

them

killed

and many more discouvered

place,

by reason of the pleasure of the

and

their

present ease and plenty the most of the company began to

growe

into such a content

all

and carelessuesse, that not only

former
perills,

they seemed to forgett

lect the cares

but even to neg;

due

to a future

returne and remoue

only

the commandours and some fewe of the chiefe, that dis-

cerned the danger on the one side and the losse of reputation

on the other, meditated upon

it

and therefore con-

triveinge their shyp-bote into the form of a pinnace, with

a deck, a good mast and sayle, some compases, and very

well
their

victualled

certaine

to

the

most resolute men, aduentured

number of fourteen of to make a voiage of

14

TITE

HTSTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

aduisse to Virginia, and so from thence to bring a shyp,

for the conveyeinge of

them

thether.
of.

But of

this,

neither

bote nor

men wer

euer heard

After ten monethes abode and expectance of them, therefore,

by the
of
:

rest of the

company, in the newe discouered

resolution to

ilands, the

commandours toke a

make

that

good
others

themselves

which they dispayred to find from

ilands, they

and so being furnished by the

framed

two

smale pinnaces of ceedar, which, being finished,

and

aboundantly supplied
salted birdes,

with pondered porck, Hue turtles,

and

fish,

which the place afforded them of her

all

owne

natures, they at last,

:

of them, shypped themselues

for Virginia

only two of the

ease

company (seeming
the
(as it

to

be in

loue with

the

and pleasure of the place) hideinge

time of departure,

themselues in

the woodes vpon

to

and by noe means

be found

wer to keepe posses-

sion of the place for the rest that wer afterwarde to come),

wer

left

behinde
:

their

Eobert Walters

but,

names wer Christopher Carter, and how-soeuer, this was the publicke
:

apprehension of their staye

the secret was, that the sea

and land-commandours, being alienated one from another

(a

qualetye ouer

common

to the English),

and

falne into

jealousies), ther

was produced, not only a separation of the

in this extremitie,

company (even
place),

euen in

this streight

but an affection of disgraceinge one another, and

crossinge their designes, so that thes two men, cleaning

notoriously to Sir Geo.

Sommers

his side,

and improuidently

haueing shpt in some actions that gaue aduantages against themselues to the other parties, they were eagerly sought
out to receiue sharpe rewardes otherwise preuent
it,
;

neither could Sir George

than by giueing them this direction of

stayeinge secretly behind, makeing them a faithfull promise

that he would speedily returne to their releife, the which
(as

you

shall see hereafter)

he sone made good vnto them

an accident questioulesse, not without any especiall hand

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

15

from Heauen

worth of

it

nourished.

yt so in the interim^ the place and the might the better be discerned^ and a returne It was not long before thes two pinnaces thus
;

fraughted arrived safely in Virginia, wher they found the

colony in
of their

much distresse sommer ilands

of victuall
store

so that the ouer-plus

relieued

many, and saued

some Hues.
But Sir George Sommers meditating a returne into thes
ilands, as well

by reason of

his promise to thoes

two

left

behind, as vpon an affection he carryed to the place

it selfe,

under a pretence of fetchinge newe

releife

from thence

for

the languishinge Virginia colony, in a short time

made a

seconde voiage thether, wher he found his two friends both

aliue

and

lustye,

and from them receiued farther light of

the commodities of the so3de, the which, ioyned with his

first inclination,

so inflamed

him

as

it

is

well

wittnesse that part of Sands his Tribe, called

mers-seate^), that he resolued
it

knowen (and by him Som-

vpon a plantation, though wer but by the purse and meanes of him selfe and his

freinds.

When

labouringe in thes desires,

all others,
;

it

pleased

God

to ease
this

him of them, and

and

by takeing him out of

world to his mercye

and dieing upon the iland of

St. George's,

at that very place

wher the

cheife

towne

and residence of the gouernours

blished, his heart

is since erected and estaand bowels wer ther buried, a great

crosse of

wood being pitched ouer

vntil,

his graue,
after.

which

re-

mained ther

about eight yeares

Captain Butler

being chosen and sent ouer gouernour of the ilands, comeing to the knowledge and sight of smale respect
it,

and mislikeinge the

showed to the memory of soe true and

noble a deseruour, of his

own

cost caused a smale

it,

monu-

mental tombe to be framed ouer

the fabrick whereof

rather expressed his present meanes, and the meanes of the

place, then either the deceased's deserts, or his
1

owne

desii'es.

Now

Somerset.

IG

THE inSTORYE OP THE UERMUDAEvS

for the rest of his coi'ps, it

As

was carried into England

and so putt abord the
within bord,

secretly putt

vp into a ceder
it

chest,

shyp^ for otherwise

had not bin possible to haue wonne

it

the superstitious marriners to the receipt of

who

(as all

knowe) hold the portage of dead bodyes ex-

treamely, prodigiously, omminous.

Sir

George Sommers thus dieing, howsoeuer his

last

charge to the captaine of the shyp, and some other of the

cheife

was

to returue into Virginia with their relieue, yet

is

the greatest part, which

to be stayed ther,

genei'ally the

vnworthy, feareinge

and

(as

noe where contented) longing to

be at home againe, forced the rest (who, perhaps, were not

so thoroughly resolued as

became them)

to

shape their

course for England

left

so that once again thes ilands

had bin

desolate,

had

it

not bin for one of those two formerly

left

named Christopher Carter (who, for the fact who being verely perswaded that Sir George Sommers had taken some order with his friends in England, and had made some preparabehind,
only deserues to be personally mentioned),
tions for a plantation, he
to a returne

would by noe meanes be induced

rest,

with the

but vowed a longer staye,

alone, the

although
solution

it wer by himselfe moued them all, but

which vnvsuall
it

re-

especially

wrought vpon the

Sir George^s ser-

humours of two (one of which had bin

uant), so that at last they offered

themselves to be the

compagnions of

his fortunes, the which,

:

being toUerated

by the

rest,

and accepted of by him

the ship departes,

and leaues thes three behind.

Not long
their

it

was before the home-minded company had

(for the

wished desire by a safe footeing in England

westerne voiages, howsoeuer they are generally long and

tedious outward, yet, for the most part, in the returne are fauorable and quick), noe soner are they ther, but euery

man

tells

abroad, and euery wher rumours his trauailes and

;

aducntures

and as trauailours wer they heard and not

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
belieued,

17

only some of the most temperate and discreet

(vnderstandeinge the benefit of the place, and weighinge

the importancye), wisely
eares to

made

choice of more charitable

into,

powre

their

intelligences

so

that

thcrby

diners of eminencye and ranck (especially of the Virginian

Company, who

rightly apprehended the aydefuU vicinitie

of the place to that colony of thers), began not only to

hearken to the reportes, but at

of

last to

propound a course
to send

experiment,

and so resolued vpon a generall purse

(which could not be

much

senceable of

it)

oner
to

thether for the discouery

some voluntary men, who wer

fittest for

be entised with hope of gaine; and to be conducted by

some such commandour, as was

as would serue

the present, and

them vpon generall tearmes and hopes. After two yeares' consultation, therefore, they rigged up a smale shyp called the Plough, and manning her with about
fiftie

passengers of

all

sortes, the}'

made

choice of one

Mr. Moore (by his trade a carpenter, but an excellinge

master of his
tainly who,
art), to

be their commandour

man

cer-

had he but bin educated answerably

to the

capacity e of his

mind and

speritt,

would have expressed

hiinselfe very worthely, since,

when clogged with the im-

pediments of an vnrulye company, and want of authoritye

to beare

him out

(for as

yet the king's letters patents wer

not procured for the enableinge of their commission) he

hath, notwithstandinge, left behind

him

in

thoes partes

many testimony es, both of his sufficiency e and honesty. But, for a while, we will leave him and his company at sea, to see how our triumviri left in the Sommer Hands
bestowed themselves
in

thermean time, dureing their solitary

abode

ther.

The shyp
lordes of

that brought
:

them

in,

being thus out of the

harbour and past ken

the ilands)

thes

three (for the time the only

for a

began their common wealth

c

18

THE HISTORYE OE THE BERMUDA ES

:

while with equall and brotherly regencyc

and

first

of

all

they

fell

to cleareing of

some ground, plantinge of corne

their

and settinge of pompions, as

bordes and planncks to
superfluitye

groundworck

next for

conueniencye, they began to cutt downe timber, saweing

of

make them
they

cabbins, then

feelinge

and

wealth,

make a priuye

search into euery nooke and corner of the craggie rocks

for

whatsoeuer of value the open armed ocean had for a

long time conuayed thether

and secretly horded up, so

that at length (answerable to their wish and paines) they

chaunced vpon the goodlyest and greatest peece of AmberGrece that the world
in one
is

knowen euer yet

to

have had
;

lumpe

and nowe are they become

rich folke

and

so to be proude, and from being proude to be ambitious,

and from that into a contempt one

desire of super-eminencye
forlorno
:

for another,

and a

so that lastly (being only three

men

in a

narrowe desolate place, three thousand

their
it)

miles from their natiue country and to

in

knowledge
fell

noe likly-hoode of euer recoueringe of

they

into

a most hott and violent contention for superiority e and commando ; so that quickly they came from wordes to blowes

beinge sometime by the eares and at

di-essing of their victualls, in

cuffs,

about the

which

fitt

one of
his

them being
as

scufflinge with his fellowe is bitten

if

by

owne dogg,

the

dombe

beast (like Balaams asse) would reproue the

madnesse of

his master.

One while, would they begin

a fierce

combatt in their bote at fishinge, and with their oares

strike one another ouer board
;

another while chalendges are

it

deliuercd for the

likely

feilde,

ther to trye

out with their swordes,

enough

to a sharpe entertainment, but that allwayes

in this case the third

man became
Hue
all

a stickler (as affectinge

rather to Hue

among
to

enemies, for so wer they nowe, than

alone)

by loseing them
weapons.

and kept away

their

And

thus in this desolate place and miserable

full

fashion Hued thes three poore men, for the space of

two

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

19

yeares without heareing the least newes from England, so

that their cloathes were
all

worne and

falne

backs, and their hopes of forrainge reliefs

bodyes.

away from as naked as

their
their

At

last

they begane a
tripartite

little

to recouer their witts,

and concludeinge a

peace of their matachiua^ warre,

they resolved to frame as bigge and conuenient a bote as they wer possibly able, and therin to

make

a desperate
fleete

attempt for New-found-land, and so with the fishinge

to gett to their country
;

but noe soner wer they entred

into this apprehension, but they descried a sayle, standinge

for the ilands,

when

halfe ouer ioyed, (though neither

knowe-

inge what she was, nor what she would) they determine
themselves happy in her howsoeuer, and hastinnge thus
to

meet with
is

her, to the

accomplishment of their wish,

she

found to be English, being the Plough, that manned

with Mr. Moore and his Company, lustely furrowed the

maine towardes
harbour of
anchor.
St.

the shore

and sone after entriuge the

Georges, to a mutuall ioye, ther came to an

thus at length,

And

we haue

lead you to the point

of a plantation, so that hence-forward

we must speake

of

a kinde of settled gouernment, and formall constitution.

Matachina.

'

In the General Hixtory of Virginia, "Matachin war".

.
. .

"

But that I'm

patient,

And

not a choleric old testy fool

Like your father, I'd dance a matachin with you."

The Elder Brother, by Fletcher, 1637.

used by Smith contemptuously. military morris dance. " Such a dance was that well
expression
is

The

It

was a
in
. . .

sort of

known

France

and Italy by the name of the dance of fools, or Matachins. They carried in their hands a sword and buckler, with which they made a clashing noise, and performed various quick and sprightly evolutions."

Donee's

Illustr.

of Shakespear,

ii,

435.


THE HISTORYE OP THE BEKMUDAES

20

Lib. II.

Mr. Moore the first Gonernoiir, 1612-1615.

thus

Thes uewe guests being

come

in

and

findirfg'e

their three resident countrymenj not only aliue

and
;

lustye,

but well stored with diuers sortes of prouisions

as an acre
:

of good corne ripe and ready for the gatherour of pompions, Indian beanes,

numbers
j

many

tortoises ready taken

and good store of hogge-flesh salted and made into flitches and of bacon, wer exceedeinge cheared, and putt in life
:

so presently
in

fell

to landings

both of goods and persons

side of the harbours

smale iland upon the south

chanell, the
iland, in
is yet,

honnour of

the

name of Smithes ThomaS Smithy who was then, as he gouernour of the company in England.^
which at
this time carryeth the

Sir

It

was not long

in iest, as

after their landinge (either

by chaunce

and

some

saye, or rather, as I conceiue

by the

sequell,

upon some

priuate intelligence), but that Mr.

Moore

the gouernour takeinge one of three insulers aside (being of

the most masterfull speritt

among them, and

his

so

had proued had found,

the fellowe

hiraselfe), began to enquire of him what amber greece, perle,

and other commodities he and

(as well witty as

fellowes
:

dureinge theire two yeares habitation

masterfull,

when

and noe

lesse couetous

than

witty), with a soudaine confidence

made answer,

that for his

owne part he had found none

his

of any of thes,
:

mary what
if

consorts had done he knew not

it

yet in time and by

occasion he doubted not to gett

out from them,

any

such thing wer, and then Avould he not fayle to discouer

it,

and

this

he spake to winne time, and meanes to con-

ferre with the other two, doubtinge least otherwise, if the

1

This observation, which

is

repeated below, determines the date of

tlic

conuiiencement of the MS. to be not later than April 1619, when

Sir T.

Smith tendered a compulsory resignation.

We

shall find the

author writing further on when his successor's, Sir

of olhce

Edwyn

Sandy's, year

was

also a thing of the past.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

21

gouernour
that were

sliould take

tliem separately vnproiiided, they

different
all
:

might be found

iu

some

tales,

or

some

slipps

ynough

to reueale

but being by thes fayre

words dismissed with encouragements and many promises,

away he goes sodainly and in all haste to his mates and noe soner finds them but (quite contrary to his protestations) he not only disswaded them from a discouery but coniured them by all meanes possible to a concealement assureinge them, that otherwise (for so it was ejjidently the
:

gouernours hastie and eager inquisition) they should totally

be depriued of their riche purchase of amber greece and

that they had
;

all

wheras,

if

they would followe his directions,

it

he doubted not but to conuaye both

into

and themselues
in harbour,

England by the return of the shyp then

to remaine
for euer

and therby was

after

made men.

This

easily (as

you may belieue) consented vnto, so that

it

thincking euery houre an age vntill

action, they

was brought into

found

it

necessary

(for

the closer conueyence)

to acquaint with their horde one Dauis, the master of the

shyp, and one Mr.

Edwin Kendall

(a

gentleman that had

tell-

shyp't hiraselfe for the uoyage upon southerly hopes),

inge them,

how

that haueinge gotten into their handes a

great quantitie of amber-greece, to the waight of about nine

score pounds, they

wer willinge and readye

to

make them

partners iu their fortune, prouided, that they would afford

them

their assistance for the freeing' of

it

from the gfouerit

nors vigilant eye, by the secret carrying of

abord, and

proue true sharers to them, when they came home.

This

was the bayte that thes gaped

ceremony, the

after

so that without farther

offer is accepted, the

match absolutely coninto the

cluded on, the plott layd, and the time and place sett downe
for the receiuing

and conueyance of

it

shyp
life

but

whilst they attended the appointed houre to giue

ententions, one of the three insulers (the very

to their

same man who

as you heard occasioned the other two to stay behind at the

22

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

departure of Sir George Sommershis shyp) whether feareing

some

disastrous euent^ or mistrustinge false measure

when

they came into England, or being of a more tender conscience

than the

rest, priuily

conueyed himselfe to the gouernor,

and reueales the whole bussinesse.

This intelligence almost equally distracts the gouernor

betweene hope and doubt

to wealth to the

on the one side he seeth a waye

good

satisfaction of the
difficulty e in

company

at

home

on the other he findes

the attaineinge of it, and

danger by dis-vnion of his people, and apparent want of

fayth in some of them, and thoes of the principall
;

yet being

resolued not to lose so fayre a prize for want of aduentureinge, he first of

all

reueales himselfe to Kendall, and with

his

much temperance reproues

disloyaltye

but being

answered with stoutnesse and contempt he causeth him to

be emprisonned, together with the same

first

fell

owe whom he

questioned about

it

the next Sabaoth, the master of

the shyp also comeinge ashore he roundly expresseth himselfe to

him, and chargeth him with indirect and dishonest

:

courses

protestinge

that

vnlesse

he speedely desisted

and

rectefied

himselfe,

he would bestowe both himselfe

for

and his shyp, sure ynough

their

forth
replies

comminge.
but
Htle

The
in

wary

master,

for

the

present

and waites upon the gouernour

to the church:

but being

the midst of deuine seruice, he riseth up, and at his

:

goeinge forth commands his seamen to followe him

who

obeyeing, they goe altogether sodainely abord his shipp,

wher he encourageth them to stand to him like men ; and tells them, that his meaneinge is to free Kendall and the
other from imprissonment
;

toceazeupon the amber-greece,

and so
his

to

be gone.

lution determinoth also to stande

The gouernour heareinge of this resovpon his guarde, and with

force, so that a generall
:

laud-men to repulse force with

ciuill

expectance of an vu-ciuill
as
if

warre possescth euery man

the dcuill, the author and father of diuision, enraged

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

23

with a likel3^-lioode of a christian plautation^ plotted the supplanting of

it,

by playeing
for Dauis,

his first master-peece this

way

but this threateninge gust passed oucr more cahnely than

was looked
speritt, or

for

through want either of a dareing

a good cause, or both, shrunck in his head, and the

(as the

next day, in a deiected fashion

linquents
is;

custome of such de-

mediated and supplicated for a reconcilement

the which the good nature of the gouernour easily yeelded

vnto

so

that

peace

on

all

sides
:

is

concluded, and

Kendall also released out of prison

only the other re-

maineth under
ed,

command
ill

as being a fellowe

much

suspect:

and

therefore

affected

by the gouernour most part of

and

therefore so held restrained for the

his gouern-

ment

and thus,
;

recouered

also, the most part of the amber-greece was some peeces only ther wer, the which baueinge

falne into Kendalls fingringe

wer

(either

by the ignorance
stolne ouer into

or conniuence of the gouernour) by

him

England

and with which he made

his voiago, although

not without molestation of the company, who afterwards

came

to an iuckliuge of

it.

This disturbinge brabble thus passed ouer, and the shyp

that brought him in cleared of the harbour, and carryinge

away with her Kendall and some other of the discontents, the gouernour, who had remoued his seate from Smith's

Hand
of the

to St. Georges,

for

the commoditie and nei-enesse

fresh water; after he

had

fitted

up some smale

cabbins of Palmitoe leaues for himselfe, his wife, and some

fewe others, in that vally wher nowe standes the prime

towne of the
and choose to

ilands,

he began to applye himselfe to perfortification at the

forme some what of

harbours mouthes

settle his first

worck vpon the point of a

smale iland being on the north-side of that channel that

leadeth into St. Georges harbour, wher he cutts out a platt-

forme, and planted some ordinance to good pm-pose.

This

iland was since tearmed Penistones Island, and the fort.

24'

THE IIISTORYE OF THE BERMDDAES

htith bin also altered (as
is

which

we

shall heare)

by Captaine

Tucker,
Pagett,

now
is

called Pagetts Fort, in

honnor of the Lord

as the necessitie

whoe

one of the company.^

The GouernoLir being thus busied (and

of the time required), keepeing his

the minister that

came ouer with

men hard to their work, him, who was a Scottishit

man, and named Keath, whether

weary of their taskes
in place

wer by the

secret

prouocation of some idle drones of the company, that grew

;

or that, in his

owne

nature, he

dehghted to be in a snarleinge opposition with euery one

ouer him,
or that

he affected
effect

populax-itie,

and

thought by this course to

saye, contrary to his coate

it; this clergie

man, I

and profession, begins

to bussell

vp himselfe, and
and at
private
last

to fall into tearmes with the gouernour,

fai",

proceeded so

as publickly in the pulpit (the

to

which too many of them abuse

spleens)

the ventinge of their

seueritie,

he vpbrayed him with

naye

crueltye, tellinge

him
did

in plain

tearmes (but yet in Scripture

phrase) that he

grinde the face of the poore, and

oppresse

his

Christian

brethren with Pharaoths taxes,

turbulent wordes to that

vseing very

many mutinous and

all

purpose, that might, in

likelyhoode, enrage the auditors,

and

stirre

upe the people against the innocent man.

therefore,

To

cleare

himselfe,

from

thes vncharitable and

company together, he sent for the sayd minister, and before them all repeated the charge and accusations that by him had been publickly,
woundeiug imputations,
callinge all the

from so respectfull a place, thrown e vpon him, wishinge

them

all freely

to deliuer themselves,
;

whether thoes vrged

whervpon, by a very
in so

suggestions wer due to him or noe

vniuersall crye,

was affirmed the contrary;

(findeinge, as
or,
it

much, that

Keathe himselfe

should seeme, that he had

missed his mark,

morse), kneeleinge
'

perhaps, feeleinge some kind of rebefore

down

them

all,

openly confessed
sjiot.

Fort Cunniiigliuin now occupies nearly the same

Tlic cliauge

of

name

is

to be regretted.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
that he had done

2o
to

him wrong, and most humbly craned

be forgiuen

but the gouernour, hastelye riseiuge out of his

chayer^ with the teares euen tricklyuge

takeing him vp in his

I

downe his cheekes, armes and rayseinge him vp, sayd,

doe not expect this kueeleinge at your haudes^ Mr. Keath,

nor for any such askeinge of forgiuen esse of me, pray to

God
same

for

it,

learne to amend, and hereafter vse the reuerend

place you hold with

more modesty and

charitie.^

At

the

time, also, or not long after,

and perhaps from the

be made by
that might

same occasion, diners other discontents manifested themselves;

and expostulations began boldly

their beinge so hard kept at

to

some about

work; but the

ill

gouernour, in good time, apprehendinge the

issue from such a fountain, sodainely caused

two of the
prisou-

cheafe (being the mouthes of the rest) to be

made
it,

ners

and although he well knewe that

far,

his comission exyet, to

tended not so

nor ment he to transcend

make

a shewe, and breede terrour, he caused twelve

men

to

be empannelled vpon them, who (because, as they sayd

themselves, they could not
it

tell

what
;

to

make

of

it)

refeiTed
it

wholy to the gouernour himselfe

whervpon, giueinge

out with great earnestnesse (to the great terror of the

poore fellowes, in so
of a dead palsie with

much
all)

as one of

them

fell

into a

fitt

that they should both be hanged,

the whole company, in very humble and dutiful! fashion,

begged
last,

their lines (which he nener

ment

to take),

and so at

with a great deale of seeminge

much

adoe, after

some

weekes of emprisonment, they wer both of them

libertie,

sett at

and pi-oved very true labourers, and respectful!

after.^

men
'

ever

These cracks being thus semented, the

i,

See the Editor's Memorials of Bermuda^

p. 706, for notices of this

clergyman.
'^

Moore's Instructions are silent as to the extent of his jurisdiction

of capital punishment,
tlie

the settlers were under the protection of English law, and he certainly

had no power standing, and

but had probably, by a

tacit under-

necessity of the case, the powers of justice of the peace.

26

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

falls

Gouernour

a fresh to his vvorcks,

and continuall cheares

men with good wordes, and promises of paye, out of England so that, hauinge made the plattforme at Pagetts
up
his
;

Fort somewhat seruiceable for matter of offence, weigbinge

two pieces of

artillerye,

with

much

adoe, out of the

mines
little

of the Sfia-venture, he planted one of

iland opposite to Pagetts Fort,

them vpon a

and the other he mounted

upon a rock which commanded the mouth of the west harbour, called the Gurnetts Head, ther to make a shewe
for the time,

and

to serue in

some smale

steed, vntill

ho

could prouide better.

After this he prepares timbei% and

;

rayseth the mould of a framed church

it

but noe sooner was

pinned together, but that (partly by reason of negligence

in

some entrusted worckmen, but especially through the ouer-bleake fiteinge it vpon a hill, by the next great wind
was ouerthrowne
;

it

so that that attempt being giuen ouer,

in steed thereof

was erected a church of Palmitoe leaues,

and with the ruynes of the other the gouernour framed a

pretye hansome house contriued into the fashion of a crosse,
the which, by the convenient disposition therof, sufficiently

expressed him an artist in that kind, as being nowe in his

true element.

And

this

frame serueth aptly vnto this day

for the entertainment of the

gouernours in succession

and

in this house the

gouernour carefully layd up that large

(as

lumpe of amber-greece, which

couered at his
first

you heard) he had

dis-

landinge, the which, not long after,

all

together with the house and

that

was

in

it,

was

in great

danger

to

haue bin burned to ashes, had not the governours

wife herselfe (her husband being at the

els

same time abroad

first

wher), and some one or two more, nimbly bestirred

themselues.

And
first

thus bestowed, was the

part of the

gouernours

yeare.

But

in the interim, the

company

in

England haueing

re-

ceiued a sure intelligence, by the returne of the

of the estate and condition of tho ilands,

PIoikjIi,

with the safe

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
arriuall of their people ther,

2/

and

especially the cheareinge

relation of the amber-greece, quickly resolued

vpon a speedy
this they

secondinge supply for that colonye

the

and to

wer

speedier induced, by reason of some distrusts they

it

tooke of the Spaniards soudaine supplantinge of

in its

birth (as not likely to endure patiently such a thorne in his

West

Indies sides), but especially for the fetchinge awaye

of the amber-greece, the which they could neuer beleaue to

be their owne,

vntill

they had

it

vnder their owne lock and

key j and,

to say truth, this curious care

:

was not altogether

vnnecessary

for the fore-mentioned

Dauis and Kendall

(haueinge receiued from the aduenturers, as they well deserued,

some

disgusts, but noe contentment) secretly pre-

lected to

make

a voyage thether once more, and

it

by one

meanes or

other, although

wer euen by the murther of

their countrimen ther (as one of their associates afterwards

confessed), to possesse themselues of the amber-greece; to

which purpose they priuily hired a smale barck

country
;

in the west-

but as they were thoroughly prouiding themselues,

sett forth, the

and euen ready to

two prime men, Kendall

and Dauis,

fell foule,

and were almost together by the ears

like the

about the shareinge of the prize which was yett farre

ynough from them

sell

poore

man who would

:

needes

the beasts-skin before he had the beast

so that whilst

they were standeinge vpon thes tearmes, the adventurers

came

to

the knowledge

of

their

entended voiage, and

thervpon presently procured a purseueant to be sent for

Dauis, who, hearing of
it,

conuayed himselfe into Ire-laud,

in

and hath not since bin seene

England, and Kendall also

retired himselfe out of the waye.

The adventurers being thus

liuely

rid
:

of this feare, goe on

to that

with ther resolued supply

and

end they hire

and

sett forth a
thirtie

smale shyp called the Elisabeth, the which,

passengers in her, and a good supply, ar-

haueing

riued in the ilands in the depth of winter, and about nine

28

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

after the

months
inge
in,

goueruours

first

landinge.^

At her comehill

she found the gouernour busied about the rayseinge

ouer-

of a foure-square frame of timber vpon a high

toppeinge the towne of St. Georges to the westwards, to

serue for the discouery of shippinge vpon the coast; the

which worcke the gouernour accounted

peace, and was earnestly affected to haue

for
it

his

master-

carry his

owne

name, and to be called Moores mount, although

shall see hereafter) it

(as

we

proued not long-lined, being turned

This
the

vp by the rootes with a huricanoe, or whirlewind.

shyp, the Elisaheth, was especially sent to fetch

home

whole quantitie of amber-greece

but the gouernour wisely

apprehending that
'iiiant

it

was that

chiefly

which was the Ada-

that

drew on supplies from England, which he feared

be greatly neglected, by noe
to part with

would, after the partinge,

meanes would be induced

it,

more than a third of

to aduenture

pretendinge that

it

was much indiscretion

all in

one bottome, and altogether contrary to the fashion of

:

merchants

but this act was generally

ill

apprehended by

the aduenturers (who endure not to haue their orders controuerted, especially in the point of haueinge); and
in part an occasion of
it was some farther breaches, which not ensued betweene them and the gouernour ; and

long after

thus thys shyp, after a smale staye in harbour, cleareth her

selfe of the ilands,

and makeing her waye homeward by

Virginia (whether she was also

after arriued safely in England.

homeward bound), not long

at

But before she had made her voiage, the company

home, resolueinge vpon a thorough-plantation, had rigged

up and sent out the Martha, with about

harbour of
St.

sixty passengers

more, who, in June, an. 1G13, came to an anchor in the

Georges

the gouernour, at her comeinge,

being in employment with his best men in rayseinge some

fortifications at
'

the Gurnetts Head.

will

Vpon

her was also

This

have been about March 1613,

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

29

shypped one Bartlett, a miscariyed mercliant, employed by

the aduenturers to suruaye
ji-ouernonrs actions
;

tlie ilands,

and

to prie into the

but the gouernour (who, certaiuely, for

man of his time made a

lousies of the

coate,

was apprehensive ynough),

;

in a short

discouerye vpon him

and, findinge the jea-

companye, found

it

necessary for himselfe to

stand vpon his gard, and yet outwardly kept himselfe vpon
fayre tearmes with Bartlett dureinge his abode with

him

who, haueinge practised his eyesight to noe great aduantage, after five

weekes

stay, returned with the

shyp that

brought him; the which had also laded vpon her the second
third part of the amber-greece
;

for,

with the whole, the

gouernour, vpon his

first

grounds, would by noe meanes

Bartlett) be

(though
all

much

solicited

by

brought to part with

at one time.

The Martha thus gone, the gouernour

fortification,

haueinge made up a certaine fashion of

and

planted some ordinance at the Gurnetts Head, to serue for

the present, he remoues the most of his

men from

thence,

and begins
with

to

fall

to worck, in a smale iland lieing on the

south-side of the harbours

mouth of

St.

Georo-es, where,

much
it

adoe, he

makes a kind
it,

of platforme, planteth

some ordinance upon

and erecteth a redoubt ; the which,

shall

how
come

was altered and perfected, we

see

when we

to that time.

He

also layeth the foundation of a

large redoubt

vpon a

hill to

the east of St. George's towne,

the which he afterwards brought to good perfection, beinge

at the

present called
of

Warwick

Fort, and haueinge three

it,

peeces

ordinance mounted upon

serveth

both to

play out towards the harbour, and to garde the fresh water

belouginge to the towne.

Much

about the same time

also,

he began the
St.

first triall

of tobacco, which he planted in

Georges Iland, and which, proueinge very fayre in the

it

growth, was the most part of

ledge and
up.
skill in

spoyled, by want of

knowit

pruneinge, cureinge, and makeinge of

The

totall

sorame of persons that the

colon}' con-

30

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

sisted of at that present,

ammounteinge
that the

to the

one hundred.

But

in the interim, the aduenturers in

number of Eng-

land abhorreinge the delays

Gouernour vsed in

home the totall of the amber-greece, the which they had nowe a second newes of (perhaps with some vnsendeinge

sound aggrauations) by the Martha, and more and more

fallinge into distastes of

him and

his actions, with in three

weeks

after her arriuall, they cause the Elizabeth to

be sent

out the second time/ who brought with her fortie persons
to be i-esidents,

and an

especiall charge

the Gouernour for the sending

and iniunction to away of the residue of the

after,

amber-gi'eecej the which pressure he (being noe longer able

to auoyde) yeelded vnto,

and so with in a while

with

her wished fraught she cleares herselfe of the ilands, and,

accordinge to appointment, makes her retui'ne by Virginia,

and

so

home.

In her wer

first

brought into thes partes

certaine potatoe rootes sent from England, the which being

planted and

flourishinge
last,

very well, wer by negligence

almost lost; at
cast

by a lucky hand, again reuiued from two

infinite

awaye rootes ; they have since encreased into

and serue
at the present for a

store,

maine

releife to the

inhabitants."

In her also came ouer a certain Frenchman,

hired in England by the aduenturers to deliuer his censure

of the natiue mulberry e trees, which are in great abound-

ance in the ilands, as whether

thej''
;

wer the right kind

for

the foode of the silcke-worme

slight

who, haueinge taken a

vewe

of them, returned an answer of dislike, as that

they wer altogether improper for that efiect; but of this

you

shall

heare more here after

.""^

Within one moneth

after the

Elisabeths departure,

two

About September 1613.

These potatoe roots, sent from England, can only have been the potatoe, Soktmun tuherosvm, introduced towards the end of the previous century, and not yet even known in Holland.
''

common
^

Tiie tree

was probably Conuairpiis

raccniosu, called sea-mulberry.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
snyles

31

wer disconered from the Gurnetts head, wher wer

onh' at that time eight or ten

men

at

whose approoch some

what nere
lead

it

was

discei'ued that one of

all

them was towed by

her skiff; and with

that they both continually vsed their

and sounded

for the chanell.

bote therfore (accord-

inge to the vse, but with some more caution than ordinary

by reason of the pregnancye of the suspicion) was sent out

to

vewe them, the which keepeing her wind, and being come
call,

within

haled the

skiff,

but being

onl}'-

answered from

the shyp, that they should

one only

man gaue them

Presently vpon

that answer,

come abord, and perceiuing that and that answer only,

all

they durst approach noe nearer, but in

againe.
it,

hast

made back
in-

comes the gouernour from the

;

towne with about ten men more

and approueinge the

telHgence giuen in by the bote, he concludeth that they wer

enemies and resolueth vpon a braue defence

after prayer to

whervpon,

God and

a speach of encouragement to his

men

{to

which he was noted to be much disposed, and con-

ueniently able) he

enteution to take the shyps

before her
:

manned out the bote once againe, with an skiff, that came soundinge still but feareinge that his owne bote might prone to
he presently sent out a second to relieue her,

weake
if

for her

need wer.
skiff,

By

this time the first bote once againe hales

the

which retireinge towards the shyp, giues noe

also

answer.

Herevpon the gouernours botes

make

a stand

so that the formost shyp being gott

up somewhat nere, the

gouernour himselfe (who was a very good gunner) makes

a shott at randome, and findinge that he could reach her,

he makes a second shott at her, the which

(as it is

sayd to

haue bin confessed by some that wer in her) passed through

and through
shott,

her.

Howsoeuer, certaine

it is

that vpon that

both the shyps, cuttinge their maine-sayles, cast about

fraye.

and made quite awaye, and thus ended that

Wherein

certainely ther

was euidently discernable a great

deale of deuine prouidence for the

good of the poore planta-

32
tion
;

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

for ther

wer not

at that time

aboue twenty persons at

vcr^'-

the Gurnetts head^ and

many of

thoes

weake and

feeble

with want of foode

ther wer

then only foure

all

peeces

mounted, the which though they wer

of

them

laden, yet

was ther not aboue three quarters of a

sides,

barrel! of

powder beof the

and one only

shott.

Upon the very expectance

entrance of these shyps, and in the hurrey of the preparation

for a defence, the only barrel! of

powder that they had was

mussell of one of the orditliat

improuidently tumbled vnder

t!ie

nance, the which being one of thoes two

wer dis-charged,
!ier,

the powder notwithstandinge, which lay thus vnder

fired
filled

not certaine cartredges slightly

made

of paper and

with powder, being brought vp to be vsed vpon occasion, a

negligent fellowe
all

left his

lighted

match vpon one of them

it

the whilst they wer at prayer, the cole whereof, though

j'et

continually touched the paper,

kindled noethinge.

Thes
the

direct demonstrations of heauenly assistance exceedeinge

wrought Vpon most of them, and especially

gouernour,

it

moued

who
;

(as I find

him generally) was noe

lesse pious

then painefull
christian

so that callinge his

men

together like a good

to

and a soldier he publickly gaue thancks

God

for

this his so protecting a preseruation.

What
I

thes two shyps

ment,

it is

not certainely knowen.

it

deny not, but that I

it selfe,

haue heard

as a report from Spaine

that they

wer and

only merchand men,

fallinge

who being

in distresse of water,

vpon the ilands by chaunce (not imagineinge them resolued to make in with the shore, and inhabited), to be seeke for some refreshments but as they drewe nere they
:

kenned the

fortes,

and yet iudgeinge that either they might

i-esisted as

be receiued as friends, or durst not be

enemies,

they continued their approaches, vntil findeinge the ordi-

nance to speake more loud and bottly than they expected

(for the

Spaniard although a good soldier generally, yet

to

abhorrcs

march vpon the cannon) they presently

you haue hearde, tooke their leaue.

re-

traictcd, and, as

But

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

33

howsoeuer

it

wer, as the gouernour did discreetly in his

flowrish of defence, on the one side, so on the other, it

was God's great mercye, that

taine
it
is,

it

tooke so well
ill

since certhe}'-

that

(by being so

prouided)
;

if

had

proued enemies, they might haue done much

so much, what there

and fiudiuge

vpon they would haue proued, who

knowes.
This feare being thus blowen ouer, the gouernour begins
to

have the sence of a greater, which was the extremit^-e of

;

famine

for

by

his

continuall

keepeinge of
St.

all

his

men

together in one place, which was at

George's iland, from

whence they wer not

he
to
did, to

to part

vpon paine of death, the which

.speedier in a readynesse

haue them the better and

all

answer

such soudaine alarmes and occasions, as he

euery day expected (and was continually quickned with-all

from England), he
one
(as

fell

into

two maine inconueniences

the

you heard) the want of bread, by followeinge his

the other, the oner cleareing of St.

worcks- so closely, as he neglected to plant a sufficientye

of corne
iland,
;

George's

which was the place of their residence, by cuttinge

trees, to

downe the palmitoe

have their heades for foode, a

at that time, but such a disis as

cheife releife of the people

ableinge of the place for tobacco (which

yet the staple

commoditie), as that not only to this day, but for

yeares to come
neither was
this
it it

many
:

must needes feele the weight of that stroke

possible for the gouernour to cure or preuent

bell^^

ill, by any prohibition, because the The gouernor and colony languishinge

hath noe eares.

in this distresses, the

one of hunger, the other discontent, behold a frigate makes

to the shore, the

which being discouered to be manned with

(in

English

is

wellcomed and pilated into the harbour, and

a
:

good houre) found

her

to be cheifely laden with Spanish meale

commandour was named

Daniell Elfrye,

who

serueinge

vnder one Fisher, that was sent out vpon a discouery into
I)

34

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

the river of the xiinazones ;^ as they Avent, this Spainish frigate

comeinge in their waye their catchinge fingers layd

fast

hold on her, and this Elfrj^e (being in good trust with Fisher)

was putt into her as master, who takeinge

requited him
so well as sone after he gaue
;

his opportunitie,

him the slyp and

so luckely,

then shaped his course hether

wher he arriued

as by haueinge his meale shared

among

the hungry colony

much

content for the present

is

recouered, by the gouer-

many that wer in very hard distresse fedd and The newe guests restinge here and takeinge their partes of it, vntill not long after they were shyped away for England. But howsoeuer this runne away frigate brought
nour, and
releued.

with her a timely and acceptable

sacrifice of

her meale

yet

the companions of her meale, numbers of ratts (which wer

the

first

that the ilands euer sawe), being receiued with-all

infinite

and on a soudaine multiplyinge themselues by an

encrease (for ther
is

noe place in the world so proper for

them), within the space of one only yeare they became so

terrible to the

poore inhabitants, as that

(like

one of Phar-

aoths plagues) the whole plantation was almost vtterly subuerted therby
;

and so

farr

gone

it

was

at last, that it

proued

Captaine Tucker's masterpeece

all

his time (which

was not
noe pur-

long

after) to

deuise trapps and stratagems to conquer and

all

destroye them, though indeed

of

them proued
vntill

to

pose

(as

3^ou

shall

see hereafter)

afterwards, one

moneth

of cold

and wett weather did the deed.

after the first arriual of this frigate

About two inoneths

arriued the Blessinge from England, ^ fraughted with one

Probably the Captain Edward Fisher who accompanied Robert Amazons in the Rose, of eighty tons, 1G()8, in which voyage Harcom-t took possession, by Turfe and Twigge, in the name of
'

Ilarcourt to the

our sovereign lord, King James, "of the whole Continent of Guiana,
lying betwixt the Riuers of Amazones and Oronoque, not beeing actually possessed,

and inhabited by any other Prince or State

Purchns,

wherewith
a
iv, p.

the Indians seemed to be well content and pleased."

Relation of

voyage to Guiana performed by Robert Ilarconrt.

2

12G7.

About March

1G14.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

35
after

hundred passengers
comes
fashion
in the Starve,

for the

Hands

two dayes

her

and

in her one

hundred and eightie

more; among which wer diuers gentlemen and men of as one Mr. Lower, sent ouer (as was sajd) to be marshall and one Mr. Barrett, takeinge vpon him to be
;

an inginier; in her also came ouer one Mr. Felgate, an old

soldier,

who hath

euer since, for the most part, bin resident

here,

and hath done many painefuU seruices for the good of

of

the plantation, being at the present liuetenant

the

gouernours company.
saryes,

All thes people, with their neces-

were speedely landed and vewed by the gouernour,

their

who haueinge taken

condition, distributed

names, and considered of their

fitted

and

euery one to his employe-

ment and labour ; for some of them he sent to the Gurnetts head, to make that plattforme and rayse thoes battlements, that to this daye lie out vpon the mouth of the harbour; the which, haueinge finished in some reasonable manner, was called the Kings-Castle ; others wer employed about the mountinge of such ordinance as wer sent ouer by the newe come shyps; the most of the
rest

were disposed of

to the finishinge of St. Katheraines Fort, to the

makeiuge

of fire-woi'cks, fellinge of trees, haueing of stones, and to

the prepareinge of materialls

fitt

for those

turnes.

The
oflS-

gouernour also
cers)

(to

make an
drill

essaye of his

newe come

caused Lower to

and exercise

his

men, and con-

ferred with

Barrett about

newe worcks

of fortification

but from both of them (either in deed or seemingly), received

so smale satisfaction, as

that openly manifestinge

and continually puttinge vpon them witty disgraces (whether deseruedly or noe, it is
his distaste of their insufiiciencyes,

variously deliuered), he

made them sone

lie

find that neither

presumptions weaknesse can long

hensive experience
;

hid from an appre-

nor an imposed seraice prone at any

time Wellcome to a iealous master; so that being almost

noe soener arriued, than cloyed and euen loathiuge their

D 2

36

THE IIISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

employments, they retired themselves from whence they

came by the them in.

mentioned

sam.e shj^p (the

most of them) that bi'ou^ht

Within fourteen dayes

shj^ps, the

after the arriuall of thes last fore-

shyp called the Manjeret, with two

pinnaces,^ whereof the one

was named the Thomas, the

with thes came Bartlett

other the Fjdvnn, entred the harbour of St. Georges, and

in

them 160 newe residents more

the second time, with a secret commission (as

to succeede the gouernour
especiall
;

some thought)

but without question, with an

charge to the gouernour to cause the ilands to be

layd out into tribes and shares (as they are nowe), and so
to

haue the people planted vpon them accordingly, the

to

which worck he was

be an ej^e-witnesse

of,

and by

all

meanes

possible

setter-forward.

But

the gouernour

(partly because

he found that by this course his men must

left

needes be drawen away from him, and so worcks be

vndone which he was ambitious

to finish

but especially by

reason that in veweing the forme and instructions sett

downe by the company

shares, he

for the distribution of the tribes

and

saw noe mention made of himselfe, nor of any

such quantitie of land as the Court had promised him at his

setting out) resolued

by

all

meanes to disturbe the sayd

order, tellinge Bartlett plainely that the daye of plantation

was yet
of

to early, to allowe

any such dispersion of the people

;

from the partes of defence

neither could
;

it

but be a course

much hazard and improuidence and that it was visible ynough vnto him how as yet the lialfe of that which was as also that forraign necessary was not performed attempts wer not wantinge, wittnesse the two Spanish the company of aduenturers must pardon him, shyps
; ;

therefore,
tion

if

in this point
for

he declined from

this their iniunc-

and command;

ho had the advantage of them by

eccular experience, and the lives of himsolfe and his

men

Aliout April IGlt.

OE SUMMER ISLANDS.
laye at the stake^ the adueuturers indeed

o/

might

lose soiue
it

expence of coyne

but he and his wer to make

good,

upon the expence of blond. Bartlett being able to drawe from him noe other answer

somewhat rough and violent; insoup more choler from the gouernonr than euer the climate had thetherto purged ; in which heate and passion he gave him this distempered answer,
but
this,

grew

at last

much

as he brought

that

if

he expected and stayed

for

more, he must cutt

to

it

out with his sword.

But

Bartlett,

whose errand was

no

such purpose, perceiueinge that ther might well ensue some

danger but noe good by a farther opposition, determined

to forsake both
it

and the
and

ilands,
;

and back againe by

re-

turne with the shyp for England

this resolution timely

and the rather he formed

euery daye the
the old planters,
it is

requisite_, for that

generallitie

of

the

people,

especially
at

whether encouraged or conniued

by the gouernonr

not knowen, threw their discontents in his face, and at last

came up

so roundly to him, as they forbore not to tell

him

plainely, that if

he came amongst them any more, with his he brought with him their old paye,
out upon him, though

newe

tricks, vnlesse

which they pretended due to them from the merchands,

they would share
it it

wer but in

thongs of his skinne.

Thus shared, awaye goeth he with

the shyp, and with him the master of the Edwin, as great
a discontent as himselfe.

As

for the origiuall cause

and secrett of sendinge of the

two pinnaces vnto the

ilands, various

wer the opinions that

it,
;

wer receiued and mainteyned about humours wer, that they wer fedd

accordinge as the
for the

with-all

gouernonr

(by this time growen as jealous of the company as they

sone after of him) would needes apprehend

it,

that

it

was

only a plott for the entiseinge of him vpon so fayre an

occasion to

some vnwarrantable employment of them vpon the Wetit Indies, that therby they might take him at an

63

THE HISTOliYE OF THE BERMUDAES

aduantage, and so paye him with his owne

monye

but this

seemes not only an vncharitable censure, but an improbable one also;

it.

for the trick could not counteruayle the

it

charge of

Others couceiued

that the aduenturers

had both a

secret desire

and an ententine meaninge, that they should

;

be employed by the colony that ways

to carry the bussines, so as
it

marry they affected

in their

might be

owne choice
part,

either to auouch or disauouch the action, accordinge to the

speed of

it,

and as they found cause.

For mine owne

I should rather thinck that the true entention of their

fittinge of

them up, and sendinge them vnto the

it

plantation,

was

for the secureinge of

;

against
all

all

casuall accidents of

famine

that by them,

vpon

occasions,

might be carryed a

lawfull traide in corne with the natiues of the sauuage ilands,

who

are not aboue fourteen dayes sayle from them,^ from

whence they might be conueniently supplied with hogges, goates, together with many kindes of plantes and fruicts,
the which a news plantation could not but for a long while

stand in need of: and euen to this daye such a meane as

this

(howsoeuer the place

is

since very well improued)

cannot chuse but be very extraordinaryly wellcome and of

great securitie and comfort; and as an inducement leade-

ingo

me
is

to

this

coniecture,

may

alledge

that speacli

which

sayd to haue proceeded from a forward prime man,

talker in their courts in England,

and a

stiff

who

being,

with the rest, informed of the great wants and mysery that
the colonye endured at that time, and being one of thoes
that

wer petitioned

fellowes

why (quoth he) will thes neuer be weaned, haue we not sent them two
for
releife,

hansome pinnaces
that this sayiuge

to helpe themselves

I gi-aunt, indeed,

maye endure
;

a double construction, and

be equally taken both wayes

more) fauorable for
1

yet being as fully

(if

not

me

as for any of the rest, I

am

willin-

The Lncayas
tlie

tended by

or Bahamas appear, at this time, to he generally Savage Islands, but sometimes the Virgin Islands.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS,
ingly contented to
receiue
secret of
it it

39

tlie

most charitable waye.

certaiue,
it

But howsoeuer the

or some other

was

is

that the

gouernour^ whether vpon the strength of his owne beleife,

by

respects, could neuer be induced to

haue

the least thought of employeinge of them, either this

waye

or any other, so that within a while after they became

vnseruicable.

The harbours being thus

falls

cleared of

all

shyps, saue the

people^,

two pinnaces, the gouernour being well stored with

againe to his fortinge
:

and haueinge done with Pagetts

Fort, he rayseth a fashionable redoubt in Coopers Hand,

and

calls it

Pembroke

Fort.

He

buildeth also a certaine

slope bridge at the Townes-warfe, for the easie shoreinge

of goodes,

the which (by want of due ground-worck)

is

shortly after broken to peeces

by the windes and waues.

in contriueinge of fire-

He

bestoweth some time,

also,

worcks, and the frameinge of certaine slight engines of

timber, and the like deuises, the most part wherof proued

of

smale

effect,

and as smale continuance.

And

thus

passed he ouer the second yeare of his time, and nowe was
well stept into the third
;

when

the

company

in England,

haueing receiued, by Bartlett, euery thinge at the worst

hand, and therby fallen into an absolute disgust and suspicious loathinge of
all

his proceedeinges ther,

they not

only spake sharpely and bittei'ly against his peeuishnesse

and presumption

(for those

wer the best

titles
;

they could

nowe

afford his actions) in their

open courts
letters,

but so sea-

sonned their generall and perticuler

which they

from henceforth wrote vnto him, with sharpe and biteinge

sauce, as the afflicted

man

(and in some sort certainely

wronged) hath bin heard

to saye,

with teares tricklinge

downe
if

his cheekes, that they

vexed him to the very soul

it

and, in good truth,

that be
true,
is

how could

be otherwise (especially

which an eminent and leadinge sperit

among them

reported to have spoken in publick, that he

iO

THE HISTOKYE OF THE BERMUDAES

for

hoped the king would send

hini) for the

him home

shoi'tly,

and hang

wonndes
is

of a freind, from

whom

not only ap-

plause, bnt reward

expected, strike deeper, and

make

farr greater impression than the

mainest blowes of an open

is

enemye, from whence noething but malice and mischeife

looked
for.

Dureing

this

hard measure from England, the gouernour

full

(who had not yet the

second

sense of his

ill)

began

to find the

prouerbe true, that one mischeif neuer comes without a

;

for,

haueinge kept his whole number of people so

close at worck, as that he allowed noe

employment

for the

settinge of corne, but for his sustentation that

waye

relied

wholy vpon his store out of England

and a speedy supply

which

(it is

sayd) Bartlett, at his departure, had confidently

;

and faythfully promised him

that scarce any thinge at

began within a while

;

to

haue his prouisions shorten vpon him

all

and so short
;

at last,
(still

was

left

at

what time

lookeinge out

in

vaine for a shyp) he at length became contell

strained in plaine tearmes to

the people, that consider-

inge the case they wer

in, in

compassion of them he neither

:

could nor would hold them any longer at their worck

ho

aduised them, therefore, to practice their best endeuours,

and to prouide
such
like,

for themselues,

by

fishinge, birdinge,

and

promiseing to euery one his best assistance, only,

for the safetye of the fortes

and the secureinge of the har-

bours mouthes, he would reserue some fewe of his best

men, and especially the carpenters, bricklayers, and masons,

to

goe on (though but slowly) with the begun worcks,

themselues in some

alloweing of them somewhat (by pincheinge himselfe and

famely) wherwith they might keepe

strength

and with

this

(for

a cheareing and incourage-

ment) he did also dayly and diligently labour himselfe.

I)ut thes shyfts

seruing but for a while, so that the disease

(like a palliated cure)

sono after brake out worse than cucr

the last refuge rcsolucd
(all

bclbrc

it

was

lor

hope of

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
English
releife being'

41

now

quite taken away) that the

Edwin
falne

should be rigged up and sent for England, to carry newes

to the adueuturers of the great distresses they
into,

were

and

to craue a

speedy supply.

This being nimbly

performed, and a master appointed her out of the ilands,

she cleares her selfe of the harbour, and goes her waye.

Ypon

her at the same time also (hopeinge

allay to the

it

might giue

some kind of
haudes for a
perfection.^

sowrenesse of her errand) was

shipped a small quantitie of tobacco, which some fewe

triall

had nursed and bred up

to a tollorable

Whilst

this

Pinnace was on her way for England, scarcetie

and famine euery day more and more preuayleinge vpon

the sickly colony, caused the gouernour to look well about

him
sent

in the beginning of the

newe

yeare, therefore (1615),

sick,

150 persons,
into

of the

most ancient,
Hand, ther
sea
birds,

and weake, wer

Coopers
in

to

be relieued
the

by the
Cahowes,

comeinge
wher,

of the
halfe

especially

by

this

hunger-starued
all

company, they are

so

found in
they

infinite

numbers, and with

least

tame and amazed

are, that
fall

vpon the

howeteinge or noyce, they

would

dowue, and light vpon their shoulders as they

satt,

went, and leggs as they

suffering themselves to be
killed.

caught faster than they could be

Here likewise they had admirable aboundance of fish but as the vse of Heauens blessinges with good men causeth them
to breake out into thancksgivinge

and a holy respect

into

of the deuine prouidence, so the abuse of them by intemperate

cesse,

gluttons

and
;

beastly swine,

turnes

it

ex-

and raueninge

wittnesse the generall carriage and

behauiour of this company,

who being
it

thus

arriued and

gott up to a libertie and choice of eateing as

much

as

they would,
euery
'

how monstrous was

swallowed
close of !61i.

to see,
;

how

greedily
to

thing was

downe

how

incredible
iu October.

Towaxds the

Tobacco was ftathered

42
speake,

THE HISTORYE OP THE BEEMUDAES

how many dosen

into

of thoes poore
to

silly

creatures, that

euen offered themselues

the

slaughter,
:

wer tumbled
(as

downe

their bottomelesse

mawes

whervpon
all

the

sore effect of so ranck a cause, the birds with

being ex-

ceedeingly

fatt)

then sodenly followed a generall surfettinge,

:

much

the which sicknesse, and many of their deathes comeinge to the Gouernours knowledge, (conceiueing that a chaungeing of the ayre, and especially an abstinence fro
so fatt a feedeinge might be a

meanes of recouery) he speedely

conueyed from thence
to a

causeth them

all

to be instantly

place called at this

bote,
(as

day Port-royall, wher he allowed them a

fish for

and a gang of men to

them

but this gang

most of the rest yet are

and neghgent

to this daye)

groweing lazey,

carelesse,

in this important

employment, such

an extreame want and miserie came vpon themselues and

the

whole company, that

all

of

them grewe sodainely

feeble and lamentably sickley, in so

much
ill

that

many through

famine died.

At which time

also this

effect followed, that

certaine cowes with a bull sent out of

turers,

England by the aduentribe, called

and pastured in that part of Sands, his

of

then and nowe Sommers-seate, wer by this improuident and

rauenous company
all

them

killed

and devoured

the

Gouernour
report of

sufferinge

them

to thinck that he belieued their

it,

which was, that in hott weather they ranne into

botes are presently sent downe to con-

the sea, to coole themselues, and so wer drowned.

But vpon
uaye them

this,

all to

the towne, but ther being scarce halfe botes

ynough, the

women and children wer carried by sea, the men

:

trauayled by land

only some fewe ther wer

who makeinge

choice and earnest suite to be left behind, conueyed themselues into the

woddes and ther sustayned themselues with

is

wilcks (which

a kind of shell-fish

like

a snayle) and

land-crabbs
selfe

among

the rest one of them, singlinge him-

from

all

others

and liueinge

all

alone

for

diners

monethes, without so much as the sight of any reasonable

; ;

Oli

SUMMER
vp

ISLANDS.

-io

creature, so well nursed

liimselfe witli that only foode,

as

being,

after

the arrivall of a shjp,

sought after and

last found, thousrh

with much adoe discouered, he was at

with neuer a ragge to his back yet with good

fatt

store of
for the

on his

belly.
all

The people being once againe

them
at the towne, the
releife,

most part
his botes,

of

Gouernour takes
all

exceedeinge care for their

and trimminge up

manns them with the best and

ablest of his

men, and so putts them

in so

to continuall fishinge for the rest

much

that ordinarily 150 and sometimes 200 great

:

fishes are

brought home in a daye

at

last the

hookes

and

lines

groweing

scai'ce,

he causeth the smithes to make

;

hookes of old rustye swordes

and cuttinge a cable betimes would he rise him-

longing to the pinnace called the Thomas, setts the people

on worck
selfe at

to

make

lines,
call

and

oft

midnight,

vp

his fishermen

and

sett

them out

to sea

with which course and by which meanes for two

people
in

or

three monethes wer the

some conuenient

fashion kept and maiutayned.

By

this

time the Edwin (sent out as you have heard

to call for releife) hath

made her voiage

into

England

by

whose lamentable discouory of the diseases of the Colony

fresh exclamations are raysed against the

Gouernour; ac-

cuseinge his wilfulnesse and self conceite, which wrought

him

to a continuall

contempt

(as

they sayd) of their

all-

sufficient dix'ections, as the originall cause of all these dis-

tempers
engaged,

notwithstandinge, findinge themselues euery way

both

in

purse

and

credit,

they resolue by
:

all

meanes

to

make good what they had begun

though
(as

yet not de-

termineinge upon the chaunge at that time of a Gouernour,

either because
selues
ill

they thought) they found them-

serued, they yet

or that they
for his

knewe not how to be bettered made some doubt whether their commands
straunge and vnchari table

returne (so

wer
:

their

iealous apprehensions)

would be obeyed or noe

and ther-

44
fore thought

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

it

fittest to

attend some farther opportunities.

is

Hovvsoeuer the good shyp the Welcome

in all haste sent out for that voiage,

presently and
alto-

and fraughted

gether with English corne, and not long after safely arriues

whether she was bound, and by her longed

proues herselfe

for fraught

the wellcome as well in deed as name.

Noe sooner was

the next day
is

she come

in,

but the Gouernour

commands

from her a quantitie of some barrells of meale, the which

(with straunge ioye) deliuered and receiued

by the people,
bread
to be
:

who

for

many monethes

before had seen noe

the rest of the prouisions he causeth also presently

to the charge of the

vnshypped and commits them

Clearck of the Publick Store.

This done, and the comfindinge his tearme and

;

pany reasonably well quietted,

limited time of
of
it

gouernment expired

and that the burthen

was

likely rather to encrease

than otherwise by the

dayly accesse of newe commers, and assureinge himselfe,

besides, that the aduenturers

had forborne to send

for

him

home more vpon

this

the respects of themselues, than any good

of his, he resolued to leaue the

Hands and make home with

to leave the
at last

shyp

but before his departure, weighinge and ponder-

inge within himselfe what forme and order

Gouernment

in,

which he nowe ment to forsake, he

it

resolued to settle

upon the shouldiers of

six persons

which

he made choice

of,

whose names

(for charitye sake) I will

forbear to mention, for their deedes sake, that I

to

am nowe

remember^

the which six (callinge in vnto them the as-

sistance of certaine others

whom

he also nominated for that

turne)

wer euery one of them

:

in their

moneths to take
it

his
last

course at the helme

the which act of his as

was the
it

publicko one that euer he did here, so certainely

was the
names
in

This suppression
History.

is

curious, Smith having published their

liis

They were Captain

Charles

Miles Kendall^ Captain John 3IansJicl(l,

'Thomas Kiiiyht,
Carter.

Calikcol,

Edivard Waters, and Chris(oj>hcr

G'cn. Hist., lib. v.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
very worst
(in that

45

kind) that euer he committed dureinge

:

the whole time of his abode

for

howsoeuer

it is

most true
tell

(and his owne experiences

could

not chuse but

him

as much) that not any one of thes thus putt in authoritie

wer fitt for the place or capable of the employment neither wer then any better here at that time to be found, yet the maine fayle and error of his iudgement was in bringinge up
;

so

many

vnsufficient

once into the circle of command. but that

five

and dangerous ones together and at For who knowes not

theeues are better to be endured than ten,

three tyrants than six, one

maddman

than two.

The

affayres of thes

Hands, and the disposition of them,

after

being thus constituted, within a while

the old Gouernour with the shyp, and
rule or rather mis-rule of the
six
:

awaye goeth
the

nowe begines

the which before

we

aduenture upon we

will

bring Mr. Moore into England, and

shewe

yoia, in bi-eife,

the entertainement the

for

him

at his
:

comeinge home, and so once

all,

Company gaue make an end

yet

with him

who although

it

was not long

after his departure

;

before he safely arrived in England with the Welcome

not knoweinge what wellcome he should haue giuen him,

either
losses

by particular creditors (by whom by some vnfortunate he was much engaged), or by the Company of aduen-

whose seruice he found that he had .spent three yeares to a mutuall discontent and distast, he noe soner
turers, in

was gotte

to

London but

retires himselfe into a very priuate

and poore lodgeinge

in Millford Lane, the

which vpon

this

were gott the name of the Bermudoes,^ from whence the next
I

Qi-erdo.

Look

into

any angle
ale,

of the
is

Town, the
read,

Streights, or the

Bermuda's, -where the quarrelling lesson

tain the time,

and how do they enterBartholomew Fair,

but with bottle,

and tobacco?..."
their very trade

by Ben Jonson, 1614. " These men ever want

Is borrowing
;

that but stopt, they do invade

All as their

pi'ize,

turn pirates, here at land

i'

Have

their

Bermudas, and their Streights

the Strand.

46

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

arriuall to Sir

daye he sends the certainetie of his

Thomas

Smithe, who then was (and yet is) the Gouernour of the Company; lettinge him knowe the cause of his not presentinge himselfe vnto him in person, the which being secured
of,

he would wiUingly and speedely perform.

Thes newes

somewhat
being

startled the adventurers, as well in respect of their

much deceiued

in the point of his

comeinge home, as
an vnex-

in the regard of the

danger and

ill

ease they suspected the

Hands might be

left in,

by

this his so soudaine

pected a leaueing of them. .Diners of them, therefore, quickly

repayred vnto him
;

from

whome

receiueinge satisfaction in
(for

euery particular to their good content

such shewe they

made) they

him comforted with good wordes, and promises of procureinge for him a protection from his creditors,
left

that so he might freely and safely resort to their Courtes,

giue up his account, and have his quietus

est

and promised
his sayd pro-

rewarde
tection

and indeed,

it

was not long before

was made good vnto him, so that without danger in

that respect, he shortly after

came amongst them; when,

and
litle

after

some

varietie of chideinge,

lesse

(by some of the

meanest of them) than

vnciuill

and base of vpbraydeinges, he and so was

at last receiued his salary of eight shares of land,

dismissed with showe of fauour and friendshyp.^

And nowe
vpon such

wo must

returne (though even loath I

am

to

fall

Man

out their boats to the Temple, and not shift

;

Now, but command

Ejnstle to Sir

make

tribute

what was

gift."

Edward

Sackvile, afterwards

Ear] of Dorset, about

1625,

id.

"The
Street."

Streiglits consisted of a

nest of obscure

courts, alleys,

and

avenues, running between the bottom of St. Martin's Lane and Chandos

W. Gifford's Ben Jonson, note in

Lane
still exists.

loc.cit.

Millford

History,

These were and six

in of

Southampton Tribe, by the schedules in Smith's them are identified by Norwood, in his Survey of
is

1603 (Memorials.^ etc., ii, p. 703, where the name " Morar" or " Moorcr" instead of Mooro).

orroncouHly written

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
confusions) to treate of our
lialfe

47
left

dosen of Gouernours

behind in the Sommer Hands.

Lib. III.

The Rule of

the

Six Gouernours.

1615-1616.
ciuillest

The

first

publick attempt they tooke in hand was the

lotts,

castinge of

to see

who

first

should begin the playe,

the which by good fortune

fell

upon one of the

who though^ hereby, he had

the rest in the haveinge of a
farre better

the advantage and start of

fnll store,

yet he vsed

it

in a

temper than any of them would have done, and

therby

left

somewhat
this

for his

companions in the reare to

shewe
the

their ill-husbandry

and reeleinge expence.

Toward
sett

end of

man^s

first

moneth a proiect was

abroad^ and greedely swallowed, for the sendinge out of a

smale barck to fiddle vpon the

West

Indies

wherevpou

the frigate before mentioned^ brought in by Elfrye, was

sodainely rigged up, and being

manned with

thirty-two

men

(whereof three of them

full

were three of the gouvernours,

she cleares herselfe of the Hands

of conceite and

iollitie,^

and makes awaye).

ill

But

this

poore vessell (whether through

weather, or want of marriners^ or both) insteade of the

Indies
falls

West

vpon the Hands of the Canaries, wher

sone after in a

she hitts vpon a poore Portugall and takes her, the which

being manned with ten of her owne people

is

storme separated from her, and the nexte day after found

by a French rouer and by him carried awaye ;

fi'igate,

so that the

out of hope of the recouerye of her prize,

for the

makes a

second time
but
is

Indies,
;

wher she noe soner arriued

after

foundred in the sea

but her men, recoueringe a deso-

late iland in their bote,

ther fetched off

'

some moneths of stay by an English pyrate, who conuayed them

wer

These three were Chard, Knight, and "Waters.

48

THR HISTORYE OF THE DKRMUDAES

in to their country.

ninge in the
nours.

first

And thus ended the first moneth of the playe of the

act begiusix

gouer-

the second man for the second moneth (who had much more witt than his fellowes as to helpe him to be so much the more vitious) presently began his worck, with a generall giueinge of leaue to playe, so that nowe

When

only so

the brauest and tallest fellowe was

deepestji

he that could drinck

bowle best with saker shott in the gouernours

garden, and winne most lobllolly.^

Yet

withall (to

shewe he

had somewhat
or in the least
frigate,

in

him) scorneinge so

much

as once to doubt,

manner

to question, the

golden returne of his

being sent out by such hands and heads as himselfe

and

his companions,

he plodded vpon some deepe reachit

inge trick, for the keepeinge of

when

it

came

and

to this

extent, three or foure of them, siappeing their soundeinge

pates together, deuised and framed a certaine petition contriued as from the people in generall vnto the worthy
tri-

umuirate of Grouernours

(for

the other three as you haue

heard wer gone in the pinnace), wherin they wer most

humbly and earnestly besought and supplicated, that by noe meanes they would resigne or deliuer up the wholesome regiment they nowe had in their hands, to any person or
persons whatsoeuer, although sent with
all

the authoritie and

vntill

accomplishment that possibly might be from England,

six

moneths

after

the arriuall of the said frigate.

which petition,

after

The much hammeringe vpon, examination,

and puttinge out, wrightinge oner
and so euer ready to be carried into
handes
;

correction, puttinge in

and ouer and

the maine

finall

contruement, was committed to the

fingers of a sure carde,

in state, for the collection of

when

(be-

'

Smith was himself conspicuous

for

temperance,

as
is

well as for
in-

bravery, and his contempt for the vice of drunkenness

ternal evidences of his autliorship of this work.
*

one of the

sort of porridge

made

of Indian corn.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
hold the chaunce) one of their ministers

49

named Mr. Lewes

Hughes, who aboue

ancGj
itie

all

men they
it,

desired to keepe in ignor-

came

to

an incklinge of

and findinge the irregular-

and vnwarrantablenesse of the actionj sodenly resolues

being for the most part soudaine) by
to disturbe
it
;

(his resolutions

all

meanes possible

and the rather, by reason

that neither the person for that monethes Gouernment,

who
nor

had bin the prime deuisor and propounder of the

trick,

the carriage and fashion of his fellowe clergie man, a well

approuer thereof (being the same Keath that we had occasion

to speake of in Mr. Moore's time),

wer any waye acceptable

it,

vnto him.

His

first

attempt vpon

therfore,

began by

taking an opportunity to rush in vpon them

when they wer

for the

euen at the point of an

issue,

and in the readeinge and so

fare-well-takeinge of the

petition,

nowe goeinge

maine
it

whervpon findeinge theraselues discouered, and that

to sett a

was necessary

good
it

face

vpon the matter, they

held on the readeinge of

out to his teethe.

The which

beinge done and the societie breakeinge up, the minister

makeinge choice of one of them (who was indeed a fellowe

that euer held
all others),
it

as a being true to

him

selfe to

be

false to

sayd petition

demanded of him, who was the penner of the He (who himselfe was guiltye of the fact) de?
selfe to that

murely answered that in truth the Gouernour had sent and

sent for

him

purpose, and

still

by waye of ex-

cuse (as mislikeinge the course) he had pleaded ignorance,

vntil at last,

being vrged and in a manner noe better than

it

compelled vnto
directions,

by the Gouernour, who

sett it

also

gaue him his

he had

downe

in the

forme he had nowe

more from him, awaye goes the minister to the scribe who was newely in hand with the fayre coppyeinge of it out, and to him he gaue so vehement
a caution against his medlinge with so infectious a bussinesse, as the poore fearefull
it

heard. Being not able to gett out

as he presently giues

man becomes so terrified vpon him up the petition. Haueing thus

50
gotten what

THE IIISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

lie

came

for,

back agaiue goes he to the Gouer-

nour, and tells

him

plainely

and roughly what he had done

addeinge withall, that he had done more than he could

answer, in that fashion, to stirre up the people by a trick
of a petition framed by

him

selfe to a resistaunce

and noe

better than

a mutiny e

against a legitimate

Gouernour,

shortly to be expected from England.

But the Gouernour

(being a

man who

rather had a

mind

to

make himselfe some-

body

by bold

actions,

than a sperit to execute them),

although he chafed and swelled terribly, yet gavie him noe

other answer for the instant but that he sayd not true, to

tearme the petition his

act, since it

was the generall voice

and desire of the people, which he neither could nor would refuse to heare ; and withall awaye he flings from him to his
companions, and to them relates the presumptuous behauiour
(for so at last

he dares

call it)

of the minister

whervpon

bigg lookes and soure faces are very generally throwen

vpon the honest pooreman, who notwithstandinge (as not being to be diuerted that way) marcheth on confidently to
the vtter dashinge and confoundinge of their petitionary

stretageme.

The next Sunday,

not so
fitt

therefoi'e,

out of the pullpitt (though

a place for that turne), in the presence, and to the

fronts of the contrary partie, he breaks

up and desects before

to re-

full

auditory, the unlawefullenesse and danger of the pro-

pounded course; he coniures and importunes them

nounce and forsake
it,

and the better to quiett and bring

letters,

them

to

it,

he reades certaine

cunningly written vnto

him, from the Governor of the Company in England, a good

while before, wherin was expressed the sorrowe that the

undertakers receiued by the apprehension of their suffrings

and misery

assureinge them that they wer not sent ouer to

liue like slaues,

but as freemen

and that

if

matters had bin

discreetly carried

and

true

information

giuen vnto the

Company, thcr had long

ere then a

remedy and redresse bin

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
procured;

51
(sayth he) that
all

"You seOj therefore^ my masters

former discontents are hkely very shortly to be redressed

be perswaded, therefore, to a discret patience and manly

temper;

least otherwise,

by a

jorecipitated

and misguided
and conalight

resolution, vntimely

and vnluckel}^ entred vpon, you houte

flock of satisfactions
fall

and gaster awaye^ that fayre

tents which
is

euer ready to This oration

is

vpon you and

on

your heades."
ster,

noe soner ended by the mini(as it is

but vp starts the monethly Grouernour, and

sayd)

with a pale looke and tremblinge iointes, he sumto a staye

moneth the company

answer
;

and the heareinge of his

when,

first

of

all,

directinge his speach to the

preacher, he tareth and reproacheth

him

for the readeinge of

him that they had bin long ynough fedd with windye and wordye projiises and that as it was more than timely that some of them had bin long ere then made reall and good vnto them, so it was more than
the foresayde hitters
;

he

telleth

petty that they should be any longer deluded and abused

with the

like.

It

was an impudence

also in himselfe to

tearme that petition rebellious and mutinous, which was not

only honest and lawfull, but euen
severest censures) charitable, equall,

(passinge under the

and most necessarye.

:

Then

tui^neinge

himselfe to the people

this

"

You

see.

Sirs

(quoth he)

how open-mouthed

man

is

nowe, because no
full

longer since than yesterday he tooke his

petition,
it

vewe of

this

and could not reproue

it.

By

speakeinge against
is."

nowe, therefore, you

may

see

what he

The minister
bend
was

being thus netled stands up againe, and begins to venter

vpon an extempore replye,

especially determineinge to

his speech to the confutation of that point wherin he

charged of approveinge the petition one day, and reproueing

it

the next, as also to discouer to the people the subtletye and

cunninge of their vsurpeinge Gouernour, who being the

'*

Hoot and frighten away. " Gasted by the

fled."

noise I made, full suddenly

he

King Lear,

ii,

1.

52

THE HISTORYE OF THE BEEMUDAES

dangerous
plott,

principal!, if not the only actor in this

and

contriueinge

it

only to serve his

owne

turne, yet

went about, vpon that

by freeinge of himselfe

to laye the whole burthen on them.

least touch

But the Gouernour not endureinge the

church,

stringe, in a rage (with a couple of his twang) departs the

the rest behind remaineinge in a plaine diuision

:

among themselves

some

of

them beginninge

to consider of

the minister's laying forth of the case, and especially harp-

inge vpon the danger, and the burthen of the danger likely
to
fall

vpon them

so that they seemed,

by keeping themOthers ther wer

lose,

selves quiett

and hanginge downe of

their heades, either to

it.

repent, or to be well in the

lesse discreet, certainly

waye vnto
and

perhaps haueing lesse also to

forecast
lesse

who, haueing but

little

honesty, with

threateninge lookes and insolent cryes, manifested a promptitude

rest,

to anything but

what became them.

Among
it

the

one of thes gets vp vpon a forme, and sweares

out

come of it what would, he had rather be hanged and hanged againe, than Hue any longer a slaue to
that for his part,

the gripeing and couetous merchands.

Another black rough

hewed
falls

fellowe followes the preacher out of the church,

and

into such a fierce

and eager expostulation with him

bout the bussinesse, as the poore

selfe

man

is

glad to ridd him-

out of his company with

all

the haste he can, for feare

fists.

of a foule cuffinge with a filthye payre of

The minister gettinge

cleare of this beateinge, with

castle,

much

adoe procures to be conuaide to the king^s

the very same
l<jd.);

wher, at

that time, was resident one of the three Gouernours, and

who was

to be next in succession (Mansfield,

to

him he

relates the passage of the

whole bussinesse,
he in soe doeing

vehemently craueing his assistance, wheriu he protested

that as he

was nowe

their hope, so should

proue their helpe against a maine distemper and dangerous

infection.

This done, and receiueinge some promises that

to the towne.

gaue some rcuiuement backe againe, he getts

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

53

Noe

soner was he returned, but that the Gouernour in esse

(misdoubtinge least some distraction might be wrought in

by the minister) makes to him to the castle, wher he quickly winnes him (for he had a tonnge glibb
his successor

ynough, especially to an
mises
;

ill

end) to a relaps from his pro-

for

he told him how the sayd minister had not only

saucely inveighed against the regencye of Gouernours, dis-

graceinge them openly before the people, wherin himselfe

must needs bear a

in

part, but that also in perticuler he

had

diners speaches misused both

himselfe and his wife.

it,

This report, especially the last clause of

so fastned

vpon

the man, none of the wisest (such being the

for credulitye to

fittest subiects

worck upon,

especially to the worst part),

that he sodainely resolues vpon the givinge of his ioint

assistance against the minister
;

and

to that purpose (not

haueinge the patience to stay for the knowledge of the

truth) they both of
selves for the

them together
:

instantly em-bote them-

towne

and the easie

man was noe

;

soner

ther, but in a fury

he betakes himselfe to seeke out the

preacher,

whom

he finds alone in his chamber

on a

wher hottly

he

falls

vpon him concerneinge

all

his disparagement of the

Gouernoui'S, but

fire

he was about the perticuler

concerneing himselfe and his wife. But the minister (wisely

declineing from his naturall speritt, for he saw ther was noe

remedy), with the coole ashes of suiFrance and the allay of

protestations to the contrary, so moderates and tempers

him, that once againe he

is

recouered, and so well satisfied

as he professeth himselfe for euer after to stande at least an

indifferent

man and

a newter.

And

in this

moode they goe

both together to the Gouernour.

When
courses,

the

Gouernour (constant ynough to his owne

lenitie of his pai'tnour,

and madded with the

being

with

all

prouoked by fresh exprobations from the minister),

breakinge out to extremitie of passion, fumes vpon him,

and sweares that

it

wer a good deed

to clap

him neck and

54

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

;

heeles together

the which, for his coate sake only, he

forebore to doe
allegience,

and therefore commanded him, vpon his

to

appeare personally the next day in the

church, before himselfe and the people, to answere his

misdemenours.

The next day they are

all

assembled in

the church, and the Gouernour in his seate also, expectinge

the appearance of the minister
;

and not long

it

was before

he comes in among them, and takes up his seate also; from whence (not attendinge the assembly) he himselfe
giues the onsett, exhortes the

company

to

take heede of
:

the warninge lyon broken loose

that the deuill
that
it

among them tells them had gotten stroung footeinge already, and behoufed them to looke vnto it betimes ; wishinge

them, therfore, to praye heartely to God for grace, to be

deliuered from his temptations before they wer absolutely

and

fully

possessed.

in steade of

The Gouernour findinge himselfe, arraingeinge, to be as it wer arraigned, and

to be a iudge, to be himselfe brought (as

wher he looked

he thought) to the barr, not able any longer to endure

the affront, he stands up and offers to enter vpon his resolued of iudiciary course
;

when, sodainely, a huge gust of

wind and weather (the which the one side almost cride out
for a miracle, the other slighted as an accident vulgar and

common

in thoes ilands)

so ruffles in the leauege (leafy)

church, and confounds and disturbs the whole assembly

with extreame raine and noice, that thei'by the bussines

is

forceably broken of for the instant, and the progression

appointed to be in the afternoone in the Gouernours Hall.

Being a second time assembled, in the

hall,

and the minister

is

brought to the barre, a jury of twelve men

empaunelled

and sworne to passe vpon the poore man, their charge, giuen
vnto them by the Gouernours owne mouth, was to enquire

about contempt of the Gouernours authoritie, practised and

acted by the prisoner at the barre, by his tearmeinge of

the petition aforesayd a rebellious and mutinous petition.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

55

as also by his addeing farther vnto his contempt, a sedetious and dangerous speach, in callinge the said Gouernour himselfe Machiauell, and sayeiug that this was one of his

Machiauileian tricks.

This charge being thus deliuered,

and the jury (without expectance of farther proofe) being

ready to goe out together to fetch in their verdict, the
minister calls vnto
to consider

them

to staye,

and aduiseth them,

tearmed

first,

and heare his replye.

it is

" Concerneinge the petiit

tion (sayeth he),

lious

true, indeed, that I I

rebel-

and mutinous, the which

doe thus and thus proue

vnto you." "Beare wittnesse," cryes out the Gouernour, "you

maynowe iudge him by

and spare
tion
not,^^ cryes

his

out the minister

it

owne mouth." "Beare witnesse, ; "but with all, beare

peti-

wittnesse that he calls

:

an honest and conscionable

and wheras

it

hath bin suggested vnto you that I

all

should tearme this your Gouernour Machiauell, you can

wittnesse with

me

(for
it

whatsoeuer I spake in thes kind was

is

before you
his

all)

that

most

false.

True

it is,

that

vpon
and

open

iustification

of this ungracious petition, and his

it,

enticeinge of the people to proceede in

I desired

entreated them to consider thoroughly of his cunning and

subtletye; and did, indeed, alledge Machiauell as the father

of such tricks; but as for the

nameing or tearmeinge of
of

him a Machiauell,
will affirme
it.'^

it

came neuer out

this the jury

my mouth
is

let

me

see one wittnesse besides himselfe

(who

a partye) that

Upon

goes together, and are

;

scarce out before they

come

in againe

so that presently,

with out so

much

as being once

demanded whether they

wer agreed, they giue in their verdict; and the hastie Gouernour proceedes to sentence, although one of the
jurors, with an audible voice, is heard to saye thes wordes,

" This

is

the foremans verdict only, not oui*s"

the which

verdict was, that the minister

was guilty of a heinous conby the Goueruors owne

tempt, both towards the Gouernours authoritie and person.

The sentence

followed, deliuered

56

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

;

mouth, and was that he should be committed to prison

and the other minister, named Keath, to be sent

the maine, to serue in his roome.

for out of

Upon

the deliuery of

which sentence, one of the Gouernours assistaunce, and

diners others of the company, makeinge a confused noice,
at last speake
it

out aloud, that they wer starued ynough in

their bodyes already,

and

it

was neither reason nor con-

science to starue their soules too.

Why

(replies the
;

Gothe

uernour), Mr.

Keath

shall

preach to us in his steade

other answer that he was noe minister; and, besides, that

that

when he tooke vpon him

to preach, he did
it
;

it

so lamely

as they could receiue noe edification by

fore,

and

that, ther-

they came to heare him rather vpon constrainct than

otherwise.^

Whereupon

the Gouernour concludes, with this

:

kingly or rather popelike catastrophy

"Why then

(quoth he)

we

will

make him
some

a minister, and then you shall see he will

all,

please you'^ and sobreakes up the Court; but yet with

findinge that

distast

began to be taken

at his courses,

and not knoweinge how stroung the contrary partye might

prone, for that time he slacks the execution of the former

sentence against the minister, and suffers him to goe abroad

at large.

But not long

either the

after (his malice not sufferinge

him

to let

man

or matter so to rest) he conti^iues a deuilish

plott, for the settinge of the

two ministers

in extremitie toits effect,

gether by the eares

the which quickly worckinge

Keath

in the

company

of the Gouernour in succession

;

comes

sodainely to the towne

wher he

is

noe soner arriued but

that (to giue satisfaction to the Gouernour, and to crosse

his opposite)

he takes openly vpon him to maintaine the

;

course and forme both of the fore-sayd petition

to

which

end (very vntowardly and

Israelis reuolt

idely)

he quotes the people of

from their King Rehoboara, when he would

not bo induced to ease them of their grieuances, as also

their puttinge

to death of

Attaliah,

and the makeing of

This

is

evidence that Keath or Keith was not in Episcopal orders.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
Joasli

57
fall

king.

Vpon

this,

the two ministers

instantly

into so hott an argumentation

and disputes

(the

Gouernour

laughinge at them both in his sleeue the whilst) that ere

long publick and pulpitt inuectiues are practised on both

many other most bitter passages in house and home meetinges and some actions passing betwixt which wer litle lesse than blowes, in so much that the Scottish
sides, besides
;

minister Keath (findeinge his strength by the Gouernours

secret fauour

and supportance, and rather afFectinge

either of his

to trust

to that than the strength

armes or cause)
thus hath the

presents an humble petition vnto the Gouernour for justice

against the
malitious

Welsh minister Lewes.^

his desire
is
:

And

man

so that the very next day, the

poore Mr. Lewes

a second time haled to the barr, and

;

hath this twelue God-fathers empanelled vpon him

who are
oflFred

nowe

to enquire concerneinge certaine abuses,

by him

to the person of his fellowe minister, that reuerend

man Mr.

Keath, as in perticuler
dition,

for

tearmeinge of him a sower of se-

an heretick, and had violently thrust him out of his

to

chamber ;
he could

which pointes Mr. Lewes made the best answer

himselfe,

for

and so

sufficient (it

seemed) they
for the last

seemed
and

to the jury, as that only taxeinge

him

leaste,

he became therby free from

all capitall inflictions,

and so escaped that snare, to the noe smale discontent of

him that layed it for him. But by this time growes

an end
(for

this

Gouernours

first

moneth

to

why should

I blott

my

paper, and abuse

my

reader, with the rehearsalls of so

many fooleries,

cousanages,^

and barbarismes, by some cruell strappadoeinge executions vpon poore and deiected delinquents that his aquavitamoneth, produced ouer and aboue), and nowe stepps in his
successor, who, whether
it

wer

in mistake of the violences

of his predecessor, in respect he

'

knew

that they, wer for the

his

Lewis Hughes.

Smith frequently drops

is

surname

also in his

Generall History, which

is

one of

many

internal evidences that this

*

work

by the same

author.

Query cozenages.

58

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

most part maliciously contriued and prosecuted, or that, in his owne nature he affected to sitt still, eate, and especially
drinck, at his ease

and to

his full, the

which he found

(fol;

loweinge the others stepps) he could not so delicately doe

which soeuer I saye of thes

notoriously

it

was that wrought vpon him,

still,

knowen

it

is,

that for the most part, a

;

calme, quiet and drousie moneth he held

in

which most

pleaseinge and beloued path his destinated successor also

most brauely marched

in

so that for their

two times of

regencye (and thoes wer two whole monethes) saue that the constant sunne made it clearely daye, a man might haue
taken them for a perpetuall night
pickaxe, or shouell
streates
;

not a hoe, axe, sawe

their

was so much as once heard in

times,

not an oare seene, or heard, or dash in their har-

bours, vnless
seasons,
it
:

some

and

at

when

their stoute stomachs compelled

some certaine and sett them vnto

the

only (that you might knowe,

when they wer awake)

so resolutely

shrill

clang of a peuter pott beete an alarm sometimes, the

for the

which

most

part,

was

and deepely

answered, as that before the end of the desperate fraye,

either the one

was vtterly spent, or the other confounded and ouer-throwne; and thus employed, bestowed, finished wer
the two sweet monethes of these two sweet youthes.

For the moneth followeinge

minister-maker, and marrer
dayes) comes in the

(in his cue)

vp

starts

vpon happy

the stage the second time that

:

man

of mickle might the

!

he in whose dayes (oh

Edwin from England, fraughted with a

generall supply, and especially well prouided with liqueurs

whose master, an old acquaintance of the Gouernours, is exceedeingly wellcomed by him yet rather (I must tell you) This shyp for his liquorish supply than old acquaintance.
:

is

sodainely, therfore, vnladen,

and her longed

for fraught
for that

committed to a clerck of the

purpose, beinge a

store,

newly created

man

euery waye after the Gouernours

also (misdoubtinge

owne

heart.

Dureing her stay

some

tell-

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
taleinge letters

59
secretly

by her return e)

this

Gouernour

me-

diateth a reconcilement with the minister he

so vexed, the

had formerly

which also by his interposition of the sayd

master of the bark he easily obteyneth of the easye

man

and withall dureing the short time of her abode

bour he so absolutely disposeth of
tions
all

in the har-

thinges after the direc-

and iniunctions sent him from the adventurers, and

letters

seemes so altered and conuerted a man, as that euen

of

commendation and hope are procured

hand which he so much

in his behalfe

from

that very

distrusted,

and so the

edge of that weapon turned, and the blowe not only diuerted
but strikeinge for him.

The Edwin stayes not long here, for haueinge done that she came for, and findinge noe home-fi'aught (for from no worck, no care, noe gouernment, what could be had but priuations, that
ilands,
is

to saye noethinges) she sodainely quitts the

all

and being thoroughly emptied of

her liqueurs, so

makes her way homeward. Ypon her also (whether it wer to make fayre weather for himselfe and his brethren, or for
himselfe only) one of the three gouernours would needes

shyp himselfe, so that two only of the six are

This bark
is

left

behind.

no soner gone, and so thefeare of

tale telleinge

deoarted with her, but that most naturally and greedely, the
late

conuerted Gouernour (become

now

in eifect the only

;

one) returns to his vomitt, to his vomitt indeed

for

haueing

made a Scoggins

dole of

all

her supply,^ the liquor and best

necessaryes being shai*ed betwixt himselfe and his fauorites

(and they only the drinckers only), in the meane time the

weake and
for the

sick people,

women with
it

child

and such
it

like

(who

most part neuer came nearer to

than the heare-

saye, although for

them

was both most proper and most

entended),

fell

quickly into
the

many

distresses
his

and miserable

wants
1

whilst

Gouernour

and

gourmandizeing
this

Scoggius' dole.

I have sought in vain for

an explanation of

singular expression.

60

THE HISTORYE OP THE BEKMUDAES

tlieir

minions, dayly and hourely wallowed iu

cesses.

swineish extricks, dis-

Incredible

it

wer

to write

what iniurious

tempers, wroungs,
graces, contempts,

confusions,

ridiculous

behauiour, dis-

and euen shames both to their creation

as they wer men, and to their place, as they tooke vpon

them to be magistrates, wer hourely and continually bred up and practised by them dureinge their few moneths of lordinge it and to augment the misery, many other acci;

dental!

ills

also concurred

as very vnseasonable weather

:

mightie windes, and frequent huricanoes time eight botes wer

at that
lost,

so that at one

and some

lines withall (a

blowe
it

age of the plantation as deepe and dangerous to

as the ruine of the 88-fleete to the Spaniard).

also

The

fortes

wer generally
the towne to

defective,

and not so much as one bote

occasion
:

left at

manne them vpon any

very

so that

at

last,

not only the people

generally

(especially

those of the soberest sort) but euen some of thoes

who by
wer ap-

Mr. Moore's directions (in nature of a commission)

pointed as assistants in that six-fold Gouernment, began

to be impatiently weary,

and
of

in loathinge of so abominable
life.

and worse than heathenish a

resolved

It

was therfore priuately

among some fewe

them

(the minister, Mr. Lewes,

being head of the partye) that the present gouvernment

should formally be called into question, and reduced vnto
that prime forme,
left

by Mr. Moore, of haueinge

six gouverj

nours, in their severall moneths, and twelve assistants

affayres

noe

and bussinesse of what nature soeuer being to be

and
to this order

determined and decided without the consent of three of the

sayd gouernours and six of the assistants
the sayd six
;

gouernours and twelve assistants had formerly

sett their hands, it

being also the veiy same thatt was after-

ward allowed and confirmed by the letters of the aduenBut whilst these new confederates turers from England. wer
in contriueinge

how

to

drawe the assistants together

with most secrecye and conveniencye to a consultation and

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
SO a resolution,
it

61

fell

out that one of the partye, beinge

a forward man, had a warrant serued vpon him from the

Gouemour, that commanded the deliuery of a certaine dogg this command, the ouer hastie and precipitated man refuseth
;

to obey, publickly pretendinge for himselfe a vsurpation in

the Gouernour

and withall he obserues that the hand of

whervpon, the day foUoweinge, the

the Gouernour in succession, fixed to the warrant, was counterfeited

and

falsse

minister repayi-es to the sayd Gouernour in succession (being

then in the Maine) and enforraes him of the bussinesse and

in the perticuler of the falsefieinge of his

hand

he also ac-

quainted him with the intention for the renewement of

Mr. Moore's order in the forme of Gouernment

tellinge
re-

him

that the execution of

it

was already

in action

by the

fusall of a

submission to a warrant sent from the vsurpour

as for himselfe in his

tions against

owne person the distastes and excephim wer far lesse, and likely ynough it was

that he might be continued in his

for

command and

accepted of

one of the

six,

prouided he did betimes ioyne himselfe to

side,

so

good and stroung a

and so summon the assistants

which
(to

to a meeteinge to that purpose, the

saue him a

labour) he

himselfe would

do for him against the next

itselfe.

Saterdaye, and the rendeuous to be at the very towne

But

to this the plaine (not to saye dull) speritted

man (who

neuer did much of his owne head, and yet for the most
part chose alwayes worse heads

than his owne to be his

guides) gave noe answer; but that that sett daye he spake

of for the meeteinge was somewhat at the sonest, " for

wheras (quoth he) you have appointed

next, I have

it

vpon Saterday
let

some occasions that

will

not

me be

at the
it

towne

vntill

Monday

after"

the which speach, whether

proceeded from his vnder or ouer-apprehension of the danger

it

may

very well be questioned

but howsoeuer,

it
;

rather
so that

quickned than slacked the diligence of the minister

findinge
it

necessary to relye rather vpon themselues than

62

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

such a broken reede, himselfe with one more of the assistants

make

instantly for the towne^ ther to be ready against

;

the limited daye of meeteinge

to find

wher they assure themselues

assistants.

more of

their partye,

and especially of the

But

in the interim, the

gouernour ther^ by the ouer-open

and improuident carriage of the business, had gotte not

only an incklinge, but a plaine and thorough knowledge of
the whole conspii'acye
;

so that callinge his deare Bacchait,

nalian crue to counsell vpon

cluded, both
their garde,
for

it

is

conceiued and con-

for wisdome and necessitie, to stand vpon and to that end the people of the towne are

diuers

days held together:

the

drumme
it

beats, the

coulours are flieing; shott and powder prepared, and the

smale shott fixed

and

(for

the last refuge)

is

valiantly

and stoutly resolued

conueyed into the
the present called

on, that

some

barrells of

powder being
is at

fort that

commands
all

the towne, and

Warwick

Fort, vpon findinge themselues

ouerprest with multitudes, though

the munition was in

their hands, they should retire theither,

and from thence

playe vpon them with the ordinance, and so talke with

them far ynough of In the thickest of which resolutions and executions the poore minister and his companion, little dreameinge of any such reuelations or preparations, come
quietly with a full

vpon the
lodgeinge
the

warfe.
is

wind sayleinge vp to the towne, and land Noe soner are they on shore, but their

prouided for them by the gouernour, vnder

of the marshall, and a warrant presently con-

command

ueyed into the maine for the apprehension of a third man of the societye, whom the gouernour especially feared, and
therfore hated
;

who, by vertue therof

is

quickly brought

up

to

the towne, and vnder pretence and coulour of ex-

throughly tortured;

him some farther important confessions, wer vpon a generall expectance of the conclusion (by some delaye of proseqution against the
torteinge from
delinquents)
followeth

vpon

it,

and

varietie

of

other

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
opinions and censures
in their flight.
flie

63

about and enlarge themselues

But the gouernour haueinge obteyned

which was by the breakeinge of

his cheife drift,

this course to hold

on his

owne with out interruption, and not holdinge it safe to call vp more speritts at once then he could charme downe
againe, and
to

keep out of the

cii'cle,

by

litle

and

litle

began

make shewe

of the assawageinge of his fury and re-

uenge, and to suffer himselfe (as urged forsooth by his

innate disposition and delicate good nature) a second, time
to

be reconciled

to the minister,
;

and

for his sake with his

prison-fellowe also

who, for their partes likewise, by this

time wer willinge and desirous of any reasonable composition

;

only the third

suff"er

man

(as

haueinge endured that which

would not

him to be endured abroad) was remoued

vntill the
after.

prisonner at large to Coopers Hand, wher he remained in

custody of the captain of that fort

arriuall

of

Captain Tucker, which was not long

this

And

thus was

bundle of bussinesse both pierced and pieced.^

after (the

Some fewe monethes

returned to
its

gouernours bowle being

old byasse) ther

though

it

lighted

out an accident, which vpon the persons of certaine poore and

fell

private men, yet, in respect of

its

rai'itie,

and

litle
litle

lesse

than miraculousnesse (that withall, also, I

may a

refresh

my

reader with some varietie, especially wher the fare hath

ill

bin so

cooked, as by thes six gouernours) I

am

resolued

to bestowe

vpon

it

as well a large as true description.

Vpon
aboue
all

a Fridaye

morneinge, in a March (the moneth

Hilliard, with six

others apt to produce such effects), and the yeare

1015, one

Andrewe

more able and strouuge

bodied men, in a bote of two or three tunnes, went out to

sea to fish
;

and so eager they wer on the voiage, that

is

neither a break-fast

made
May

before they went, nor any

1616.

Captain Tucker arrived in

at.

The

actual application of

physical torture to this prisoner,

by the rack

or thumbscrew, seems clearly

hinted

64

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

other victualls carried along with them, saue only a fewe

palmitoe berries.

The wind was

and so
it

fayre of the shore, a smale

constant gale from acleare skie, which seemed to promise a

continuance of

it

did vntill they wer

come

to

their fishinge place,

which was about some foure leauges of

to sea

begins somewhat to blowe

wer they had noe soner cast hillock, but the wind and at an instant, so ouer
;

growne

it

was, that their hillock roape broke,^ when, being

not able, neither with sayle nor oare, to

make any way

to

the shore, the violence of the weather at last so preualed,

as they quite lost sight of land, when, dispayreinge of
all

recouery, and vtterly tired with roweinge, they committed

themselues to Gods mercye, and throweinge some few

fish

(most improuidently) into the sea that they had taken at

their beginninge to fish, they let the bote driue

whether

she would.

In this case and manner they remained from

Friday

vntill

Sunday, with a continuall and exceedeinge

tempest lieinge vpon them.

On Sunday morneinge,

the

storme being somewhat abated, they hoysed sayle and made

(as

they guessed) towards the ilands.

Towards night

it

grew stark calme ; and minde, to use

drift all that night.

so that (being too weake, both in

their oares) they left their boate

body
vpon

Vpon Munday, by peepe

of day, Hil-

liarde

(for

either to helpe

nowe all his companions wer past strength, him or themselues), before a smale gale of

wind, spreade his sayles againe; and on Tuesday one of

them died, and was throwen ouer bord by Hilliard. On Wednesdaye died three more on Thirsdaye another and
;

on Thirsday,
last,

at night, the sixth

man.

All these, saue the

wer by Hilliard buried in the sea ; for, being nowe growen ouer weake himselfe, he was forced to lett this last carkasse lie by him in the bote, because he was not able to
throwe
it

ouer bord, being nowe

left

desolate
is

and

all

alone.

This wreatched poore

'

man

(for

what

wreatchednesse in
heavy stone

Killock rope.

The rope attached

to the killock, the

used as an anchor.

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
this worlde, if his

G5
this

was

not),

being

left in

case with

only one dead corps by him, who^ in spight of his nose,

would keepe

hira

company

being of an extraordinary

stroung constitution, and yet sustaineinge extreame compunctions, putt vpon him both by feare and famine, at last
resolued to

make some vse

of his stinckinge bedfellowe, to

serue his rageinge appetite; whervpon he dissects the carkasse,

and with much adoe, throwinge the intrayles into

and so
;

the water, he spreads the body abroad, tilted open with a

stick,
lets it lie, as a cesterne to receiue

some lucky

raine water

and

this

God

sent

him presently

after, so that

in one smale

shower he recouered about foure spoonefulls,

to his unexpressable refreshment; he also preserued

some
his

of the bloud in a shoe, to the quantitie of halfe a pinte,

which he did very spareingly drincke of to moysten

mouth.

He

did also cutt of

some of the

flesh out of

one of

the thighes, and did eate thereof two seuerall dayes, to the
quantitie

and waight

in the

whole of about a pound.

his

On

Munday, which was the eleventh day from

sight of the land, two
fliei

loseinge

nge

fishes (by

Gods prouidence,

certainely, since a sparrowe falls not

on the ground with

out

it) fell

into his boate

and the one of which he tooke,

and cuttiuge of the head sucked the warme ieusie bloud

therof, to his great comfort.

About an houre
will

after (to his

incomparably farr greater comfort, you

not doubt), he

once again discrieth the land, from the which (as you haue
heard) he had bin separated eleuen whole dayes and nights,

and
all

in

which time he had buried

in the

bottome of the sea

all

his compannions,

and was thus gotten home

alone,
flesh,

sustained and kept aliue for the most part with their

and bloud.

About some foure houres with

it

in night, after

his first recouery of the sight of land (neither

knoweinge
to
it),

nor careing what or wher

was so he could but gett

he was cast upon the rocks nere vnto a place called Portroyall in

Southampton Tribes, wher his bote was presently

F

66
splitt

THE HISTOKYE OF THE BERMUDAES

to peeces, but liimselfe

(though extremely weake)

made

shyft to clamber

up so steepe and high a rock as

in the ilands to

would haue troubled the ablest man

haue

done that by day which he did by night.

Being thus astride on the rock, the tumblinge sea had

gotten such possession on his braynes, that for a while
it

was before

his giddy
it.

head would

suffer

him

to venter

upon

the forsakeinge of

At

last,

towards the morueinge, he

crawles ashore, and then, to his accomplished joy, he dis-

cernes wher he

is,

and trauayles

halfe a

daye with out any

other refreshment

than water, in the drinckinge wherof,

wisely and temperately for a

man

of his coate, he stints

himselfe to a wilck-shell
certain ely, he

full

only at a time (for otherwise,

;

had drunk

his death)

in

which case he

at-

taines a friends house of his,

wher sodenly entringe upon

for a ghoast.

them, he

is

for a

good while taken

At

last

(well looked vpon)

his story (after

acknowledged and receiued with ioye

to tell
it)

some houres recouerye of strength

;

heard out with admiration

and himselfe, not long

after,

conuayed to the towne, wher the gouernour takes so much

time of truce from doeinge noethinge sane drinck hard, as
to see him, then to

wonder

at him,

and once againe to

cause him to

tell

ouer his legend; the which being finished,

to line as poorely as ever he did before,
also, to his old tricks

he

letts

him depart

and returnes himselfe,

occupation, as you shall

and beloued
for

nowe

heare.'^

For the two gouernours (wherof one of them stoode

very
litle

better than a cypher), being cleared from

all

im-

pediments (the opposite faction being dasht, as you have

heard), began to haue a sence of their
especially in the point of liqueur
;

so that

owne ouerlastinge, nowe haueinge noe

towne and being

more headye drincks

in their store at the

tyred with their loblolly bowleinge, they grew starck weary

with doeing noethinge, and scorueinge to be thus kept sober

^

It

is

added

in the General Ilistorij that

1

Andrew

Ililliard, the

hero of

these adventures, Avas living in the year

622.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
in spight of their teethes, diligent

67
intelli-

and well nosed

gencers are presently employed to

make

discoueries of close
;

herds and secret mines of bottells in the maine

whervpon

some fewe being serued open, and adnertisements sent up

therafter to the emptie flaggons of the towne, a progresse

(vnder most important pretences)

is

presently resolued vpon

by the Gouernour
and layed
selected
all

into thoes partes,

and the

jests

sorted
delicate

out, accordinge to the

most admired and

situation of the Aquavita.

With

three or foure choyce and

soldiers,

men, therfore,captaines, lieutenants, and old

flies

of the bacchanalian band, amaine

;

the Gouernour into

in signe of state
;

the Maine

a flagg
is

is

carry ed before

him

a messenger
to tell

sent before to proclaime his approach.

;

To

you what antick naked masks of both sexes

what

fisshinge, fireworcks, are

euerywher prepared to entei'taine

him

what extreame ridiculous and contemptible actions

it
;

ensue vpon

wer scarce either credible or clenly

that the ententiue

to talke

of; especially considereinge

selfe,

man him-

and

his drie societie

foi')

(ameinge mainly at the end of

in respect therof neglected all
;

the bussinesse he came

other cei-emoniall complements

into the bottorae
vntill in all places

so that deepely diueinge

of euery concealement, they leaue not,

they haue suckt out the uery dreggs

therof; and so haueinge

returne by the same

made a finall and through discouery, way they came, to the towne, to the

great applause and alacritie of the whole Court.

not long

The Gouei'nour being thus returned to his setled house, after, euen as he was sittinge by the fire and
(who although noe resident
courtier),

takeinge a whiff of tobacco, one of the prime baylies of the

tribes

yet not alto-

gether out of the societie at that time) by rushinge in vpon

him shakeinge hispocketts and cryinge out '^Good newes", snatched (as it wer) the fire out of his mouthe so that sodainely startinge up out of his chayre " What newes, man,
;
:

(saythe he)

is

ther any rosa-solis

come

to towne."

"Noe p2

sii*",

68
answers

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

tlie baylie^

"butnext that the best

in the world";

and

flutteringe his pocketts againe,

who
;

thervpon giue a clang

with a fewe dollers that wer in them

at the Flemish wrack, the

"the treasour
is

is

found
all

treasour

found

we

are

made men, made men/'

But herevpon
(this

Madd men
as they

indeed.
it,

would have

being so

greedely swallowed, as they almost wer choked withall, and

the Gouernour himselfe euen ready to crack with swellinge)
a bote with a choyce

gang

is

posted awaye to lade herselfe

up

to the brimes with Spanish dollers

:

and Portugall cruI

sadoes

among
iest

the which merry

gang

must nott forgett

a charitable smith,

who being

told

by one of the company

it

(betweene

and earnest) that in respect he was one of

purchase would

the cheife of the gouernours fauorites and a good bowler,

could not be but that his share
in this

amount

makeinge of him a gentleman, if not with an improuement of a ladyship for his wife, " And then (quoth he) you will not knowe vs poore men." ''Yes,
to noe lesse than the

yfaith", answers the blacksmith,

in this kind, I will whilst I

"whatsoeuer becomes of

me

am here make

fishe-hookes for the

poore people rather than they shall starue." Neither doth the

Gouernour himselfe forbeare

doe with this huge
ti'easure,

to proclaime

what he would
to him.

when

it

was brought
then

"

We will

first

of

all

(sayeth he) paye ourselues to a doite of

all

that the aduenturers doe

owe vs

we
kill

will farther re-

lick our fingers as

we

shall see cause,

and so leaue the

mainder to them." But awaye (euen ready to

themselues
:

with roweinge) goeth this gang vpon their golden errand

when, arriueinge at the hopefull place, instead of the heapes

they looke
for,

behold some smale aspersions of dollers

(to

the totall value of about some twenty poundes sterlinge)

are found
;

some of them gathered by the neighbouringe

being a remnant, noe ques-

people before their arriuall, the rest with extreame diHgence

raked together by themselues

tion, of

some greater

store, the

which being washt out of

OK SUMMEE ISLANDS.

69
shore.

some wreake not

this,

farr of,

was beaten vpon that

it

But

after the collection of

from

all

hands, and a long

search in vaine for more (as being loath euea to creditt their

owne eyes which nowe serued them

what they had
to the

cheifly to the frustrate-

ing of their farther hopes), they at length returned with

gapeinge Gouernour at the towne, who

receiveinge of them the account of their employement, a7id

withall the fruict
it

had produced, was glad

to

make much
it

and be contented with the gleaneinge instead of the huge

haruest he promised to himselfe; the which, because

proued

not sufficient to discharge the great arreages and debts chal-

lenged by the people from the aduenturers, like the wise

Stewart, he layd
it

by

to serue to feede himselfe against the

time he looked and feared to be putt out of his steward-

shyp

vpon which, from that time forward, he began euery

in

day more and moi-e to ruminate, and indeed not without cause.

For the company of aduenturers

England, haueinge re-

ceiued newes by the Ediuin's safe arriuall of the reuells and

the perpetuall Christmas kept in their
it

more than necessary to

that truely

Sommer Hands, found make them breake up house so vnderstandinge that the originall of those gam:

boleinge times proceeded from the miserable iusufficiencye

of the

commanders

ther, they resolued to

make

presently an

election of a

awaye

uewe gouernour, aud withall speed to send him when being in the deepest of their cares, how to

serue their turnes best this waye, Mr. Tuckei', the pi'ime

searcher of Grauesend, by meanes of certaine of the custome

farmers,

who wer
to

of the

Company, made sute

for the accep-

tance of Mr. Daniell Tucker, his brother,

who was

lately

come oner

him from Virginia, wher he had bin

for diners

yeares Cape-merchant } the which (by reason of the neere

1

affairs of the

This term, Cape mercliant, occurs frequently in connection with the Virginia Company, but its precise origin I have not been

able to discover.
agent.

He was

a subordinate person

factor, supercargo, or

Thus, in 1617, Captain Argall, when acting as Deputy-Governor

; : :

70

THE HISTORYE OF THE BEEMUDAES

traflfique

correspondencye, and mutuall

between the farmers

pursued and
solli-

and the searchers) was so

sentj

affectionately

cited for him^ that the aduenturers were brought to a con-

and the rather, as conceiueinge that by

his

being in

Virginia, and his sight of the conduction of the affayres ther,

could not chuse, but

much

enable him for that charge.

At

the next great quarter court therfore, the sayd Mr. Daniell

Tucker

is,

by a generall erection of hands, chosen Gouernour:

after

and within a while,

haueing his commission signed, and

therby made a captaine, being throughly instructed and

reasonably well prouided, he
is

shypped awaye in the good

Edwin, diners times

shyp called the George, and so makes onwards of his voiage

in her

company was
;

also consorted the

fore-mentioned

and upon them shypped besides diuers

other passengers to be residents in those Hands.

It

was not long before thes shyps thus fraughted arriue

:

upon the coast of the Sommer Hands

discouered,

from whence being

word

is

by and by carryed to the Gouernour

who
by

at the first

being somewhat daunted, sodainely recouers

sufferinge himselfe to be assured (his flatteringe hopes

allwayes leadeinge

him

to belieue as he

would haue

it)

that

of thes two discouered sayles, the smaller was the frigate

that he had
Indies,
(as

you haue

heard) sent out to the

prize

West

the

other'

some

riche

that

she had taken.

Thomas Dale, "held himself disparaged Cape merchant a fit man to deUver their letters into his hands" {Neill, pp. 115-18). They write to the Council " With great difficulty we have erected a private of the Colony 1621 magazine, men being most unwilling to be drawn to subscriptions that may end in smoke. If you expect for the future any such place, it must be your principall care the Cape merchant be not constrained to vent
of Virginia in the absence of Sir in that the

Company thought
:

their

sett price, and in particular not to be enforced any certain rate" {id., p. 226). The phrase has perhaj^s some connection with early settlements near Cape Henry. It does not appear to have had long currency. The writer refers below to a vainglorious project of Tucker in 1618, to charter a vessel for Virginia " He conceived it would prove an action of reputation, if he who ha(l bin a Cape merchant in Virginia, should nowe sett out u vessell vnto there us a Cape Goveruour.'"

bis

commodities att any

to take tobacco at

OR SUMMED ISLANDS.

71

Whervpon the gang are commanded to make out to wellcome them and to bring back the good newes of their great fortune. But before the nowe gi'owen rustie rowers could be gotten together, and gett to them, the Edwin (being a barke of very good sayle) recouers the harbour of the King's castle, wher being found by the towne bote she is boarded, and tells them (the litle looked and lesse wished for) truth
of the bussinesse
;

as that they both of

them came

directlie

from England, and that the shyp

a newe Gouernour in her
sort,
;

(yet) abroad,

had brought

and diuers other passengers of

subordinate
to
officers,

some wherof were

for

and the

rest for priuate inhabitants,

and

be planters in the ilands.

vnburthens
find-

The bote returneinge thus

inge
all

heauily laden,
;

herselfe into the gouernours ears

his hopes thus

who, at an instant,
pale,

blowne up, lookes

growes

malincholy, and, in plaine tearmes, appeares directly deiected; but his blusteringe councellours (who, indeed,

wer

ladds that durst proiect any thinge, so that the execution of

it wer absent), with bigge lookes and loude oathes, bring him into a litle holdiuge up his head so that at last, with a huge much adoe, they clap and hale hime into a course,
;

the which (passeing on in but so far as he did) would

pei'-

haps haue cost an honester

man
it

the

makeing of a wrie

mouth

for they told

him that

could not be, but that the

colonye and plantation in generall was so taken and wonne

witi a loue of his gouernment and clemencye, that

if

he

would but hold up

his finger, they

would venter
it

all

they

had

to

goe through stich with him, though

wer into the

straunge

deepest caue in the ilands, and yet ther are

ones,

terx'ible

and some of them as rare peeces of naturall worckman-shyp, as I am perswaded the world hath). They
coniure him, therefore (for a while at
his

strength,

and brauely to giue

vnderstande that

stand vpon newe commer to vnlesse he brought with him either mony,
least), to

this

or some other answerable content, the people (who in vaine

i'l

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

had sweat themselues drye ynough already, haueing their

reward spunne out vnto them in hopes only) wer

resolued that they would accept of noe straung and

fully

newe

Gouernour whatsoeuer ; noe, though he came commissioned

with ten thousand martiall lawes; but would keepe and
hold him they had, being a

man both
This course,
its

well

them, and as well beloued.

objections,
last

knowen vnto after some warme

are

and very many but what

himselfe vpon
;

the Gouernour at
ther

settles

trusty

messengei's

vpon presently posted

late cabbin,

into the Maine, to grope the

mind

of the multitude; and frequent meetinges had, in a deso-

somewhat remoued from the towne,

for the

fashionninge up and lickinge of this monstrous beare-

whelpe; amidst the midst of which contriuements, the ship

the George, with the

newe Gouernour, moores

:

herselfe in

the harbour also of the Kings-castle

and Mr. Lewes^ the

to a discouery of the

minister
plott,

(fatall

to the faction),
all

comes

and resolues, with

expedition, to aduertize the

new Gouernour
a bote to carry

of it; and to that end secretly prepares

him abord the shyp, from whence also is message from the newe Gouernour ther to him at sent a the towne, to lett him vnder stande of his being ther, and his being there, what he was.

To the one (some heate being receiued out

of the Maine,

though it proued afterward but as a St. Anthonies fire), it was presently answered, that he should heare more from them shortly for the other, a command is layd vpon him
:

not to stiiTO from the towne

the which he refuseinge to

obey, and entringe a bote to act the disobedience, certaine

muskettiers are sent out, who, from the shore, threaten to

deliuer a volly of shott

(not trustinge to their cortesie) performes

upon him vnlesse he returne, who what they extort,

(to
(for

and so

is

stayed.

The next morrowe

make good

the

work), a barberous heraught (herald)

his

ouer and aboue

manners, he was a barber),

infinitely wort?e cloathed

OE SUMMEE ISLANDS.
to our

73

than
land,

lie
is

that

Lewes of France sent

Edward

of Eno-o

found out and sent to the shyp, to deliuer this

content, noe consent or acceptance.

message peremptorily to the newe Gouernour, that with

out

mony and

To

this

the newe Gouernour replies, throughly and stoutly, that he

bore Kinge James his authoritie with him, which should proue
sufficient

and auayleable ynough

to curbe all such rebellious

persons, as durst
short reward
turne,

make that errand good; and with that commands him to be gone who, at his rerelateinge what he had found, the great mans reso;

lution is againe so be-shaken, as he thincks

it

the best

course to be quiett, and to vse suspension vntill he sees

farther
:

and, by waye of a beginning to

it,

himselfe, with

the minister Keath, and some two or three of his consorts,

restort

abroad

fashionably receiued by the

take noe notice of

purpose, wher they are newe Gouernour (who would any thinge) and so, without any farther
to

that

discourse, dismissed back to the towne,

wher they are noe

soner ashore but againe another

fitt

takes them, and

newe

deuises are broached, the euent of which vents you shall

nowe

also heare.
after the departure

For the newe Gouernour presently,

solues

of these ladds of the towne, enters into counsell, and re-

vpon a speedie goeing thether himselfe,

for findinge

the humourous heate of their braynes very well allayed, he

thincks
it

noe discretion, by the least delay to giue time to

:

a relaps, by some newe distillations

fore, is

the next daye, therat

appointed for that purpose

what time, accomsett his foote iuto

panied with his owne shyp-company, and some of the best

sort of the maine,

being euen ready to

the bote, ther comes one in panting haste from the Kingscastle,

and

tells

him

that ther are certaine botes and

men

sent from the towne with directions and

command

to ceese
stirred

vpon that peece.

The Goueiniour being somewhat

with this intelligence, commands the master of the shyp.

74

THE HISTORYE OF THE BBRMUDAES

the pilote, and two or three of the best of the maine men,
to take

some

force with them^

and

to

make good

that im-

portant place.

Thes being gott

to the castle, finde

noe

manner of resistance, nor the least shewe of it; so that leaning some of their people ther, and giueinge in charge
to the gunner, that he should neither suffer

any man to

land vpon them, nor any of his to quitt the place, but to

stand vpon their garde vntill he heard farther, they presently

make back themselues

all

to the shyp

and informe the

:

Gouernour, that

things wer quiett and sure

true, indeed,

that some three or foure of the towne,

old
soldiei',

commanded by an
not,

had bin ther that morneing; but stayd

returneinge instantly to the place whence they came.

The Gouernour being thus

the

assured, prepares (although

disswaded by some) to make his waye for the towne ; and

same afternoone

is

sett

downe

for

it

in the

meane

space, the

man

at the towne, hauinge receiued

(as

knowledge

from thoes that

you haue heard) were

at the Castle that

morneinge, and sent by him to ioyne with some other of his

partie that

vpon promise he expected

that noe creature

appeared ther for him, nor any good possibly to be done,

and besides that the newe Gouernour was certainly vpon

his

waye

to the towne, very well accompanied,

;

with manye

reuolted maine-men in his troupe

quite appalled, calme

grewe vpon the newes so

(his feare

and cast downe

nowe

pre-

uayleinge ouer his ambition), that from thence forward he

absolutely (yet secretly) resolues to giue ouer
pireinges,
all

further as-

and to yeeld to the time.

By

this time the

Go-

uernour with his company are descried from the townees

warfe,

wher vpon (by command of the old, nowe a newe is prepared for him to passe through, and himselfe attends to receiue him at his landeinge, Sone after
man)
a garde

he attaines the shore, and

is

mett and saluted

to the shoe,

from whence he goeth directly and instantly to the church

which was hard by

but by the waye thether hath the better


OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
/O

hand taken of him by the quondam man (an erroi* which, if he tooke notice of, was so much the greater by his endureBeing entred the church, and a sermon ended, the ance).
old Gouernour begins a speach concerneing grieuances,

and
but

some

(I

cannot

tell

what) amends makeinge for them

being cutt of by the newe, and a few good words scattred

among them, he
is

at last (though not without

some drunckeu

mutterings) causeth his commission to be read out, and so

receiued and accepted of for their Gouernour.
fall

And nowe,

being to
times,

vpon somewhat more

a

serious

and fashionable

it is
;

exacted that our

it is
fitt

stile also

proue more sober and

all

graue

for

decorum requirable and becomeinge

historians to
it

their phrase to their matter, for otherwise

shewes as vnseemely and mishapen as to apparell a dwarfs

in one of the garde's coates.

Lib. IV.

Captaine Tucker, the 3rd Gotieriwr.

settled,

1616-1619.
1616, and

The newe Gouernour being thus

Anno
it,

so to begin his regencye and the forme of

not findinge

any beaten path troden out vnto him by his predecessors

the six Gouernors; nor being acquainted, or so

much

as

knoweinge any other president besides that of Virginia, the which he had both seene and felt dureing his time of Cape
merchantshyp
ther,

he nimbly and readyly resolued

(as

course also that best sorted with his owne disposition) wholy
to pursue thoes stepps,

and the rather because he found the

all

people genei'ally both abborreinge

also in a

exacted labour, as
to be

manner disdaineinge and loatheinge manded by him, so that he conceiued noe better

com-

course could

be taken either to force them to worck or to worck his owne reuenge, than by that stricktness and rigour which he had
discerned to produce some such
Sodainelye, therefore, he
>

efi'ect

in that other colonye.

fell

to dispose

and enioine the

See

p.

69 for explanation of the phrase " Cape merchant".

76

THE HISTORYE OF THE BKRMUDAES

people of the geuerallitie, which were resident with him at

St.

George^s (being at that time about 150 persons) to

seuerall kinds of labours, as

some

to cleare

ground and

sett

come, others

to

fall

timber, hale trees, square and sawe

them, the rest to plant vines and other fruicts brought with

him out
ters,

of

England; and these labourours had certaine

seuerall ouerseers sett ouer

them

in the nature of task-mas-

and wer by breake of day

to repay re to the towne's to be

warfe at the sound of the

drumme, and from thence

and in the

disposed to their places of employment, and ther to worck

vntill

nine of the clock in the morneinge

after-

noone, from three vntill

sunnes

sett.

Neither had they any

other allowance at that time for

all this

than meate, drinck,

and

clothes, with a certnine

paye of base-mony (deUuered

vnto the Gouernour by the Company), the which haueiug a hogge stampt upon it on the one side (in memory it should

seeme of the great number of wild swine found vpon the Hands at their first discouery) was, in a scoff, tearmed by the
people hogge mony.^
'

Specimens of
is

this

coinage are extant, but extremely rare.

in England,

The
Only

writer

fortunate enough to possess the examples figured below.

two other specimens are known

British

and there are none in the

Museum.

See Numismatic Chronicle, 1876-1878.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

77

This course thus fastened vpon and squared after the Virginian
rule,

and in perticular imitatinge diners orders

digested by Sir

Thomas

Dale, while he was marshall ther, a

coppy wherof he had brought with him and often consulted

with,^ he

began from them

to looke into his

;

English instruc-

tions giuen

him by the Company

whervpon (by one Nor-

wood, a surveyor, sent ouer for that and some other purposes in Mr. Moore^s time) he began to lay out the eight
tribes in the Maine,

which were to consist of

fiftie

shares to

a tribe, and five-and-twenty acres to a

share.

began at the same time to place some colony

of his especiall friends^ shares.

He also men on some

;

the cheife

appointed
shares.

He swore also certaine of men of the tribes to be baylies of every tribe and as many men as he was able for all suppHed

This done, haueinge caused the shyps that came

with him to be vnladen, and their ladeinge to be layd up in

the publick store; he from thence distributed
it

to

his

worckmen
laye

in

general!.

Some newe

botes likewise began

to be builded,

and the pinnace called the Tliomas, which

to the town,

vpon the rocks, was brought

where (by
into

the Gouernoui''s feare and

command) she was haled vp

the dock and ther laye chayned, wher her rotten ribbs
are to be discerned vnto this day.
of the second

In the beginninge also

moneth of his gouernment, he directed warGeorge's on the fourteneth of the same

after

rants to the baylies of the tribes for the holdinge of a generail assize at St.

moneth; presently

which summons he visited the

King^s castle at the Gurnett's Head, and appointed one Mr.

Stoke, that came ouer with him (being his ancient acquaintance in Virginia, as was also his wife), to be the prime com-

mander
-

ther,

and the

title

of Liuetenant of the Castle, being

Sir

orders will be found in a tract

Thomas Dale was Governor of Virginia May-August 1611. His by W. Strachey, " For the Colony in
etc.

Virginea Britannia, Lawes Diuine, Moral!, and Martiall,

1G12."
{Pefcr Forrc'.o Tracts, 1844, vol.
iii.)

London,

78

THE HISTORYE OF THE RERMUDAEvS

the same man,

who
is

at this day, by a speciall

commission

from the Company, holdeth the same command as captaine,

which certainely

a charge and place that requireth a very

able, sufficient, sober,

and

trustie person.^

Much
for the

about which time the pinnace called the Edwin,

is

which came out of England with the Gouernor,

sent out
called the

Hands of the West Indies (some of which,

Sauuage and Virgin Hands, being not aboue eight or ten

dayes' sayle distant) by dii-ection from the

Company

in

England, to trade with the natiues for

catell, corne, plants,

and other commodities necessarye

for a plantation, a course of

it

great impoi'tancye, and which, had

been followed and pur-

sued, would certainely have produced fayrer and

effects for the

more hopefull

good and growth of that

solitary colonye,

than

all

the supplies or magazin shyps from England either

will

haue or

doe thes twenty yeares, the which, notwith-

standeinge, hath not only bin since vtterly discontinued but

(from some secret reasons hereafter to be touched) strictly

forbidden, and
all

concourse and receit of any such vpon

great penalties inhibited.

began the assize wher (fewe matters of note being handled besides) ther was ai'raigned and condemned by a jury of
Presently, after this pinnace's departure,
at St. George's,

twelue

men

(but in a disorderly form, mixt betwixt martiall

lawe and the lawes of England) which defaced them both,

one John Wood, a poore but desperate and open-mouthed

Frenchman, who,

in his cupps, haueinge saucely

and arro;

gantly spoken to the Gouernor, was here vpon attached

and
was

being endicted of mutiny and rebellion, vpon his

cast
;

triall

and so being sentenced by one deputed

(for

to that pur-

pose

the Gouernor himselfe, flndinge his insufficiencyes

that way, neuer satt iudge in his

'

owne person) was

when

publicly

Stokes held this

command down

to 1627,

the Assembly de-

posed him.
i,

See the "Petition of the People" {Memorials of Bermuda,

421).

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

79

hanged within two dayes

person of that poore

after,

choyce being made of the

man

to lett the rest

life,

knowe

that both
all
;

his authoritie extended to

and

that they should

of

them take heed how they prouoked him hereafter and indeed from that time forward it was obserued that he ouerfast declined to

such a height of seueritie towards

litle

all

men
to

as wanted but very

of crueltye

and tyranny

so that he

hath bin

seene, in

one morneinge before breakefast

cudgell with his owne hands not fewer than

fortie of his

in so

workmen euen for very smale and slight neglects, much as that it grewe at last to be a receiued generall obseruation amongst them, that when in a morneinge his
poore
cloathes

hatt stoode on the one side, and such a couloured sute of

was worne, ther was noe comeinge nere him

after.

all

that

whole daye

But

this impatiencye

and ouer-rigour of the Gouernour

time
after,

produced, within a
lesse than a miracle

shoi't
;

an

effect

not
fell

much
owes,

for

hue plaine and simple

whose names wer Richard Saunders, Thomas Harrison, William Godwin, Henry Puitt, and one James Barker (the
only

gentleman among them, being

one of old Judge

Barkers sonnes, and cunningly sent ouer by some of his

friends or rather kindred,

and as straungely by them profine I saye,

cured to be kept here), thes

wherof Saunders

was

questionlesse

the

prime

man, and only marriner,

being in extreme discontent, and resolueinge to vndergoe

all

hazards rather then to live vnder so hard a condition,

which they esteemed noe lesse than a meere slauery, confederated themselues and determined to
of the ilands at what prize soeuer.

make an escape out The course therfore

being plotted by Saunders, William Godwin, being a shypcarpenter, and

Thomas Harrison
his

a joyner, repayred to the

tell

Gouernour, and with pleaseinge insinuations

it

him, that

if

might stand with

goode likeinge

to furnish

them

only with

some bords,

tarre

and

rozin,

and some other smale

80

THE HISTOKYE OP THE BERMUDAES

necessaries, they

wer resolued, of themselues,

being a farr
fitter

to build, in

Sands his

tribe,

and conuenienter place

than the towne, both for launceinge and fittinge of her, and

being priuate also could

offer

them noe
fish

distractions, a stoute

bote with close hatches, of some two tunnes in burthen, to

goe out to sea in

all

weathers to

the which haueinge

absolutely finished, they would bring up to the towne, to

rest ther at his seruice

and

dispose.
(as

The Gouernour

(halfe

proude that he had thus brought

to so

he conceiued) his

men

good a passe, as

in this

manner

to offer themselues to
all

so necessary a worck, instantly with

willingnesse fur-

nished them with whatsoeuer they could desire, and with the
best wordes his disposition could afford, encourageth them
to their task
:

who being quickened and

is

lightned by so
;

luckye a beginninge, goe lustily on in their bussinesse

that in a short time the bote

so

brought to perfection

of

whose stoutnesse, and what excellent fishinge seruice she should doe for the Gouernour, they bragge of to all that

come neare them

By

this

time the shyp that brought the Gouernour

:

is

vpon her departure, and readye to take her leaue

and he

himselfe very busie about the discharge of her, and in taking

order for her ladeinge, which was only billetts and loggs
of caedar
:

but yet he

is

not vnmindefull of his newe bote

at Sommer-seate, but dayly sends to vrge expedition, de-

termineinge, as

it

should seeme, at his next goeing to the

in

shyp, to be rowed thether

her

in

state,

and so to

have newes carried to the adventurers of the manyfold

atcheifments by him performed in so short a time.

About
time of

some three

dayes therfore

before

the

prefixed
lustie

cleareinge of the sayd shyp, he sends

away a

gang

to

conduct the longed for newe bote to the towne,

who

arriueinge at the place wher she was builded, and where

they looked to haue found her and her builders, missinge

both of the one and the tother, they make enquirie by

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

81

some nere neighbours

to the dock,

what was become of them,

to sea the eueniuge

who

told

them that they had putt out

it

before their comeingej giueing

to try the

out that their entention was

newe botes sayleinge, since which time they had

nor seen them
;

neither heard

but they verely beleiued

that they were gone to Port Royally ther to bestowe the

Sunday

at a sermon, or els departed for the towne.

this intelligence the

gang make back againe

With when informe-

inge the Gouernour

they had learned of

fall

how they had sped, and what newes his newe bote, he sodainely begins to
muse, and a deepe doubt, wher she
but not long
j

into a furious

should bestowe herselfe;

it

was, before he

was putt past

his

dumps

for certaine letters

being

dis-

couered in the cabin of one of thoes departed in the bote,

one of them, being directed to the Gouernour himselfe,

was
that

in

all

haste

carried

to

him

and being

as hastely
this effect

openned, the contents therof wer found to

''

in respect of the tyranny

and

crueltie that he, the

Gouernour, continually practised vpon

ticular

all men, and in parvpon themselues, together with the smale hope they

found of the least redresse and recouerye for this their

hard condition, they

selues

fiue

had bin forced

to

putt

them-

vpon the extreame and noe

lesse than desperate

rule,

hazard of freeing themselues from him and his

smale and

by

adventureinge to make for their country of England in so

ill

prouided a vessell, as his newe hoped for bote

if

was
it

in

which attempt,

they sped otherwise than well (as

was much

to be mistrusted) their Hues

and bloud should

be required at his hands.'^ Other

letters of thers likewise

ther wer scene, directed to diners of their friends, and in

perticuler to Mr. Lewes, the minister, of

whom

one of them

haueinge borrowed a fayre sunne

the compasse in
it,

diall,
it

with the pointes of

(for it

and carrying

was borrowed

to that end),

away with them he wrote to him, by waye

of ex-

cuse, that as he in his sermons, speakeinge of the paye that

82
tlie

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

mercliants
patience,

owed them, would

and
tell

continually perswade
if

them

to

them, that
:

the sayd merchants

payed them not, God would

compasse

so he for his part,

must be

bold to quote his owne wordes vnto him, concerneinge his

diall,

which he confest he had somewhat vnman-

erly taken from

him
it,

that he
if

hoped one day

to giue

him

a due content for

but

not,

God would.

Such leysure

found this

poore fellowe to be merry with the minister,

euen when, in the eye of reason, he was marchinge to a certaine mine.

The Gouernour haueing thus attained the

of this escape,

full

knowledge

and bold aduenture of thes

all

fiue persons,

holdinge them

but as dead men, in an extreame fury

was openly heard to saye that if euer he caught any one of them with in his possessions againe, he would saue them a labour of droweninge themselues with a hanginge; and
that this

they should be

sure

of,

though they had Sir

cared thes fiue pas-

Thomas Smiths and

sengers,

the companyes letters to the contrary

hanginge about their necks.

But

litle

by

this

time far ynough out of his reach, for

:

either his threatnings or fury

the stormes of the ocean

war nowe

their only feares

the which, notwithstandinge,

resoluinge to venter vpon, being reasonably well stored

with victualls, hauing a good newe sayle for their mast,

and an excellent (though smale) newe bote vnder them, they committed themselues to sea, and shaped their course
(as

nere as their smale

all

skill

would serue them)

for

England;

being a voiage, as

marriners knowe, of about three thou-

sand and

fiue

hundrede miles, haueinge a huge and vast sea

full

to trauerse,

and

many

a dangerous and horrible tempest

to expect; yet, for three

weekes space, so fauored they wer,

that they felt noethinge of what they had cause to feare; at

last a blusterous gale,

bloweing in their teeth at north-east,

putts

them

in all extremitie for diners dayes together, then

becomeinge more gentle, awaye they passe prosperously on

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

bo

againe for some eight or ten dayes more, at what time,

being cliscouered by a French rover, they are chassed and taken

;

to

whom,

relatinge their fortunes

and extent, they

and so cast

are notwithstandinge inhumanely and barberously robbed

of
all

their tobacco

and much of
first

their victualls,

of againe, to pursue their

resolutions,

though vpon

much worse tearmes than when they mett with them

being thus losed from thes barbarians they hold on their
northerly course for England
;

so that after seuen weekes

in their bote of about

departure from the

Sommer Hands,

two tunnes

in burthen, their victualls being falne to the

lowest ebbe, and the very knees of their smale vessell more

then halfo of them hewed awaye by themselues, vpon necessitie

of fire-wood, they at last, to their infinite joye, disfell

couered land, and

to be Ireland,

with

it

wher
it

arriueinge,

it is

found

and the part of

where the Erie of Tomond

hath his residence, who, being informed with this their

strange adventure and miraculous escape, entertained them

very christianly and nobly, and for a

their bote in his castles hall,
this daye.*

monument hangs vp
it

wher

I thinck

remaineth to

As

for the persons,

haueinge remained some

at last,

monethes

ther,

wher they

first arrived,

one after

another, they gott into England, wher, fallinge to

their

demand

supposed part of due from the Company, and to com-

plaine and accuse the Gouernour in the Sommer-Ilands,

they found that neither of the cources tooke

at length, wearied with attendance

effect

so that

and hopelesse of any

aught I knowe) are
as I

good, in extreame angry discontent they betooke themselues to their severall wayes,
all

and

(for

of

them

still

alive, to pi-ofesse as

much

haue nowe
of

"Donogh
title,

or

Donatus O'Brien, the great Earl of Thomond, fourth

His principal

that

was

at this time President of Munster.

resi-

dence being in the County Clare, there, and at the mouth of the Shannon, in all probability, did these daring men effect their landing." See the Peerage of Ireland, by J. Lodge and M. Archdall, vol. ii, 1789.

g2

84
written.

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

True

it

is

that here-vpon

some of the
all

petie

men

of the aduenturers (as willing to catch at

occasions of

snarleinge at any

man
is

that they employe) wrote snappishly

and tantingly

to the

Gouernour, but this vpon euery falsse

to this

and vaine hearesaye

meanest

day (and perhaps euer

will

be) found to be the fashion

;

and fooleinge of most of the

most part without
all

and they doe

it

for the

respect or examination of either his guilt or innocence,

worth or basenesse

a tolloration and sufferance that cer(vnlesse sodainely redressed)

tainely within a short time

will

not suffer any honest and deserueinge

man

to subiect

himselfe to so both an unproffitable and vnregarded, as

well as vnrewarded a seruice
is
;

wherby the whole plantation

not vnlikely within a short time to be shaken and vtterly

ruined.

Within three dayes

after the first notice of the stealeinge

away of thes fore-sayd men, the shyp

called the George,

that brought in the Gouernourj departed out of the harbour

f the King^s-Castle, after almost three moneths staye, her

out ladeinge (as befox-e sayd) being only ceeder

for at that

time the tobacco-traffique was not come to the least perfection. Presently after her farewell, the

Gouernour (not yett

at rest

from his

late choler), to

reuenge himselfe vpon his

all all

runne-awayes, sends down his liuetenant to cease vpon

such goods, corne, and whatsoeuer
or any of thes fiue,
selfe.
all

els as

belonged vnto

which he appropriated vnto him-

Aboute one weeke

after this the

Edwin makes her

re-

turne out of the West-Indies, whether (as you haue heard)

she was sent for plants

of which she

came furnished with

diuers sortes, as plantans, suger-canes, figges, pines, and

the like,

all

of which

wer presently replanted, and are since

she brought with her also one Infirst

encreased into great numbers, especially the plantans and

figges, very infinitely
:

dian and a Negroe (the

thes

Hands euer

had), the rest

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
of her ladeinge

85

was lignum-vitae, with which she made a

in

saueinge voiage.

The Gouernour being thus busied

in rayleing

settinge

of his

plants and makeinge fences with rowes of figge-trees, and

them

inj to

preserue them from the hogges

as

also in carrying a Pale

ouer-mark the Hand of

St.

Georges,
cattell as

from west to

east, therin to

keepe seuered such

had bin sent out of England, some of which belonged to the generall Companj^, but most of them to the Erie of

Warwick; and

in the

performance of such husband-like

fitt,

bussinesse, for which indeed he seemed very

and de-

serued commendation.

The aduenturers

at

home (who had

promised him at his departure a speedy supply) wer as

attentiue also in makeinge goode their words vnto him, to

which end they hired and

excellent sayler)
called

sett out a smale

bark (but an

the Hope-well, and

made master

ouer her one Powell, a good marriner, and very well traded
in all the

West
first

Indies,

whose open and professed commis-

sion

was

to

shore his passengers and goods in the

Sommer-Ilands, and then to pass on to the Virgin and

Sauuage Hands

lieing to the southwest,

and within eight and so

dayes sayle of them [Bahamas, EdJ], and ther to trade with

the natiue Indians for
to transport
cattell, as

goates and the

like,

them

to the colony.

But

this

bark being on

her waye, and gotten up to the Western Hands, called also

the Azores, meetes with a Portugall shyp comeinge from
Brasil, laden with suger

and some passengers of fashion

so that hauing a master practised in thoes courses,

and

whose fingers so itched

chuse but
fall

at

all

he mett, that he could not

:

a rubbeinge

when he mett them

with his

nimble sayler he giues chase to the Brasil man, and in a

short time both fetcheth her vp and takes her; so that

remoueinge most of her people into his owne shyp, and

mauninge
sayles

his prize with

his

some

of his

he

owne

course, together with his

owne men, awaye newe gotten

86

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

j

goods

this

haueing done, and but then perhaps begin-

ninge to thiuck what he had done, not knovveing how the

fact

would be receiued

at the

at home, nor how he might be vsed Sommer Hands, when he came ther, he resolues to

make

directly for the West-Indies,

it;

and ther to take time to

thinck of

and not long

coast, wher, fallinge

was before he attained that into the company of a roueing Frenchit

man

(one

euery way as cuninge as himselfe, but more

is

trecherous), a great league of kindnesse

sone made vp

betwixt them.
of the

Vpon

confidence wherof, Powell and

some
both

clieife of his
is

company, being inuited abord the French

and
in the midst of his cupps,

shyp,

easily entised,

himselfe and his

;

made prisoners manned with French

company inhospitably and treacherously whervpon word is sent out by a bote well
to the Brazilian prize, that vnlesse she
all

quickly and quietly rendred her selfe and

to their dispose, her captain

she had in her

company should paye for it with their Hues at the maine-yardarme ; with which dismall message being scared (as well
all

and

his emprisonned

knoweinge the vilanous resolution of thes French

like cases,

in the

and withall tenderly respecting the liues of their captaine and the rest), the sayd prize is presently deliuered
in to their

vp

sett at libertie
this

hands vpon which the prisonners, being and landed vpon the next shore, away goes
;

rascally

Frenchman

in

triumph with his base and

cowardly gotten goods.

Powell and his company being thus prize-lesse ashore,
fetched off by the bote of his
is

owne shyp, the Hope-well,

wher, being aboard, and findinge his prouissions every waye

growen
stolue

scant,

and hopelesse vtterly of recoueringe his

away

prize, (stormeiuge, stampeinge,

and sweareinge

reuenge) he at last resolueth, in the emptie case he was, to

make back
that
(first

for his first

harbour in the

Sommer Hands

so

settinge on shore his Portugall prisonners

vpon

the Maine of the

West

Indies) he

weyeth anchor and maketh

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
thetlienvard, wlier^ not long after, be safely arriued,

O/

and

findeth the Gouernour about bis husbandry, as also newly

beo-inuingre a

framed house for the minister at

St.

Georges,

to

whom

he himselfe declareth the whole passage of his

fortunes, feareinge, perhaps, least otherwise they

might be

worse told by some second, which the Gouernour, by his

outward wellcome seemed well ynough to approue. The most part of the followeinge moneth was employed
as formerly in matter of husbandrye, with which the

Go-

uernour so wholy was taken vp, as that

it

gaue occasion to

some of the

snai'leinge

meaner

sort of the aduenturers in

England (such of them

letters that

especially as

had receiued some perin their scuruie priuate

sonall discontents) to write vnto

him

he was

fitter to

be a gardiuer than a Gouernour.

Among
fresh

other things of note acted by

him
litle

at the

same time,
hauiug
be con-

he caused a pond to be digged a

water well that
it

distance from the

;

serueth

the

towne

but
to

brought

to the depth of
if it

two

foote, it

began
it

sidered that

should be cai'ried deeper,

might preiu-

dice the well

and spoyle the water, whervpon that worck

ceased

in the

same moneth he held

his second generall

first,

Assize at St. Georges, as irregularly as the

wherin not
(or

any matter of note was handled, only a proclamation

rather article, as
it

was then tearmed) was published (but ouerlate) against the spoyle and hauock of the cahowes, and other birds, which already wer almost all of them killed and
scared awaye very improuidently by
inge,
fire,

diggeinge, stone-

and

all

kind of murtheringes. The Gouernour went, pre-

sently after this, to take a

vewe

of a certaine rock lieing in

flauncker with the Kings- castle,^ the which, by an order of

court from England, was appointed to be fortified

findinge a great difficultie in the attempt, both
the

but

badd landinge vpon the place

of

for ordinance,
it

by reason of and his

was quite

owne pouertie

knowledge
*

in thoes afiayres,

Now

Southampton Fort.

88

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

all,

giuen oner, and not meddled witli

lieu tlierof,

all

his time

but in

some 8 or 10 men are appointed

this daye,

to cutt out a

plattforme at Pagett^s Fort, the which (as the worck itselfe

sheweth to

and euer

will

doe in despight of
ill

all

amends) proued so vnfashionable, vncapable, and

that
it is

layd out,

absolutely the most vnceruiceable and vnsightlest

;

peece in that kind of the whole ilands

and yet by situation

and

for vse, requireinge as

much

or

more protection than

and

any other whatsoeuer.

You heard euen nowe

of his fortune
;

of the comeinge in of Powell

but hauinge not performed in the Sauuage

Ilands what he stoode obliged in vnto the Company, con-

cerneinge the traffique for cattell ther, he

a second time thether

is

nowe employed

by the Gouernour, vnder coulour and

;

pretence of the same service

all

thinges necessary and

fourteene of his

who also furnished him with manned him out with thirteene or owne colony people, most of them being

prime men and of cheife account, of whose voiage and re-

we shall speake hereafter. In the meantime, the Company at home (who had bin fully possest and putt in great hope of much good to be done in thes partes by fishinge
turne
for the whale,

by reason that dureinge the moneths of

and March, great numbers of thoea
fell

January,

February,

kinds of fishes are scene vpon the coast)

tion to

vpon a

resolu-

make an experiment
tall

that waye;

whervpon they

caused a

shyp called the Neptune to be prouided, and

skillfull
j

furnished her with

men, and

all

other thinges neces-

sary for such a voiage

but before she could arrive at her

destinated port, the Gouernour ther (who at his comeinge in

had brought with him

shalopes, with

also diners tooles, instruments,

fitt

and em-

some persons

and proper

for that

ployment) determined to breake the yce for them, and to

deserue somewhat by aduentureinge first so that settinge vp three newe shalopes, whose poeces wer shypped with him out of England, and manning them with seuen or eight
;

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

89

men

apeece, he caused the

company

to sett forward to that

bussines;

but the effect of this attempt answered not his

it

hopes, for whether

swift
it is

wer by reason of the extraordinaiy

swimming and

stoute mettall of this kind of whale (for

is

the trunck whale,^ and

knowen by experience

to haue

store of sparme), or the condition of the place, the sea

being ther in some places very deepe, or that by reason

of the rocks the hawsers could not be kept cleare, or what

other mischiefe or mischance so euer

that after

it

was, certaine

it

is

many

trialls,

hazards, adventures, and continuall

rayleinges vpon poore mistris Fortune, not so

much

as one

peece of a whale could euer be recouered, though diners of

them were
fell

often strook

and wounded

vpon which

ill

luck

the Gouernour for that time layd aside this sea-S!ruice and

again to the land.

In the beginneinge therefore of the newe yeare, being the

second of his gouernment, he held his third Assize after the
old

manner; wher diuers

inflictions

being layd vpon sun-

dry delinquents, as whippeinge for suspicion of incontinencye

publick askeinge of forgiuenesse for matters of slaunder and

such like; three persons among the rest wer condemned to

die, the first for stealeinge of a paire shoes
;

the second was

a woman, who, vpon heareinge the report of the execution

of the

Frenchman, that the Gouernour

(as

you haue heard)

first ar:

caused to be hanged within three weekes after his

riuall, in

a feminine passion, burst out into thes wordes

that

if

she had bin a man, and had

knowen

it

before hand,
;

he should not so quietly haue bin so hardly vsed

the which

speeches being, almost a yeare after they wer spoken, re-

ported to the Gouernour, he thervpon caused her to be

attached, endicted, and arraigned
lion
;

vpon mutiny and

rebel-

and so being cast by a

to be

fearefull jury,

and sentenced
in his great

hanged
(for in

was condemned but thes two, the Gouernour

it

mercye

thoes very words I find

re-

corded) suspended from the execution of the sentence, and

^

Trunk whale.

This designation appears to be forgotten.

90

THE HISTOKYE OF THE BBRMUDABS

SO tliey remained aliue (and yet are)

condemned persons

vnto this daye.

But the

third

man

(whose name was Paul

Deane) scaped not so

well, for

being endicted for the steale-

inge of a peece of cheese, he was arraigned and condemned,

and thervpon craueinge the benefitt of his booke (the prize of the stolne goodes being valued at twenty pence)^ it was
answered him by the Gouernours owne mouth (very vnwarrantably) that he would allowe noe booke in a plantation;
so that thervpon being sentenced^ he

was hanged the next

Gouernour

daye

;^

and

it

was

secretly muttered, as if the

secrett spleene,

had owed him some

at his arringement,

and the rather because

first

when

the stolen cheese was at the

it

valued vnder twelue pence, he caused

prized at twenty pence
;

(in

i'ury)

to

be

as also, that he

had bin often heard

slight occasion, that

to saye to this poore fellowe,

vpon euery
if

he looked like a knave, and that

least

euer he tooke him in the

manner trippeinge, it should cost him a hanginge ; as At this Assize also, the if he ment to hang for ill lookes. first order was sett downe for a presse and leuye of men out of the tribes, for the mountinge of the ordinance in Pagetts
Fort, and the repayreinge of the decayed platformes in the

Kings-castle
part lost
direction,

whose labour and sweat was

for the

most

and mispent through want of knowledge, good

and iudgement in matters of that nature.
the conclusion of this assize

Sone
the

after

came a hott

alarme from Sands his

I'atts

tribe, of a fierce assault

made by
it

vpon

their

newe

sett corne,

who

scratched
it

out

of the ground in the night as fast as they put

in in the
first

day

thes
in

race of ratts being (as you have heard)

brought

Indies, in

by the runne away frigate from the West Mr. Moores time, began presently so sylently
to encrease
(ther

and sodainely
sweet
1

being noe place of the

world more apt to nourish them, partly by reason of the

temper of the

aire,
i,

but

especially

through the
record of the

See Memorials of Bermuda^

p. 129, for the oflicial

atrocity, wliicli occurred in INIarcli 1(118.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
generall shelter and couert that
it

91

affoi'ds

them) that they

then became

felt

before they wer feared, and yet not so

;

duely feared as befitted

so that

litle

or noethinge being
lesse in the lazie

done against them at that time, and

to so ranch a

dayes of the six Gouernours, they wer by this time gotten

head that swimeinge in huge troupes from

iland to iland (for fishes haue bin taken three leauges of at

sea with whole ratts in ther belly es), they eate up the

whole country before them, whersoeuer they went, vtterly

deuoureinge
all

the corne they mett with

all

all

in

an instant

so that, in despight of
land,

the catts sent from out of

of poyson,

Eng-

and the layeinges

the Gouernours often

fireinge of the

whole ilands, to the huge wast and spoyle of

much

excellent caeder timber, or whatsoeuer els could be

deuised against them, they euery day more and more so

multiplied and grewe vpon the poore amazed people, as
that
it

very

litle

wanted that the whole place had once

left

againe bin vtterly and quite

inhabitants
:

voide of her reasonable

ill

and with out

all

question, this

had not

fayled to have befallen, had not

God (who noe doubt hath

swept them

an

especiall

worck
by
his

in the peopling of thes partes with

Christians),
all

owne hand,
it

in great mercy,

away

in

an instant, when

was

least expected; for not

long after that the Gouernour (haueing thus receiued this

loathed report of this ratt-warre in Somersett, and being
at his non-plus

of

newe

deuises to helpe himselfe), had

fall

determined

once

againe to

vpon another generall

extreame discontent

burneinge of the whole

of
all

ilands, to the

men, and

especially of Mr.
it,

Lewes the minister, who

Gouernour could
fall

openly preached against

so that the

neuer endure him afterwards; behold, by a soudaine

great
store of
raine,
all,

of

and some cold northerly windes

bloweinge with
so

in a

moment, and when noe man durst

happy a turne, thes mightie armies

much

as

hope

for so

of raueuous ratts are clean taken awaye, vanish, and are

92

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

;

scarce one to be found in a share

shortly after^

but in steed of them,

come

in

marchinge towards the houses whole

troupes of great and fatt wild catts,

who haueinge

formerly

found foode ynough vpon these vermin abroad, and so be-

come wild and sauuage, are now againe in this their necessities and by want of wonted reliefe, forced to returne to
their first

tamenesse

sheweinge themselues herein like

thoes vnthanckfull badd naturall

men who neuer

respect

longer nor farther than to serue their owne turnes.

thus was this desperate

And

wound recouered, beinge

a bles-

singe which, comeinge indeed imediately from heauen, not

only procured and established the well-fare and very subsistance of this colony, but with all (as fallinge out in his

time),

carry ed with

it

an accidentall addition of much

;

reputation to the Gouernour

for, in

such euents, fewe

men

trouble themselues to looke out so far as the causes, but

rest well

ynough contented with the sence

season aboue
certaine
all

of the effects.
for-

In the moneth of March next followeinge this good

tune
(being a
others most
subiect

to

soudaine

gusts),
fiue,

of the

colony people, to the

number
inge to

of

goeing out to sea in a calm munday morne-

fish,

on the sodaine ther arose so forceable and

lastinge a storme, that the bote wherin they

wer being

forced of from

all

partes of the ilands, they wer neuer

heard of after

although the Gouernour, vpon newes, sent

sea, to

out his owne bote three or foure leagues to

make

enquierye and
also,

search after them.

In the same moneth,

a bote belonginge to

Smiths tribe was over-raked

with the billowe and three

men drowned.
for the

Much
sett out

about this time, the good ship called the Neptune,

(as

you formerly heard)

with

whale fishinge,

arriued and moored her-selfe in the Kings-castle harbour,

being very
purpose
stantly
;

fully furnished

all

things necessary for that

fall

so that

five

shalopes are manned, and

in-

vpon

that bussinesse, but with noe better successe

OR SUMMER ISLAXDS.

93

than the former; for haueinge struck and launced diuers

whales, not so

much

as the least peece of

any one could be

recouered, so that a sodaine cooleinge followed the heate of

that affaj're; the which, also, shortly after became,

by a
and

frozen dispayre, quite given over

although, perhaps (as

some of good iudgement haue

site,

since affirmed), the triall

experiment was not so thorougly performed as was requenor the proiect so hopelesse, as
it

is

(to

this

daye)

receiuedj

Vpon the layeinge aside of may be in some part the cause

that coast; whervpon, in
called to armes,

this

whale-fishinge (and

it

of

it),

an alarme was giuen

from Sommerseate of four sayle of shypps descried vpon

all hast,

the people in generall are

;

and
St.

in a hurry distributed to all the fortes

the towne

of

Georges, also, where the Gouernour

rested, is very thoroughly

so held before
foes.

it

for two dayes space was knowen whether they wer freinds or

manned, and

out to

At last, the weather groweinge' calme, a bote is sent make a discouery; the which, sone after returneinge,

brings a pleaseiuge message and newes to the Governour,

that the admirall of the descried fleet was Captaine Powell
in the Hojpeivell (who, as

the Sauuage Ilands),^

you knowe, had bin employed to and that the rest were prizes of his and
be

the which, haueing falne with in his reach, he could not

hold from catcheinge at

so,

hauing seazed on them,

had thus brought them

to

ript

vp

in the ilands.
caruell of

The

same eueninge, one

in, into

frigate
:

and another

them gatt

in at the Kings-castle

the next day a third frigate came Townes harbour; and, two dayes after, arriued Powell himselfe in the Hopewell, who by the wind scantino-e
the

7 l^'^hale fishery was subsequently conducted on a considerable scale, both at Bermuda and the Bahamas. The reader will find very full

details respecting it in

my

Memorials of Bermuda.

tax of 10 for
to 1740.

each whale killed was a part of the Governor's salary 8 Probably the Lucayas or Bahamas.

down

94

THE HISTORYB OF THE BERMUDAES

liim

vpon

was

in a

shrewed

possibilitie of
left his

hauing bin driuen

of to sea, and
to the

therby to

haue

newe-gotten booty

mercye of the place. Thes ladds being thus gott

in,

the

first

inquisition that

the Gouernour made vpon them was of their ladeiuge; when findeiug it for the most part to be meale and hides, with certain munition and some other furniture, all which sommed to gether might amount to a matter of some reasonable value, he resolued to sett a calme face upon all things, and to make fayi'e weather with Powell at least so
;

long vntill he had

of
all
all

fully

and absolutely possessed himselfe

such goods as he had brought with him; and this with

hast he pursued, causeing

vnshypped, and layd vp

into his

them to be for the best part owue store-houses the

;

which was noe soner done, but presently he began to expresse himselfe in a contrary manner, and (partly the better
to answer
it

in

England, but especially hopeinge therby to

this

fasten

vpon some of

booty for himselfe), he sharpely

litle

questioned Powell of a mis-demeanour and

a pyracye, for this his fact,

lesse than

askeinge him in plaine tearmes

how he
more

durst be

so

bold to bring in his stolen goods

farr

into his harbours.

But Powell (who, indeed, was of a

dai-einge speritt, although at that time

vpon

all

the

in-equalitie of tearmes that could be)

answered him roundly

had done noething but what he both could and would answer when time and place required but as for being putt to it by him, he beleaued it might be refused, for the
that he
:

Admiralty of England only

to

(as

he tooke

it)

was the Court

Gouernour
less being,

which he was

liable.

This reply frettinge the

least patience

(who could neuer with the

contradiction

endure the least

wher he was

in the wrong,

much

as now, in the right), fallinge into an extreame fury, he

replied, that

he would teach him to knowe and

feele the

contrary, and ther vpon fetchinge out his commission, he

willed

him

to looke

and see whether by

it

himselfe wer not

OB SUMMER ISLANDS.
an admirall
better and
sufficient,

95
call

within this his command, to

an honester

man than

himself into question.

Powell vpon vewe, haueinge found that true which before

he suspected not, and wisely perceiueinge that noe good was to be gotten by a persistance in his error and heate,
in a far

more mild and temperate

:

straine,
"

answered to

this

purpose

" Indeed," (quoth he)

nowe

see that your

authoritie is far

agined

in

more extentiue and absolute than I imwhich respect I willingly and readily submitt
it

myselfe vnto

in all things

neuerthelesse, I

make noe

doubt but that, as your

shall

forbearance in this

kind must and

deserue a freindly obligation from myselfe, so the

in

Company

England

will

hold

it
;

duely and with meet

to

caution referred vnto their censure

whom,

if

any pre-

sent harsh course be attempted against forced to appeale.

me

here, I

must be

This speach wrought doubly vpon the

furie,

Gouernour, on way to the asswageinge of his

by a
if

kind of glueing way vnto

it,

but

it

had

its cheife
;

and maine
he

operation vpon that touch of an appeale

the which,

receiued not, he feared how the non-acceptance might be

taken by the aduenturers

neither, to say truth, did he well

sort, or

apprehend or vnderstand in what

of course, to put

by what

formalitie

him
;

to his

triall if
it,

he should goe on to and

this his

proceede against him

safer

findinge

therefore, the easier

waye

for himselfe to

be only the reporter of

it,

action to the

Company, and there to leave

;

he readely

rested vpon that course

so that, at last,

it

was agreed
his

vpon that Powell, leaueing behind him the best part of

prizes and his three frigates, should, with the rest,
his returne for

make

England in the Hojpewell, and ther receive

in the restitution.

his sentence

from the interested Company, and accordingly,

all

he dealt with
tion

Vpon

this

determina-

(when he could gett no

also the

better),

shortly after

awaye

goes Powell for England, and with him stole away one

George Haynes, as

gunners wife of the sbypp, the

96

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

whicli aggravated the Gouernours spleen against Powell, as

(falsely)

conceiueinge liim
in those harsh
all

pnuy

to their departure

(such

stealthes

and hard times being generally

coueted, and with

care and watchfulness both feared

and

prouided against by the Gouernour), and especially he was

madded

at

the departure of the

woman

(though

it

was

with her husband), by reason that haueinge bin once his

household seruant she had proved herselfe in certaine secret

pointes too lavish of her tongue^ and therefore mistrusted

much more

freely

and broadly

to fall into

it

againe at her

The very next daye after this departure of Powell, the Neptune also made her waye out of
the harbour of the Kings-castle
;

nowe comeinge home.

and

it

was afterward
hast,

rumored that she did

intention that,
to haue serued
if

this with the

more

upon an

she could have mett with Powell abroad,

as a pyrate,

him

and made purchase of him,

being well knowen

a proiect

(if

any such there wer) which certainely would

both their costs,
it

have

fallen out to

that Powells

speritt

(although neuer so

much disadvan-

taged) would not easily haue stouped to base and abiect

conditions.

In this Neptune was also carryed for England

;

the lieutenants wife of the Kings-castle

and very much

it

doubted

it

was by some of the subtlest wher

was done

with the Gouernours secret and close consent or not. True,

indeed, that openly he seemed
into

some publick chafes with her husband

reason of some especiall

in, as

much enraged, and entred but yet, by turnes of his that she serued him
:

well fouleinge Powell his bussiness at her arriuall in

it

England, as some others,

caused

many

(as before sayd)

to suspect the integritie of the carriage of the matter,

and
and

made

the Gouernour to be conceiued a

more

politick

cunning man than perhaps he deserued.

Noe soner wer

the harbours thus, as you have heard,

cleare of shypinge,

but the Gouernour (tickled with an

to
fall

ambitious and vaineglorious apprehension) began

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

97

vpon a project of bravery;

ceiued that

for findinge himselfe possessed

left

with two frigates and a caruell,

it

him by Powell, he conif

would proue an action of reputation,

vnto them, as a Cape-Gouernour
to be taken in
;

he

who had
was
it

bin a Cape-merchant in Virginia, should nowe

:^

sett out a vessell

neither

likely (thought he)

ill

part

by the

Company of Adventurers at home since euen at the worst it could proue noe manner of charge to them and chaunce;

inge well, might be a meanes of fittinge and furnishiuge

the colony with

come and

cattell
;

(which was the open preall

tence) without their trouble

with

extremitie of hast and

vrgeinge, therfore, he caused one of thes vessells, the Carivell,

to be
;

trimmed up, and

the which being
(the

fitted

with a halfe-deck and a

of the
six

fore-castle

manned with twelve

colony

men

same Walters that had bin one of the

Gouernours carryinge the name of master, but one Hellicott, a

Frenchman, being indeed the only marrinour) was

sent out for that voiage, an oath being taken by euery one
of them, that they should vse their vttermost endeauours to

make

their sayd voiage with a speedy returne.

But

this

shypfull being arriued at that English colonye, and after some staye and entreatie haueinge obteyned some fewe goates and hoggs in puttinge out to sea againe, and makeinge some shewe of a returne, whether it wer through
;

want of

skill,

so that they could not find the Hands, or

by

the dislike of some of the cheife

among them,
at
sea,

that affected

not to passe againe vnder the Gouernours command, after

some weekes of tumblinge abroad

they bore vp

againe for Virginia Tfrom whence they came out), wher the

barck and most of her passengers remaine

vntill this day,

and neuer returned

to the

Sommer-Ilands, to give vp their

that employed them.
in England,
is

account to the frettinge

man

But Powell being arriued

taken notice
of,

and not long

after

him the Xpptune, Powells cause

presently and primarily

:

and variously disscussed in the court

^

at

See note, p. C9.

98
last,

THE HISTORYE OF THE BEEMUDAES

vpou a testimony deliuered in against him by the

fore

sayd liuetenant's wife,

who had bin with him

all

at the take-

inge of his

first prize,

and looseinge of her (and was the

his actions in that

only wittnesse produced against him)

kind are disauowed by the Company, and held irregular

and beyond

his commission; the

which notwithstaudinge,

they wer contented, in respect of an especiall fauour and

kindnesse ment vnto him, to forbeare to pursue any farther

at that time,

and vpon

his

good behauiour euer

that the

after only

in respect of the in generall

dammage
willful!
;

Company had

receiued

by the

prolongation of his voiage, by

also

going out of his course

and that

many

perticular

men

had bin preiudiced

in their supplies

and other necessarys,

in

which should have bin landed by him

Hands, and wer not
;

the

Sommer

by way of redresse and recompence

forfeite all
left

he was censured to lose his whole paye, and to

such goods and purchase whatsoeuer as wer
the custodye of the Gouernour of the

behind in
;

Sommer Hands

all

which they not long

after

sent

for,

and employed and

appropriated to themselues; wherby as well the Gouernour's

hopes as Powells wer frustrated, and thus was that affayre

passed ouer.

But

in the

meane

space, the

Gouernour ther being ignoto

for

rant of thes resolutions, and flatteringe himselfe with a

conceite that a good part of thes sayd goods would
his share,
fall

began

to putt in practise
;

some experiments
triall to

the improueinge of them

he caused therfore a

be

made

for the tanneinge of the

rawe hides with the bark of

the mangroue tree; and to that end framed diuers cesternes

of cseder, and appointed one or two of the colony people

(who professed most

waye)

for themselues

and
but

their skill that

to take that charge in

hand

all this

proued so

baddly, as not only the labour but

vtterly lost

many

of the hides wer

and spoyled, to the extreame enrageinge of the

Gouernour and the punishment of some of the boasteinge

tanners.

Olt

SUMMER

ISLANDS.
lie
fell

99
to tlie build-

Glueing ouer this proiect, therfore,

negroes to replant the suger canes.
the holdynge of an assize
:

inge of smale framed houses at the Towue, and caused the

He sommoned

also

and because he would haue

the cause

somewhat

to doe at

it,

he sent his prouost marshall into the

niaine to apprehend the

body of one Gabriell

:^

wherof was

this.

It

was discouered vuto him, by one

Christopher Carter (that had bin one of the six Gouernours)

that the sayd

Gabry should

tell

him that the

bi-ed up,

baylie of

Pembroke tribe (being a gentleman by the earle of Pembroke) had used

and sent ouer

thes wordes to certaine

of the people of that tribe, that. Rather than his folke

should goe up to worck at the fortes, he hiraselfe would

in yrons for them.

lie

Vpon

this information,

Gabry

is

appre-

hended and brought vp

of the

to the towne,

and being examined

very stricktly by the Gouernour, confesseth the heareinge

sayd words from Mr. Pollarde (so was the bayly

is

named), and thervpon

committed close prisonner, as

guilty of the concealement of so dangerous a resolution.

This committment of Gabry being noysed abroad, and

comeinge

to the eares of

some prime men of the

tribe,

who had

bin at the heareing of Pollards wordes as well as

himselfe, feareing the euent

and findinge themselues on the

it

same predicament, they thought

was time

to act

some-

what that might recouer themselues out of the danger

whervpon, acquaintinge the baylies that wer next vnto

them with the bussines (among the which one Mr. Riche, a kinsman of the Erie of Warwicks and the bayly of
Southampton
tribe,

was

one), of themselues they attached

Pollards person, and instantly wer in action to carry

him

It appears,

by the imperfect record

of this Assize, still preserved in

is

the Colony, that the incident occurred in 1617, and this conclusion

supported by the circumstance mentioned below, that " the ratts were
still

very busie".

We

have already chronicled their sudden disap-

pearance.

h2

100

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

at

by bote vnto the towne; but by tlie waye descry e the Gouernours shalope and himselfe was
in a voiage

sea they

in her

(who

downe
after

into the maine,

vpon a fresh ap-

prehension of a priuate proiect of his owne interest, the

which he shortly
nesse, as

pursued with

all

attention and eager-

we

shall see anon).

of them in a straunge him of important affayres. manner, as by holdinge up of halters and the like, they at last caused him to make towards them, wher, being arriued,

Making and some

signes, therefore, vnto

and with an angry harshnesse (according

to his garbe) de-

mandinge what they had

prisonner, beceeching

to saye to him, in an

humble but amazed

(though

fearefull fashion they pi'esented

him with

their poore

him

to take this their carefull

somewhat
vigilant

tardy) duty in

good part, the which should en-

courage and teach them to be euer hereafter both more

and

wise.

But the Gouernour, lookeinge

to carry
;

terribly

vpon them, badd them only

him on forwards
he)
I

to the

marshalls ward at the towne

"

for (quoth

haue

more
like

serious

thinges to thincke of at this time",

and

(withall, poiutinge to

Mr. Riche,

ground he bore a

whom, vpon the very greater spleene) " I make him tlier
to
;

also (sayth he) your prisonner

and vpon your

perill,

see

that both of

them be

safely deliuered to the custody of the

marshall, ther to attend

my farther

pleasure,"

Within four-

teene dayes after which he makes his returne to St. Georges,

and sodainely vpon

delected gentlemen

it

holds a generall assize, wherin fewe

other bussinesse being handled, the cause of thes

is

much
for-

especially

aimed at and pursued

contempt

and

first

of

all

he begins with Nicholas Gabry, who

fallen into a foule (but ignorant)

merly haueing

of the Gouernours warrant, and by him, for that time (as

he thought) pardonned,
tioned and endicted for

is
it

nowe againe at this assize ques(for it was mistrusted that the

and although at
his ar-

matter of concealement in Mr. Pollards case would not

sticke deepe

ynough vpon him)

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
raignemeut, penitently confessinge his
guiltiej yet the
oflfence^

101

he pleaded

Gouernour

(to

expresse his mercye, as sayth

the record) would needs haue a jury of twelve

men

to passe

vpon him

who, makeinge no bones to find him guiltye of

rebellion,

mutiny and
lowes, and
to die), he

he receiued sentence to be hanged;

but being carryed with a rope about his neck to the gal-

made

to

goe vp the ladder, (verely thinckinge

:

was repriued by the Gouernours command

yet,

vpon

this irregular

and vnwai'rantable condition (contrary

re-

to the lawes

and custome of England) that he should

maine a slaue
vntill,

to the colony (that is to say to himselfe)

by

his

good future behauiour, he should deserue to

the contrary.

This done, Mr. Pollard and Mr. Riche are brought publickly to the barre
:

Mr. Pollard

is

charged vpon the wordes

lie

aforesayd, that he should give out that he would rather

in yrons than suffer
fortes.
1.

any of his people to worcke

at

the

To Mr. Riche wer obiected

thes articles followeinge

injustice, for

That he should taxe the Gouernour of

not

doeing him right in a debate and controuersie betweene

him and one Beamont, the master of the Neptune; but

should saye, that
if

Sir

Thomas

Gates, or Sir

had bin

in his place, they

would not haue

it

suflfered
:

Thomas Dale, him to

to which

goe out of the harbour before

that he should hold his peace

had bin done

the Gouernour replied, that he talked like a child, and

;

for (quoth he) I

knowe what

I haue to doe as well as they, and better than you can direct.

Secondly.

He was

charged, that at the Gouernours comefell

inge vnto his house in the maine, he ther, a second time,

into the
to be in

same expostulation

at

what time

also (seemeinge

some passionate heate) he demanded of the Gouernour when the maine men should be commanded to the
and how many of them
at one time

fortes,

wer
it

to

be ther

to

which the Gouernour

answering, that

should
;

be and

when he thought most convenient

for their best ease

102
as for their

THE HISTOKYE OP THE BERMUDAES

number, some one or two

at a tyme, accordinoly

as

the tribe was

furnished with inhabitants;

still

and the
the

rather because the ratts wer

very husie: that thervpon

if

the sayed Mr. Riche should arrogantly reply, that

people would be ruled by him, they would come

ther, or not at all;

all

toge-

and

so,

repayreing the fortes, they

would make the merchants

should

to

pay

for

it.

Thirdly, he

was

questioned, for that beinge one time at St. Georges, he

tell

the Gouernour to his teeth that the fortes were

to be repayred
tribes,

and maintained without the charge of the

and that the maine men mainteyned the generalitie.

:

Fourthly

that he should saye that the Governour denj^ed

him

justice in a certaine contention betwixt

him and one

Robert Walker.

Fifthly

that the Gouernour, being at a

certaine time in conference with

at

him concerneinge Powell,

to

what time he told him that he looked

he were
:

be sent for

into England about that bussinesse, he then sayd Mr.

Riche should answer, that

suffer

if

so,

he would not

him

to goe.

Sixthly and lastly

that being com-

manded

to cause his people to burne one of the brother

ilands for ratts, the Gouernour himselfe

and

his

people

haueing done as much to the other, and being questioned

why
what
their

it

was not done,

articles

his

answer was, that he had some-

els to

doe with his people than to burne ilands.

Ypon
for

which

being accused, and both of them putt to

answer,

and demanded what they could saye

iudiciall

themselues (yet in noe forme of

proceedeinge, and

without a jury passing vpon them), they thervpon, both of

them

(especially

Mr. Pollard),

fully

and

pitifully

confessed
(for so

their error,

acknowledged their heynous offence

it

they nowe tearme

themselues), and submitted their cause

wholy to the Goueruours mercye, the which (not without

teares) they

humbly supplicated

who, therevpon that he

might shewe (sayth the record) that he alwayes proceeded

with mercye rather than justice, not only remitted their

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

103

heinous transgressions, but instantly restored them to their

former places of command, in as

euer before
;

full

and ample manner as

all this

and truly he might well doe

without
pittifull,

giueing iust cause either of being censured ouer

or vnder-prouident; for well
it

ynough and apparently knowen

was, that thes delinquents wer so honestly kind gentlegoodfellowes, that in any action of dangerous

men and

consequence, they would in such a case rather speeke out,

more than they euer ment, than conceale any thinge they entended. True it is, that the Gouernour was euer after
very suspicious and
fearfull, least

by meanes of

their kindred

and friends
to

in

England, they would proue some back freinds

some of

his

hopes

and

it

may

be, indeed, that he felt

;

some
for

effects in that

kind not long after

though certainely
thinges to cotten

since his returne

home, he hath found

all

him beyond

his expectation, not to say desert.

I told you, euen nowe, of a proiect of priuate interest that

hastned the Gouernour into the maine

the which (being

nowe ridde of the tye

of the assize, and haueinge slubbered

up, as you haue heard, the bussinesse about Mr. Riche and

Mr. Pollard) he from that time foi'ward, with

all

dilligence

and indefatigable paines,

ation,

to the great burthen of the plant-

and the extreame

secret grudgeinge of the people,

:

continually pursued and sett forwards

and thus

it

was.

The Company
and reward,

of Aduenturers, vpon his

election to the

gouernment, had promised him by waye of entertainement

to giue
;

shares of land

him at the end of nowe a prime instruction

after his arriuall in

his

tearme three

of theirs

was that

he should presently

the Hands, dispose

:

and laye

all

of

them out

into tribes,

and shares

(the willfull

ommission wherof by Mr. Moore being as you haue heard a maine and principal cause of their distaste of him). This
Gouernour,
thei-fore,

to auoid the like disgust of himselfe

vpon the

like occasion,

was noe soner

settled in

any reasonthis talke

:

able manner, but he

fell

vpon the performance of

104

THE HISTORYE OF THE BEEMUDAE3

whervpon, being of necessitie thoroughly to acquaint hiniselfe

with one Norwoode,

who was
familiar

the only surueyour he

had
the

he at

last

became so

and confident of him, as

this intelligencej that

not only he imparted vnto him his promised reward from

Company, but
his

solicited at his

hand

vpon

through vewe of the whole ilands which he was

shortly to haue,

by being employed
lett

in the generall laying of

him knowe wher the principall and choice peeces of soyle was to be found, that so he might vse his friends in England for the obteyneing of his shares of reward out of that part this being assured him by the surthem
out,

he would

ueyour, the bussinesse

is

quickly sett on foote

so that be-

ginninge at the east end of the ilands, which boundeth vpon

that generall land

nowe

called

Tuckers Towne (being so

tearmed by the Gouernour Tucker himselfe vpon his erectiuge ther of two or three cottages of leaues and plantinge
the liue-tenant of the castle and his wife vpon
it)

he went

onwards towards the west, layeing out

tribes
vntill

in that

manner the
at the

and shares as he went, without skip or interruption,

he came to the western-most part of that called
:

present South-hampton tribe

the Gouernour had coniured

wher findinge out that which

to seeke out for him, a fatte

him

and lustye
told the

soyle, with a

most

delicate enlarged valley,

he

ther stayed his progresse, and returneinge to the towne, he

Gouernour of

his discouery,

and withall added, that

in respect of the stint

and equall number of shares allowed

and proportioned to euery one of the eight tribes which wer

to

have

fiftie

shares to euery tribe, he euidently had dis-

couered that some surplusage of ground would be found;

the which,
full
if it
it

could be cast to

fall

out within that so fruict-

a valley,

might both giue an oppertune conueniencye

it,

to himselfe to aske

and withall proue very well worth the

he held
it

haueinge

in his opinion, therfore,

the best

waye

to giue ouer his first

course of surueyinge from the east-

end of the

ilands,

and (haueing already layd out seuen of

OB SUMMER ISLANDS.

105

the tribes that waye, and one only i-esting to be distributed)

quite contrarye to his former
at the farthermost

waye

to proceede,

and begin
and so

end

of the iland called Ire-land,

:

to goe on toward the East

fall out,

wherby
fall

it

that

what ouerplus soeuer should be

it

must of necessitye left (as some

ther would be)

could not but

within the contents of

this excellent vally.

The Gouernour haueiuge receiued this welcome and deare intelligence,, in much passionate kindnesse euen huggeinge the man againe and puttinge him in high hopes of extreame requitalls, in all hast return es him to the prosecution of
this proiect
:

the which being exactly performed, ther

is

found a remainder of about some eight shares of the best

ground

in all the ilands, ouer

and aboue the due belonginge

all
;

to that tribe.

This being thus done, and so

of,

the tribes
the plott
to the

and shares disposed

thereof
is

and the suruaye perfected

by the Gouernour sent ouer into England

Aduenturers, with an intimation in the last place, that in respect ther was some surplusage of ground, to the quantitie
(as the

Surueyour thought) of some three shares^ ouer and

it

above the due contents of euery tribe,

might well serue

accomplish-

(as lieinge cleare of all interested partes) for the

ment

of that reward, which they had promised

:

him

at his

election

and the which

for quietnesse-sake,
of.

and a publick
This suruaye,

good, he was willinge thanckfuU to accept

with the plott of

tent to the

it,

arriueinge in England, gaue good con-

Company, and presently they began to settle euery particular mans right vpon him, by casteinge of lotts. First therfore, eight of the cheifest persons and deepest adventurers wer assigned to haue ten shares apeece in euery
tribe,

answerable to the quantitie of their adventures, and

(for

euery one of them

called

honnours sake) to haue the tribe

:

by his owne name

and

this,

vpon the
first

issue of the

lotts, fell

out in this manner.

The

tribe,
fell

boundinge
out to the

on the generall land of Tuckers Towne,

106

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDABS

;

Countesse of Bedford, and was called Bedford tribe

the

which since beinge (vpon some

the

secretts)

passed ouer to

nowe tearmed Hambleton The second chaunced to Sir Thomas Smith, and tribe. Smithes tribe. The third to the then Lord is named Cavendish, and so named Cavendish his tribe but since vpon his being created Earle of Deuonshire, it is by an order of Court called Deuonshire tribe. The fourth fell out to the Lord Pagett, and so named Pagetts tribe the fifth to the Erie of Pembroke, and called Pembroke tribe
Marquesse Hambleton,
is
; ;
:

the sixth to Sir Robert Mansfield, at that time a forward

Adventurer, but haueinge since in an humour sold himselfe

out of the ilands, the

name

of the tribe hath bettered

itselfe,

and by an order of Court

and called
at the present
befell the noble Erie of

is

giuen to the Erie of Warwick,

tribe.

Warwick

The seventh
is

tribe

South-ampton, and

called South-

ampton tribe named Sands

occasion

and the eighth to Sir Edwin Sands, and

his tribe
:

between which and Southampton

which vpon the
;

tribe lieth that portion of surplusage land

aforesayd

is

still

tearmed the overplus

part

wherof
to

(as

you

shall see herafter)

hath since bin disposed

Southampton

tribe, part of it to

Sands

his tribe,

and

the other part to Captain Tucker.'^

As

for the

remainder

of thes islands, lieinge to the eastward of thes tribes, being

in quantitie as large or rather
it

more than any one of them,

for the

was and yet

is

allotted

and reserued

enter-

tainemeut of publick
Generall land
:

expences,

and thervpon

stiled

the

wherin standeth the towne of

St.

Georges
:

to the eastward,

wher the Gouernour keepes

is

his residence

and on the west-end

and
^

Tuckers Towne, betweene which

fortification

St.

Georges are erected thes peeces of

This division of Bermuda into eight districts called originally tribes,

;

but now parishes, has been handed down to the present day and the inhabitants cherish their local independence with a loyalty which a
stranger has difficulty in comprehending.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS,
followeinge
:

107

first,

the kings castle, wherin on three platt-

formes are mounted sixteene peeces of ordinance

vpon which vpon

nere high rock to the southwarde stands

:

Charles his fort, wher are two peeces of ordinance ; one of them commandeinge the landinge place vpon the castle, the
other playeing of to sea
kings-castle,
lie

then haue you ouer against the and in flauncker vntoit, Southampton fort, wer
:

mounted
which

five

peeces of ordinance, betweene which and

hai'-

the castle passeth in the chanell that leadeth into the

bour

is

thus secured and played vpon by three and

artillerye.
is

twenty peeces of good

trendinge
standeth
to

From hence
Coopers
it

(the coast

the

north-easte)

island,

wher

Pembroke

Fort, and

vpon

three peeces of ordi-

nance

thence passeinge on, more northwards, you come to

the harbours

mouth

of St.

Georges, which

is

garded by

Pagett Fort, and Smithes Fort, lieing opposite one vnto

another and the channell passeinge in betwixt them
:

in

Smithes forte
Fort
six.

are five peeces of

halfe a leauge

ordinance

in

Pagetts
into that
is

About

more inwards
;

harbour standeth the towne of St. Georges

which

com-

manded by Warwick
peeces
eight
:

Fort, wheron are placed three great

lie

and on the warfe, before the Gouernours house,

:

more

besides one smale faulcon, planted at the foote

of a trianguler-frame of timber,

made
and

to looke out to the

sea for discouery of shyps, called the

Mount, beinge the

on the north

warneinge peece of the fortes

side

lastly,

of

St.

Georges

island, is erected

vpon a rock the

smale fort of St. Katherines, in garde of a certaine sandy

baye

being the same wheron the

first

first

that euer landed in

in
it are mounted number of great

thoes partes,

set their feete,^

;

and

two peeces of ordinance

3

so that the whole

" Sea-Yenture Flatts", the scene of the memorable shipwreck of Sir

is still

George Somers,
still

noted on the charts

but this

is

the

first identifi-

cation of the precise spot where the unfortunate jmrty landed.

It is

guarded by Fort Katherine.

108

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

fortes,

peeces at the present vpon the

fiftie,

and

at the towae^ are

;

many

of which are whole culuerins

the rest demifaulcons.

artificiall

culuerins, sakers, minions,

and some one or two

And

thus haueing breifly deliuered vnto you the

defence of thes ilands, which in part was touched before

when we spake

of the naturall,

we

will

nowe returne from

first story.

this digression to the

former course of our

After the Company, therfore^ and Court of Adventurers

had thus disposed and distributed euery perticuler mans

shares by
fell

lott,

and patronized and named the tribes

Gouernours

they

at last into consideration of the

last clause

concerneinge the bestoweinge of the ouerplus land vpon

liim^

by waye of

his reward^ concerneinge

which howsoeuer

at that

time they sented not any thinge of the mistery of

the deuice, but receiued the relation and take their beleife
of
it

accordinge

to

the letter of his letters

yet their
dull in

wonted and certaine propertie of being slack and

cousenned

point of recompence, saued them at that time from being

:

so that writeinge in answer to the Gouernours

generall letters, they giue

good applause and approbation

;

to

his proceedings in general!

and as

for the matter of re-

ward, they wished him not to doubt but that he should find
himselfe in seruice to a gratefull and respectfull Company,

who would

rather eucrease their promised salary and enter-

tainement to a deseruing man, as they hoped he would

prove, than any

way

lessen

and shorten

it

only he was

wished to attend the due and prefixed time and end of his
tearme, accordeinge to the mutuall agreement; the which
as yet, he had
this
litle

more than

halfe

gone through.

And
worck

was

all

that the labour of his best freinds could

:

out for him at that time

many

perticuler

men

of the

Comat

pany beginninge to take diners exceptions and disgusts

ligences.

his proceedeinges, vpon some priuate respects and intel-

But whilst thes resolutions wer

in trauerse in England,

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
the

109

Gouemour

in the

Sommer Hands,

contrary to the aduise

and opinion of

his best

and most entrusted freinds conuereffect,

sant with him, entred vpon a precipitated course and action,

the which, as in hkely-hoode, so in

quite ouerthrowne

had well nigh

and frustrated

all

his best hopes in the

perticuler of obteyneinge the foresayd ouerplus lands (for

ouerweeneinge
fashion of such

himselfe,

accordinge

to

the

nature and

who from but

small estate, and noe high

condition, find themselues in a grouth

and a kind a being of

both) he would needs assure himselfe, that, what with his

owne deserueings on the one

praye

side,

and the strength of his

freinds on the other, he could not misse of this his desired

:

beinge

(as

he tooke
;

it)

so well

masked and
it

dis-

guised in the contriuement

beneficiall,

and withall consideringe how

would proue

both in respect of fame and gaine,

for

him

and besides the exceedeinge charge, and almost

impossibilitie of doeingeit, being a priuate

all

man

reiectinge

disswasions,

discouragements and obiections, he abwith

all

solutely resolued

expedition to frame and

erect
this

a very

substantiall

and

braue caeder

house vpon

peece of delicate ground, the which he had thus already

in

the

strength of his hopes deuoured

for

his

owne.
of

He

expeditiously

commands,

therfore,
St.

great

store

timber to be felled and towed to

Georges from diuers

partes of the ilands, especially from St. Dauis^, the which

being squared and framed ther, by the choysest worckmen

pressed out of the whole maine, he caused to be conueyed
in flotes as nere

to the ouerplus as he could;

and from

thence to be haled, by the strength of men, to the place

wher he appointed,

to the great slackinge

and distui-bance and extreame

of the generall bussinesse of the country,

suffrance of the poore labouring people.
vtterly spent with paines
their burthens
:

Wherof many being

euen suuck under

and

fastinge,

neither was ther any recompence or pay so

;

much

as

propounded

only sometimes, some of them wer

110

THE HISTORYR OF THE BERMDDAES

well payed with sound cudgellinge by the gouernours

owne

hand,

if

he conceiued the best neuer so htle slack, tardy,

:

or grudgeinge

but by this raeanes, great store of materialls

of

all

sortes are in a short time prepared

and layed ready

and the buildinge goes nimbly forward and with speed

highly aduanced, to the

is

much content and

iollitie

of the

Gouernour, who sometimes would remaine absent from the

towne and
tinuall

fortes

two or three moneths together, in a conall

and indeed only employment of himselfe and

his

meanes, this waye, and in this affayre.

The Gouernour being thus wholy taken up in the maine, the good shyp called the Dyana, sent from the Aduenturers with fresh supplies, both of goods and men, arriues in the townes-harbour by her likewise was brought the Com:

panyes answer to the Gouernours

as also, the
first
;

letters

before-mentioned

magazin to be sold

for tobacco that euer

thes ilands sawe

of which since ther hath bin euery yeare

;

one, to the cost rather than profitt of the inhabitants

folly,

their

wants, and high enhancement of the prices, concur-

reinge to keepe the colony poore ynough as long as the

custome and use of

after six or seuen

it

shall

be mainteyned.

This shyp,

weekes staye, cleares herselfe of the ilands, and makes her waye homewards, haueing laded vpon her about some thirtie thousand waight of tobacco, the which
proueinge good, and comeinge to a luckye markett, gaue
great contentment and incouragement to the vndertakers
to proceede lustely in their plantation
part, without
:

for,

for the

most

some such sweet sence and quickninges nowe and then they growe dull and tyred as litle vnderstandeinge (the most of them) or regardinge any other more noble
;

respects,

what colours or shewes

so euer are openly pre-

tended.

By

this

shyp, also, the Gouernour (among other

thinges) in his generall letters, wrote to the

Company

con-

cerneinge his owne returne, and of his desire to haue a successor

:

and yet

notwithstandinge,

in

his

most priuate

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
letters to his fast freindes,

Ill

he intimated a willingnesse of a
it

prolongation of his time, prouided that they conceiued

might be

beneficiall for

him

of which he desired to haue

perticuler information,

and that accordingly

they would

worck

it

out.
is

Noe

soner

the Gouernour thus ridd of the incombrance

of shypeinge (although he

found very smale incourage-

ments, and noethinge indeed but fayre spoken vncertanties),

yet findinge himselfe obiected to the publick eye, and

both engaged and well stept into the action, his secret
hopes also fedd with the beleife of his owne worth, and the

power of

his freinds

still

carryinge some

litle life
it

within

them), but he resolueth what soeuer came of

in his buildinge proiect
:

to proceede

a second time therfore he com-

mands the appearance

maine
to the purpose
:

of the most able

persons in the
all

the ground
jfitted

is

cleared on
:

hands

the frame of the house

and raysed
others

some
in

are sett to

their task in diggeinge of cellers, others in burneinge of

lime and makeinge of mortar;

makeinge of
fresh water,

shyngles

some

fine or six of the best

experienced in that
triall for

kind are employed to make search and

the which to their

much
euery
;

content

is

hapely and plentifully

obteyned.

In

breif,

man

is

so fitted

and bestowed to

the actinge of a part

callinge

so hastned

and godded on by the

in

and cudgellinge of the Gouernour, as that

is

very short time the worck

brought to much perfection,

erected and in good part

and a

large,

hansome, and well contriued house (yet by

Hands)
is

farr the best in the

finished.

The burthen wherof

laye so heauye on the shoul-

ders of the poore inhabitants in generall, as that in secret

(how perillous soeuer) they could not chuse but lament and

grudge

at the

misery of their condition

and especially
manner)

they deplore their estate to their preacher Mr. Lewes, who,

compassionatinge them, not long after

(after his

gaue an open touch

at it in a

sermon of

his in the

maine

112

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

to

the which comeinge

the Gouernours

knowledge, putt

him

into so high a choler, that at the preachers

comeinge

next to towne, meetinge him vpon the warfe, he could not

him aside, he wispered in his eare that he was informed well ynough of his tricks and rayleings against his buildings " But take you heed (quoth he) of and
hold, but takeinge
:

looke well to your

selfe

for if

you serue

me

so but once
vntill

more, I shall

tie

your neck and heeles together

your

back crack, and so helpe you to repentance."

terrible threatninge the minister

Vpon which

(whose speritt was not to

be mannaged that way) presently replyeing aloud, " You

knowe

well

ynough (sayth

he) that I feare not your threatto such as doe

:

ninge, and therfore you

may vse them

it also,

for

my part
when

I will freely

performe the dutyes of

my function, and
(if

I have done will answer

shall

as well

not better)
the Gouer-

than you

doe yours."

Vpon which answer

forbore

nour, although with

much adoe he
all

him

at the time,

yet euer after he nourished a perpetual! heart-burneinge

against him, the which vpon
occasions and opportunities

he greedely inanifested, not only dureing the time of his

being Gouernour, but euen euer since his returne. so that
is
it

knowen

that he purposely

went

to a certaine byshop,

and

complained of the poore mans irregularities in not conformeinge hiraselfe in the

Sommer Hands

to the

booke of

Common
farre

Prayer

the which, though the discret byshop

in respect the place
it

seemed not much to regard,

remote of
the

was so

his diocesse, yet

sufficiently manifested

spleene conceiued and nourished

by the Gouernour
it

against the minister, neither did he spare to expresse

much more
in

liuely for the space of their after staye together

;

the ilands
;

witnesse the passage that presently after

said preacher takeing occasion in
it

ensued

at

what time the

a sermon he preached at the towne, to say that

could

neuer be well with that state and Gouerment, wher Moses

and Aaron ioyned not together

the Gouernour, being at

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
the lieareinge of
itj

113

stoode vp openly iu the church as the

preacher was at his sermon, and told him aloud that he was
out of his text.
the same the

Another time the preacher reproueinge in manner some of his auditory for gazeinge vpon
not, I pray, sir? (cryes

women; "And why

out the

Gouernour

in publick), are they not

Gods creatures

V
and
for

Amidst thes iangleings and

vp
all

fallings out a pitiful

desperate attempt was executed, the which for a time took

the talk, and added discontent to the Gouernour
silly
:

two poore and

fellowes consorted only with one

young

woman

(who, had she but bin possessed with the least cor-

respoudencye of inside to her outside, might well have bin

tearmed

excellent), stealeinge

awaye the bote belonginge

to the castle, the

which one of them had in charge, and

Uncertaine
to this daye towards
for

poorely victualUnge her, they committed themselues to sea,

and so ranne awaye.

nor heard of

it is
;

what part they addressed themselues

after,

being neuer seeue

by

all

likelyhoode they quickly

in the
is

made an
suspic-

end of their entended voiage, either

or in the belly of some

bottome of the sea

gre^

shark. It

true that

some

ions wer taken

by the discouerye
it;

of a letter of one or

two more
the

confederated with them, and some enquiryes

made by

angry gouernour about

but noe profe being found of

preguancye, the matter was husht up, and noethinge farther

spoken

of.

In the very next moueth

after, the

very like

attempt plotted and concluded by six other of the colony

people (so extreamely addicted wer most

men

in this

man's

gouei'nment to gett lose from the Hands vpon any tearmes),

but the conspiracye being reueiled by one of the faustinge

confederates, the other fine

wer sodainely apprehended, and

assize,

being indicted and arraigned at the next

shortly after, they
(for

which was

wer

all

of

them found guilty of rebellion

vpon thoes tearmes ranne the indictment) and so receiued sentence to be hanged ; but, being the daye after
carryed to the place of execution with halters about their
I

114

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

neck, one of them only suffered death, the other foure wer
repriued by the Goiiernours warrant, and afterwards by him
absolutely pardoned (for he vsually tooke upon

him

to doe

that too)

The

rebellion

in the enditement ranne in thes wordes

and mutinye layd vnto their charge " That they had
:

plotted and eutended to runne awaye with the great bote

belongiuge to the Castle, and soe to goe for the

Indies,

West

and ther

to take a

Spanish

frigate, to

which end

they also raent to assault on a sodaine the Kings-castle, and

thence to furnish themselues with munition and water-cask.

They

also

made

vowe and swore one vuto another, that

all

being once entred into the bote the would

together rather than be taken aliue."^

of

them

die

Dureinge thes executions in the Sommer Hands the Dyana

arriues
safely in

England

the which,

howsoeuer,

she

brought a good content to the aduenturers by her luckye

bringinge in of good tobacco, yet passed
leuen of offence and disgust in
against the Gouernour.
it

not without a

many
of

perticuler

persons

Some

them accused him of

Company, others
them

vaineglory and presumption in buildinge such a flauntinge

house vpon ground belonginge to the

taxed him with his forceinge of the people in generall to

that priuate worck, and with his rigour practised vpon
in
it,

and
;

this they

called

noe lesse than oppression and

crueltye

and some ther wer that stuck not to giue out that

he was to be questioned about the abuse of the Companyes

name
vse,

in glueing out that this buildinge

tearraes,

was made

for their

and vpon thes

and under that pi'etence force-

inge the poore people to their great grudgeiuge against the

Company,
for

to labour

and toyle out themselues

in

it,

as also

employeinge many perticuler necessaryes out of the store

to the publick seruice to that use his
;

which belonged
it

wheras

was well ynough knowen that

entendments

in all this
in

* All this, as appears by the Colonial Records, occurred John Yates was executed 24th July 1G18.

1618.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
affayre

115

and modelled only to serue his owne turne. The vsage likewise of Mr. Eiche and Mr. Pollarde wer taken in very ill part by their friends and famelies, in so

wer

cutt out

much

that euen at that time (although the

most part of a
first

whole yeare yet wanted to the accomplishment of his

ferences for the search and choyce of a

tearme of gouernment, ther wanted not discources and con-

newe one

the

which, neuerthelesse, was for the present closely carryed,

both by reason that diners of his interested friends did

earnestly mediate, and

make

all

the fayrest weather for him,

that possibly they could, as also in respect that his prefixed

first

tearme of three yeares was not as yet terminated

so

that a shyp (called the Blessinge) being

vpon the instant of

either to

a voiage thether,

it

was held noe good discretion

discontent or vtterly dispaja'e

him

vntill

they had him safe This I saye was

ynough from doeinge

tion for the present

of

them any harm.

the ground of the huslinge and close carryage of that enten;

but noe soner was the shyp departed

all

from the English shore, and so

that yeare
;

intelligences secured for

but the diuers parties began openly to discouer

themselues against him.

Among

the which, one of

them

went so

far as that in

one of their ordinary and

common

courtes, a

motion was made by a gentleman of worth and

to second

good note (some lords and many of the merchants of the

Company being ready

Deputy Gouernors

it),

that in regard that the

liraitted
it

time in the

Sommer Hands was

vpon an expiration,

paratiue, that in the

seemed very fitt, by waye of a premeane time some courses might be

it

thought on for the choice of a successor, to which end

was not amisse that some fewe persons wer publickly named
to the

Company

at that instant, that so

vpon notice of the

their qualitie

men, inquisition might be generally made of and

all

sufficiencye,

and therby the iudgments and opinions of

men

the better gi'ounded and assured against the daye

of election, which was to be at their next generall and great

i2

116

THB HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

This proposition being generally approued

quarter court.

and

lield

very profittable and vsefull, the Gouernour of the

was, and yet
is,

Company (who then

question
all
;

Sir

Thomas Smithe)
put
it

was entreated, accordinge

meanes

to the custome, to

to

the

but he being at that time determinately bent by

to hold in the old Gouernor, as well therby to

serue some turnes of his

owne

as to pleasure his friends (and

cheifly Mr. Tucker, the searcher at Grausend), sodainly and

sullenly replied, that,

for his part,

he found that motion

vtterly vnfitt, both in respect of time

and occasion, the Goneither yet

uernour's tearme in the

finished, nor, if
it

Sommer Hands was

it

wer, did he see wher they could be better

prouided elswher; to which

being answered that howsoeuer

it

that might be true, yet was

necessary and I'equisite that

euery

man

should haue the libertie and freedom of giueinge

this

his vote,

and the which, without

meane of preparation,
it

could not so perfectly and vnderstandingly be performed.

He

was, therfore, once againe desired to put

;

to a decision

by erection of hands
singe
he)

vpon which second vrginge (expres-

much heate and passion), ''Doe it who will (answers by me it shall not be done at this unseasonable time;"
(it

the which peremtory answer

vtterly vnexpected,

being a course and refusal]

it

and so tooke theiu vnprouided) though

caused a leaueing
it

off of that action for that court daye,

ill

yet

was taken

in so

part by diuers of the great ones, and

most of the honestest, as an order of court vpon occasion

therof, not long after,

Virginia, that

was passed in a great quarter court at what gouernour, treasurour, or deputy soeuer
to be

should refuse to putt anythinge to the question, required by

any member of the court, and iudged by the most

fitt

to be propounded, was, ipso facto, to be depriued of his

office.

Much about this time, the shyp the Blessinge arriues in Sommer Hands, and by her comes the Gouernour to the knowledge how the world goeth with him in England,
the

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
for althougli

117
lie

by

tlie

generall intelligence

receiueth noe-

thinge but vncertaineties and a kind of spinneinge out of

his hopes at length, yet
friends,

by diuers priuate

letters

from his

he

is told

plainely, not only of the multiplicitie of

disgusts taken against

him by most of the Company and

it

was likely it would goe him concerneinge the farther continuation of him in his place of command, but that also in the perticular about his fine house and fatt ground, it was altogether to be
of the great ones, so that

some

hardly with

dispayred

of,

vnlesse he fully and nimbly cleared himselfe

and

satisfied the

Company about
;

his oppression of the peo-

ple in generall, and the harsh course he

had held with Mr.

Riche and Mr. Pollarde

sibly

neither did they see

his

how

this pos-

was to be done without

owne presence.

Haueing
within

receiued this vnwelcome aduise, and being

much inwardly
it

deiected, he first begins to thinck seriously of

himselfe, at last he imparts

his

it

to

some such

as he conceiuetli

most trusty

fellowes, consultinge
it

them

principally in
for

this perticular,

whether

wer not the best com-se

appearance to cleare

him
this

to passe in person for

England with the returne of

all

shyp, and

tlier

by a
it

liuely

thes im-

pediments, since
his freinds ther

might be feared that in so

ofiicious

far a distance,

wer not so
;

and entertaine

for

him

as

wer to be wished

and

this

he found the rather necessary

to the

to belieue,

by reason that haueinge wrote publickly

his returne

Company concerninge
first

vpon the expiration of his

shyp noethinge but
of his freinds, so on

tearme, and privately to his freinds to receiue their

it,

aduise about

he had receiued by
;

this

doubts and vncertaineties

whei'by as on the one side he

grew suspicious of the care and respect

the

other he vereiy thought that either the vndertakers

would secretly and sodainely send him a successor, or, at least, would not bestowe an entreaty vpon him to a longer
continuance, the which he highly but closely affected and

hoped

for,

and of which he ment

to

make good

vse.

But

118
tliis

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

inclination of his towards agoeing for
is

England being
this

once discouered to be in him,

sone after brought to a

thorough resolution by a trick putt vpon him in

ner.

man-

Euery man

in generall

being exceedeinge couetous to

they might followe him
it is

haue him gone

(his followers, that

thether, the rest to be ridde of

him wher he was)

agreed

by two or three of the cunningest heads among them, one

Wood,

the ensigne of his company, being the prime plotter

of the deuise (a fellowe that had a great deale witt than he

more of good
be

knewe how

to vse well), that a letter should

framed as written to the sayd

his in

Wood
''

from a deare freind of

England in
of the

this tenor

that howsoeuer he himselfe

(as he well knewe) was neither of the court, counsell, nor

Company

Sommer

freinds ther wer, he fi'om

Hands), yet haueing some good them had receiued knowledge of a

among that Company about a certaine handsome house, that is sayd to be built on the Sommer Hands by the present gouernour,
great difference and contrarietie of opinions

with

whom

it

was very
trustie

likely to

goe very hard, vnlesse

freinds, or his

either

by some

and powerfull

owne

presence, a speedy and diligent care and pursute wer taken in

hand and throughly followed, and thus much he thought good in his loue to him to let him knowe ; that so, if the Gouernour wer
his freind,

and such a one as he had occasion to wish

if

well vnto, he

might accordingly inform him,

otherwise, he

might

also vse his pleasure."

This done, and the counterrest of

feite letter,

which was excellently approued of by the

to the

the confederates, coppied out in an takes his time to impart

out an
it

vnknowen hand, Wood

Gouernour, yet not with-

extreame diligent attention for the nick of an

last findinge
it,

humour, so that at the

with a serious looke

and a garbe promiseinge somewhat of extraordinary, he

presents himself vnto him, and most

him

to afford

him a fewe wordes

in priuate.

humbly beseecheth The Gouernour

(caught with the manner) presently retireth himselfe into

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
his garden,

110

together.

Wood

and bidds him foUowe him, wher, being alone thus enters vpon him " Sir (sayth he) I
:

haue had a

conflict within

me

euer since the arriuall of this

tell

shyp, vpon the receipt of certaine letters which

me

thinges befittinge your eare to take knowledge

of,

and

my

duty to make knowen vnto you

certaine

yet being somewhat vn-

what to make of them, as not being assured of the

certainetie of the intelligence, I

was a good while suspensiue

respect and duty to you,
all

M'hat to do, at last (as

nowe)

my

my Gouernour,
feares
;

hath ouerswayed

other suspensions and

so that submittinge myselfe to be censured rather

for ouer-credulous

and

slight than neglectiue

and wantinge

due regai'd of the

to impart
fieing
it

least care of

your good, I haue adventured

it

vnto you, and so to leaue

to your

iudgement/^

This prolouge ended, he

tells

owne rectehim in
comeiuge

fewe wordes the contents of the

in with this parenthesis, that

letter, continually

it

may be

all

this

was but

some mistakeinge, and yet he knewe

wrote
it

that the freind that

him was both

iudicious and honest.

But the Gothis in-

uernour, although he noethinge smoked the secret of the

plott, yet

being vnwiliinge to haue

it

it

thought that

telligence or the feare of

only, for that time, willed

wrought anythinge vpon him, he him to shewe the letter, the which
thancks unto

being quickly done, after diuers readeings and surueyeinges,

he

at length (with protestations of

Wood
ill

for

his care

and good

will,

whom

formerly he could so

abide,

as he professed openly he would

hang him)

told

him plainely

and

in direct wordes, that this report so concurred with

diuers others that he

had receiued from England, as that he

see,

found

it

necessary for himselfe to goe in person thether in

this shyp, vnlesse

he would

not only himselfe in per-

son obiected to

all

publick scorne, but the best and maiuely

affected fruicts of his labours to

if

be bestowed vpon strangers,

not doubtinge but to

not his enemies; he was therfore firmely resolued to take

his leaue of the

Hands

for a while

120
cleare

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

vp

all

clouded conceites and appreliensious by the

suniiesliine of his presence,

ai'riuall at

and

to frame

all

matters at his
Full glad was

home answerable

to his mind.

this

letter-coyner to find his inuention to

this impatient patient, the

worck

so well

vpon

which how he afterward

pursued and composed, you

shall heare

by and by.
in the

But whatsoeuer the Gouernoui's resolution was

Sommer Hands,
iixed day
:

the aduenturers at home, for the most part,

to a

wer constant and intentiue

true
it is

newe

election at the pras-

that the persons wined at and desired

to the affections
votes.

wer sundry and

diners, accordinge

and

iudgemeuts of thoes who wer to giue in their

Southwell,

But

the competition especially rested betweene one Captaine

who mediated by
;

the letters of great courtiers

and and

fauorites
likely,

Mr. George Sands, who stoode very fayre,

his brother

by the strength of

Sir

Edwin, a

popular man, a great speaker, and of wise estimation in

their Courts
;

and one Mr. Nathaniell Butler, fauoured by

diners of the Lords of the

Company, and

in especiall long

knowen

Warwick, and by him well affected, so that much endeauourand canuasseinge for voices against
to the Earle of
is

the election day

directly,

used on

all

hands, by the lords openly,

and

freely,

aimeinge mainely at the good and well-

fare of the plantation,

by others with more

libertie,

layeinge

hold on any occasion that might further their owne ends

in

which humours and endeauours we

will

awhile, to take our leaue of the discontented

them Gouernour in
leaue

the Bermudaes.

We

left

him, as you know, cuningly scrued into a reso-

lution of glueing

up

his regencye,

and a returne

for

Eng-

land: but the partyes that

had

wi'igled

him

into

it,

although

they feasted themselues with so dainetie a begin ninge, yet

made account they had

attainned but the one halfe of their

waye, vnlesse they could also bring him to the institution

of such a deputy in his roome as should proue only
fitt

for

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
their turnes.

121

HIc

labor, hoc opus

the man, indeed, was

;

ready ynough to be found, Mr. Miles Kendall

lieing

one that by

among them

fi'om the first of the plantation,

and par-

ticipateinge with
their

them

in

all

their sufferiugs,

and many of

by cources, was generally very popular. His speritt, apprehension, and easinesse of nature was knowen to be
very
conueniently mannageable
:

noe great

exactor

of

labour, wittuesse his time of being one of the six Gouer-

nours

a good fellowe besides he was approued to be, and

one that would not stick in company to be an aqua vitm

man
is

sometimes.
to catch

Behold the man, therefore

his

the mystery

owne ambition they doubted not of, the Gouernours being brought to the choyce and admittance of him is the only feare. But this also (as in all other actions) seemed more difficult before it was attempted than it was found afterwards ; for, ther being fewe or none to thinck of besides, and thoes that most desired him being: such as wer only called to counsell (for who nowe but
him ;

how

Wood

with the Gouernour at midnight), the whole bussi-

nesse, both for the old

receipt,
is

mans

dispatch,

and the newe ones

to

fully

and absolutely concluded,

the

good

likeinge of the one partie, but the perfect content of the

other,

who

scarce conteyneinge themselues within the meete

limitts of forbearance, to lose their hopes,

wer sometimes

in a fayre

hazardinge
dis-

by an vntimely and oaer-hastie

couery of their ioyes.

But the prime men of

all

the

colony being hastily called together to St. Georges, the

(nowe vpon departinge) Gouernour relates vnto them the

necessitie of his leaueinge of

them (which none

of

them

wept

them that he had fastened his choyce vpon Mr. Kendall, to leaue him deputy gouernour
for),

and withall

tells

in his place, the which,

mqst of them (some very fewe only

after, the
old,

of the honestest and wisest excepted) receiued with high

applause

and thus, within a few dayes

newe

Gouernour, being commissioned by the

and settled


122

THE HISTOKYE OP THE BERMUDAES

shypboard, from

at St. Georges, the old retired himselfe a

whence he budgeth not

vntill

his

departure out of the

the

harbour with the shyp, which was not long after;

people haueing bestowed a gratuitie of tobacco on him, to

the value of 1^500 weight, which was fetched in by his

causeing diuers of his confidents to giue out that he had

an order from the vndertakers to require a certaine quantitie

of

them

at his

goeinge awaye, the which he rather

referred to their courtesies than his commission.

And

thus

ended Captaine Tuckers gouerment, and began Captaine

Kendalls.

Lib. V.

Captaine Kendall; his deputy goiiernient

the fourth Oouernour.

being

Before I enter vpon this mans atcheiuements, I must

(for

order sake) bring you back a

little

into England, that

then you

may

returne with more satisfaction, for ther the

pai'ties

fore-mentioned

(not

to say factions)

fortifie

and

buckle themselues for the battell of election, which was

about this time to be pitched, the

difficultie

and brunt

whereof seemed
neither was
it

to rest betwixt

Mr. Sands and Mr. Butler;

easie to saye to
fall.

which side the fortune of

the daye would

True, indeed, that the Lords partie,

their

which was for Mr. Butler, as best vnderstandinge

owne

sti-ength,

ditions,

and withall propounding the noblest conseemed euer most likely to carry it. Two maine
Aver,

passages only ther

first

that to interpose themselues.

jealousie conceiued

and

cheifest

was a

The by diuers inby some

feriors of the

Company, and

secretly nourished

subtle heads of the contrary faction, that this Mr. Butler

was
for

especially

made choyce
by

of,

and thus earnestly

solicited

by the

Loi'ds, that

cepted of for

meanes he being once acGouernour, the merchants might be wearied

this
;

out of the ilands

the which therby falleinge only and

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
solely to the lords
efifect

123

very

much
(as
it

effected.

and gentlemen, was imagined to be an The second was that Captain

still

Tucker, being
desirous to be,
to

they beleiued)

resident ther, and so

was held by some a good saueing course

for

continue

him

three yeares longer,

as

they wer

allowed by their letters patents (although he was not so

pleasinge vnto them as they could wish), rather than be at

the charge of sendinge ouer a newe one.

As

for Captaine

Southwell, although he dayly renewed his forces by fresh

and continuall supplies of great mens

to the freedome of their Courts), little

letters,

yet that

course being altogether distastfull in generall (as contrary

hope or none ap-

peared.

And vpon

thes tearmes, for the space of some

monethes, stood
Blessinge,

this affayre.

In this interim arriues the

all

and with her (beyond

thinges
for

Captaine Tucker, whose arriuall putts

time,

mens expectation) a newe face, for a

are wholy

vpon

all

nowe the Courts

taken up with takeinge knowledge of the forsaken state of

the ilands, in what manner, and vnder what condition they
are
left,

and vnder whose direction and command; concernebussi-

inge which points, haueinge receiued a relation rather than

a satisfaction from Captaine Tucker, the treaty of
all

nesse become reduced to thes heades

about

the future

Gouernours entertainement

the impartinge to Captaine

Tucker

his

promised reward of three shares, and the con-

firmation of Captaine Kendall in his deputy gouerment.

For the
as

first,

it

was resolued that the former course of

for soe

giueinge of land by waye of gratification to such Gouernours

wer sent successively must not be continued,

short the

in a

meanes would be wantinge and

fayle in

that kind to gratifie

them ;

besides, they found

by experi-

ence that those expectations in the last Gouernour had

produced but badd

their

was therefore concluded that entertainement should be annual, to which end it was
effects
:

it

ordered and confirmed by erection of hands, that sixteene

124-

THK HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

shares of land, conteyneiiig four hundred acres, should be

laid out to that pui'pose St.
;

and

this land to lye together in

;

Georges Hand, being part of the generall land

and

to

begin at the east-end thereof, and so on west-wardes

thirtie

two men of the generallitie being

it.

to

be placed as
it

tenants vpon

The which allowance, howsoeuer,

to

was
only
all,

afterwards knovven (for they guided themselues at

first

by the mapp),

be for the present of noe worth at

its

both by reason of vsed and

being disabled for tobacco by want of

it

due fences, and that

fitt

was

also the only plott of

ground

for the cattell

and cowes

yet was ther noe

heed nor care

order, or

at all taken for either the reuerseinge of the

it,

amendinge of

so highly (especially

rather

makes than marres

their

when it owne priuate incomes) are

in

the most of thoes that

sitt

belowe the half-pace

love

with thes their owne Court-creatui^es.

taine Tuckers reward,
it

Concerneinge Cap-

was agreed vnto that three shares

of land,

according to their promise, should be bestowed

vpon him, but whereas he had precipitately layd them out

for himselfe without their lycence

and approbation

and

not only

so,

but with the sweat and extreame oppression of

the inhabitants and cost of the Company, had erected and

framed a stately house vpon them to serue his owne ambition, it

was held altogether

this

fitt

and exemplary to putt him

besides

his cushion, and to depriue

;

him of
is

so pre-

sumptions an expectation

whervpon

it

ordered that

two partes of

this ouerplus land, together

with the large

house, should be appropriated to the Churche, the rest

allowed vnto Sands his tribe, in recompence of some glebe

land that the owners of that tribe had bought for
ti'ibe
;

Pembrok

as also

by reason that the iland called Ireland, being

a part of the sayd tribe, proued for the most part barren

and

vnproffitable.^

As

for Captaine Kendalls confirmation

and continuance
^

in his

deputy gouerment,
to,

it

was held not

The Report
in the

here referred

known

as the Lords' Arbitrament, will

i, jj.

be found

Memvrials of Bermuda^

143.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
only necessary but almost vn-auoideable
;

125
for,

howsoeuer,

he was generally esteemed

vnfitt

ynough, and

by some
be

soe openly professed, yet the

entertainement for present

it

Gouernours proueing so short and smale, how could

hoped that any man of value would accept of

it

for thus
ainies.

iudged the most of them after the sence of their owne

Thes resolutions vpon thes three maine pointes being

thus hastely concluded, there was yet a reseruation and
clause annexed, to alter, or if need wer, to reuerse

them

at

the next great and generall Court, as they should find occasion; yet, notwithstandinge, they are in the

mean time

presently

after

shypped ouer by way of instructions to

for

the

Sommer Hands

Captaine Kendall, by the shyp the

at

Gyllyflowre, which

was

the instant of her

departure

thether,

and with them some congratulatory

;

letters of

some

fewe interested freinds of his

among
;

which, from a

man

of note, and one desirous to be so,

wer thes informations

by
his

and touches worthy obseruation

powerful!
operation,

that

meanes and

he was absolutely confirmed in his

:

place for three yeares

lutely lost his house

that Captaine

Tucker had as absobeing for

the which, notwith-

and land

at the ouerplus, it
;

the present assigned to the Churche

standinge, he doubted not but one waye or other, either by

exchange or some other proiect, to gett

for himself e ere

it

wer long, and therfore prayed him

kinsmans
from
it
;

to perforrae a freind

and

part, that in the interim noethinge

wer embezeled

the which gaped for good newes,

at the arriuall,

made vse of come to it.

But
this

we

shall let

how hugged and you see when we

shyp

is

noe soner gone, but the confirmation of

Captaine Kendall in his gouerment in the

Sommer Hands,
into

and the danger of

siderate

it,

began, by some of the most conto

and

lesse

passionate,

be

looked

and

throughly aduised on.

future

The

order, also,

concerneinge the
the

Gouernours

entertainement,

and

weaknesse

126

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

therof, fell into the consideration of such

who had both

it

engaged themselues and Captaine Butler to the day of

election
;

and

it

began

to be conceiued that

might prone
if

a wroung and

dammage vnto him

or vrge

insteed of a fauour,

they should

tie

him
it,

to that voiage

vpon so meane

tearmes

neither did they thincke but that he himselfe,

vpon the knowledge of

withall.

would be vtterly vnwillinge

Resolueinge, therfore, to

knowe

his

mind before

they proceeded any farther, they freely imparted vnto him

what they conceiued, wishinge him,

libertie, to deliuer hiraselfe

likewise, with the like

vnto them, that so accordingly

;

they might shape their course

whervpon, in fewe wordes,

at the entrance into this

he answered to this
aflfayre,

effect

That

and when

it

was

first

propounded, he offered him-

selfe (as

they knew) to be disposed of by them in any

of,

honest (answerable) action that they found him capable

prouided that he might haue meanes sufficient to vndertake and prosecute

it

to

some

effect

and perfection.

And

wheras

at that time,

by way of encouragement, they putt

please

him

in

good hope of gettiuge an improuement of his

estate, his reply

was

(if it
it

them

to

remember)

that

as for that ]3erticuler,

should neuer worck vpon him, but

on the bye, the former respects wer thoes with which euery
honest

man ought

to be

commanded

as for the other, if

it

came

either

by waye of reward, or

for the better enablinge

of him in the vndertaken employment,

since he

might
farre

warrantably and comfortably, he would not refuse them,

but he hoped euer to

belowe

carr^''

that mind, as to ranck

:

it

many other respects and this profession he had not only made vnto them, but vnto all others also, that
upon
their

knowledge, and by their appointment, had

treated with

him about

it

and

in this

mind he rested
any
ill

at

the present, neither would he cause

mistrusts of the sinceritie of
it,

suspicious

by a mutation vpon grounds

contrary thervnto.

If they rested, therefore, in their first

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
opinion of him tliey might go on in their
if not,
first

127
resolution
;

but that they had found some ground and reason

for

chaunge and
with him

alteration,

he desired them to deale

the which should

freely

also in that perticuler,

be so farr from glueing him the least distaste or discontent, as

he should find iust occasion and cause to acknowfor a fauour.

ledge

it

This answer being heard and receiued to content and satisfaction, a

through resolution

is

taken, with

all

industry and
it

perseuerance to pursue his election.

Neither did

uowe

meet with

halfe the difiiculties

for first,

and oppositions that formerly

wer expected;

Mr. Sands, either vpon his notice

as could be

takeinge of the smale hopes of gaine, or that he misdoubted

the strength of his partie, or both as far

learned, desisted

wholy from standeinge

for the place.

his

Cap-

tain Tucker's freinds likewise,

by reason of

vnlooked for

comeinge ouer so sodaineiy, and the

dislikes they found the

Company had

of him, dispayred (and so desisted) to doe

:

any thinge for his returne

so that

all

thinges seemeinge to

concurre for the effec tinge of what they desired, at the

very next court day a motion

is

openly

made

that the

Com-

pany would be pleased

fitt (in

to expresse themselues against the

it

day of election, which nowe drewe nere, whether

diners important respects) that a
their ilands
;

wer not

wer sent ouer into

if it

newe Gouernour wer, that then some

gentlemens names might at the instant be propounded to

prepare mens iudgements, for the giueiug of their voices at
the appointed time.

Bothe which propositions being

it

re-

ceiued as conuenient, are presently vpon

aflfirmatiuely con-

cluded by an erection of hands with a very generall approbation; only

vsed

to sitt

was obserued that some fewe, who seldome mute in any cause, wer found silent in this but
it
;

the reason also was as sone discouered, for they wer

either to be

known

kinsmen
;

to Captaine Kendall, or dependents

vpon those kinsmen

yet neverthelesse, noe notice being

128

THE HISTORYB OF THE BERMUDAES

publickly taken, Captain SoutK-well and Captain Butler are

the

men propounded, and

the

Company

willed throughly to

enforme themselues of them against the next great Quarter

Court.

But betwixt
putt
it

this

time and that, ther

fell

out an accident,

which so cleared the waye

quite beyond
all

for Captain Butlers election, as It

opposition.

had

its chiefest in-

fluence indeed upon Virginia, but yet not being without

operation (both by reason of the propinquitie of the places

and coniunction of the Companyes) in the Sommer Hands,

especially, in this perticuler, it is for perspecuitie

and order
course of
:

sake necessarely to be also inserted in this

history.

my

And from

thes grounds

it

tooke

its

being

Sir

Thomas Smithe haueinge from yeare

Company,
it

to yeai'e, for a long

time bin continued in his treasurour-shyp of the Virginian

was found that many and great sommes of

and brought in
for the vse

mony

collected

and behoufe of

that plantation wer so expended and lost, as a very smale

grouth and improuement of that colony could therby be any

way discerned
It

neither (as

it

was sayd) could ther euer be

and quickwhich end

gotten any perfect or iust account of thes disbursements.

was nowe,

therfore, with

somewhat more
and required

life
;

nesse than formerly, affected

to

ther had bin chosen very substantiall auditors and such as

wer thought and esteemed to be of great integritie and

iudgement
Sands.

and a prime one among the rest was Sir Edwin

fallinge closely to their bussinesse,

Thes auditors
first

euen at the very

procure and giue

many

disgusts to Sir

Thomas Smith.

He

tooke

it

ill

that they held not their

for-

meetinges at his house in Phillpott-lane, as others had

merly vsed; he beleiued they meut him noe good by their so

earnest requires for
all

old bookes of account

and to haue

them deliuered into

their auditt
:

their hands,

and

left

with them dureing

but the point that especially gauled was, that

some

of the auditors (and cheifely Sir

Edwin Sands) made

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
it

129

their ordinary

and frequent

vse, to

lament openly in the

freely

courts, that vnlesse they

wer better attended, more

it

enformed, and a truer correspondence practiced,

would

proue altogether impossible for them to attaine to any perfect account

:

nay they sticked not to saye

in plaine

tearmes,

that in steed of thes fa3're and equall dealeings which they ex-

pected, they found noethinge but courses and endeuours

dayly putt vpon them which aimed only (as far as they
could perceiue) to breed delaye and intricatenesse, and to

enwrape them

in

all

obscurities.

imputations, howsoeuer, Sr,

lick

To which charge and Thomas Smithes answer in pubdifficulties

was

only, that

thes

conceiued

and com-

plaincts

seemed rather

to arrise

from the want of experience

and from insufficiencyes of the most part of the auditors, and

especially the leading

men

(wherin he was well knowen to

iust cause

aime at
soeuer
:

Sr,

Edwin Sands), than any other

what-

yet such a heart-burneinge and separation of affec-

tions (not to say spleene

and malice) ensued ther vpon beit

twixt them, as for euer after,

was

easily discerned

and

euen generally obserued, that the most of their motions and

propositions tended

more

to crosse

and snibbe one another,

;

than to procure any fayre and good effects

inge after

as rather lookeit

who

it

was that spake, than what

was was

spoken

and

to such a heighte of heate thes distempers be-

came enflamed within a very short time, that all their meetinges and consultations seemed rather cockpits than
courts.

But thes auditors receiueinge noe

first
it

satisfaction nor content

:

this waye, fell into another that lead nearer to the point

for

they began to wisper

among

themselues, than to spread

abroad by meanes of their fellowes and faction, that noe

hope was to be had of euer perfectinge thes great accounts

(so far

behind they sayd they found them) so long as Sr.

(the

Thomas Smithe

man

cheifly to
:

be questioned) remained
he was
to

thus in a perpetuall dictatorshyp

be chaunged
K

130
therfore,

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

though

it

wer but

for the time,

and some other vn-

interested gentleman or merchant to be put in his place.

This proiect being by

proued,
auditors,

many

of

all

sortes well

ynough ap-

and mainely prosecuted by the faction of the two difficulties only rested to be cleared the one
:

how

to displace the old Gouernour,

;

whom

they well

knewe
newe
:

had many great freinds

for the first ther

the other was wher to find a

being three cheif parties in the Company

;

the
Sr.

first

the lords and most of the gentlemen

the other of

thoes of the East-India

their

Thomas Smithes, and many of the merchants, especially Company and the third that of
;

owne

it

was held the only course for the facilletate-

inge and surety of the carriage of their election, to vse and

practice
all

possible endeuour to conioyne the lords and

thes together.

As

for the

man

ther and thus to be chosen

he was not long in findinge out euery man almost cast his
eye vpon Sr.

Edwin Sands.
perfection of this affayre, insistto thes

The quintessence and inge thus vpon the vnion

complishment
therof,
it

two

sides, it

was quickly

apprehended, that the fayrest and fleetest course for the ac-

was by giueinge the lords a perfect

assurance, that if

would please them to ioyne their forces

with theirs, for the assistance of electinge Sr. Edwin Sands

to be the treasorour of the Virginian

Company, a point

(as

they sayd) of maine necessitye for the wellfare and

stabilitie

of that plantation, they would be as constant and ready to

doe the like for them in chuseinge Captaine Butler to be the Gouernour of the Sommer Hands ; the which, as perhaps it

was

fully as needfull, so

by them (they imagined) noe

lesse

affected.

This proposition and the condition deliuered and

the lords was willingly accepted
of the
;

made knowen vnto

after

and

some fewe meetinges

prime men on both

sides,

absolutely concluded; the forme and

manner

of the con-

ueyance of

it

being also disgested and ordered, at Avhat

it

time (among other thinges) because

was certainely knowen

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
that diuers perticulers of the

131

Company wer willinge ynough Thomas Smithe remoued, and yet durst not openly professe so much by erection of hands, by reason of their dependences vpon him some other wayes, it was held
to haue Sr.

very beneficiall and safe to bring in vse the custome of a

ballettinge box^ the

which some other Companyes

in

London

practised to good effect, whereby

men might
of.

freely deliuer

themselves without being taken notice

Thes conclusions being thus agreed vpon by thes two

parties,

and the bussinesse openly propounded

at the pre-

parative Courts of both the Companyes, which are allwayes

held the

Wednesday seuen-night

before the Quarter Courts,

ballettinge

at the next days

of election (the

box being

brought in and placed on the

Alderman Johnson, and

Sr.

Edwin Sands, Mr. John Worssnam (Sr. Thomas

table), Sr,

Smithe wisely refuseinge to stand

in competition

wher he
for Vir-

knew
ginia
;

it

was

to noe purpose),

were putt in election

Captaine Kendall, Captaine Southwell, and Captaine

Butler for the

counted, Sr.

Sommer Hands.
is

The

balls

being cast and

it

Edwin Sands

found to carry

for the one,

and Captaine Butler so wholy hundred

balls three only

for the other, as

among
;

three

wer found against him

neither
at thoes

was ther any other matter of moment handled

that for the

dayes meetings in either of the Courts, saue only that in

Sommer Hands,
it

Sr.

Thomas Smithe was conSr.

tinued in his gouernourshyp of the Company, contrary to

the expectation, as

was thought, of

Edwin Sands, who

sollicitation

verely looked to haue had that also, for he stoode as a

competitor

and that Captaine Tucker, by the

of his freinds and his

owne extreme

importunitie, obteyned

a suspension of the former order of Court, concerneinge the disposition of his reward and the fayre house at the

ouerplus; the absolute and whole orderinge whei'of being

now by

the whole Court fully committed to the conclusion

of some of the Lords,

who

not long after, as not willinge to

K 2

132

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

discourao-e tlieir nevve Gouernour, noi' to leaue the old vnsatisfied,

nobly and freely gaue in their decree/ which was

that the whole ouei-plus being to be deuided into seuen

partes, three of them, together with the house, should
allotted to

be
;

Tucker

other two partes to Sands his tribe

for the glebe of

and the other two

South-hampton

the

which order was afterwards put in execution by Captaine And thus, haueinge at last Butler, and so rests at this day.
brought you to Captaine Butlers election, we
for a while in
will leaue

him

England

in preparation for his long voiage,

and returne you to the Soramer Hands, that you may see how Kendall, Tuckers deputy Gouernour, behaues himselfo
in the

mean

time.

Noe soner was

sayle
is

the

shype called the Blessinge,

witli

Captaine Tucker, out of the harbours mouth, but a newe

discouered both out of the shyp at sea and from the
at land.

mount

The shyp presently makes towards

is

her,

neither did the other shunne the meetinge, so that sone

beareinge vp one with another she

found to be English,

and manned with English, being

frigate of meale

called the Treasorour,

and

her commander one and the same Elfry

who brought

in the

(and the ratts to boote), in Mr. Moores

time; sent out she was by Captaine Argoll from Virginia,

wher he was then Gouernour, vnder

all

a pretence of tradeinge

alongst the coast with the natiue Indians for skinnes,

at the Virgin

and

and Sauuage Hands

for goates

but some

of her people

comeing abord the Blessinge, by some speeches

begett a suspicion in Captaine Tucker

vnaduisedly

let falne,

of a farther proiect than

leese,
6

was openly pretended

neuer the

not findinge a ground, nor perhaps a power of stayinge

Lords' Arbitrament" on this question
It
is is

"The

preserved in the

Colonial Records.

dated 24th July 161'J, and refers to an Order of

Court of 10th March of the same year.

election as Treasurer of the

Butler's

appointment as

The date of Sir Edwin Sandys' Company, and, as would here appear, of Deputy Governor for tJie Somers Islands, was

28th April 1619.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS,
of her, after an houre or

133

two of being together, they part

to Kendall

Tucker sendinge some

letters

by the Uaude

botes that wer yet abord, wherby he aduiseth and wisheth

him by

ail

meanes^ and in any case, not to suffer the sayd

perill

shyp to enter any of the harbours, tellinge him of the

he thereby might
that she

fall

intOj as veryly

assureiuge himselfe
action.

went not vpon any warrantable

But the

Blessinge being once at sea, the botes belouginge to the

Hands

are easily entised abord the Treasourer, wher, lettinge

Elfry and his

company knowe

of Kendalls being deputy

to

Gouernour, and how kind a

(the

man he was

good

fellovves

which himselfe also partly knewe by experience), they

easily

perswade him to putt into the harbour awhile to re;

fresh himselfe
in

neither was Elfry hard to be entreated, for

to fish

want he was of many necessaryes which he hoped

ynough from Captaine Kendall, and especially a good Herevpon some bote, some corne, sayles, wood, and water. of the Ilanders abord him are presently dissmissed to certifie
well

the deputy Gouernour of the bussines, and the rest stay

behind to pilote him in

the which, notwithstandeinge, gatt

not into the harbour vntill two dayes after, by reason of

contrary winds.

But howsoeuer, the deputy Gouernour, by

the aduise of his newe and young counsellours, despiceinge

the admonitory letters of Captaine Tucker, and laughinge
at his

wisdome, was well ynough contented, as

it

sone after

appeared, with the comeinge in of thes guests; yet, to let

the world

knowe

that

he would be a commandour, he

caused

all

such of the maine folke (his owne gang only

excepted,

whom
to

indeed he should haue punished most) as

her, without his licence,

presumed

goe abord

and con-

trary to an article in that case, conceiued and prouided

by

Captaine Tucker, to be bound ouer to answer

generall Assize,

it

at the next

when how kindly and

christianly

he dealt

with them you shall see hereafter.

But the Treasorour being thus gotten

in, is

very kindly

134

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

entertained by the Gouernour, and passetTi vnder the

name

and

title

of the Erie of

Warwicks

ship.

Many

close con-

ferences are held betweene her Captaine and the Goueruour

and

his leaders, that

Wood

(formerly spoken of) and one

Yates being alwayes at his elbowe, and in his eare; and

verely beleiued
it is

that Elfry, being in priuate with them,

and the aqua

vitse

pott walkeinge, did freely

ynough professe

some

secret ententions,

and possesseth them with many

Indies, with which being tickled

pretie hopes out of the

West
;

they are induced the readyer and willinger to giue eare to

his

motion for
six

releife

howsoeuer certaine

it is,

that after

some
secret

weekes staye, being furnished by the Gouernours

appointment with one hundred thousand eares of

out of the kings castle, which was to haue bin as a
store
ther,

come

continuall

and euery yeare renewed by the

country, and by this meanes vaided with a good newe sayle

that belonged to the publick, and the which they shortly
after

wer
his

in pitifuU

want

of,

and a hansome bote

built at

the charge of the aduenturers, he merely hoysed sayle and

makes
it is

waye on

his entended voiage

and well knowen

of euer after),

that the kind deputy Gouernour had noe other satisfac-

tion from

him

at that time (nor that I

knowe

than windie promises, of straunge requitalls vpon a bon

voiage, the which he scorned so

much

as to question

and

vpon which

it

is

sayd the good gentleman builded braue

castles in the

aii-e,

and held himselfe very well and

suffi-

ciently appayd.

The Hands being thus cleared of shypinge, and want beginninge to make both the towne and country sober, the
deputy Gouernour and his fewe select and beloued counsellours,

to

who indeed wer the Gouernours gouernours, begin consider how that his authoritie being deriued and fetcht
expii-ation, it

only from the commission receiued from Captaine Tucker,

and the date of thes three yeares vpon

must

of necessitie followe that the validitie of his warrant must

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
also fayle

135

and extinguish

witli it,

was therefore altogether

behoufefull to find

out some newe meane of estabhshment;

neither was this long in contriueiuge, for concerneinge a

generall likeinge and desire in
easie

most of the people

to so

and populer a gouerment,

fittinge with the

humour

of

the aqua vita

other,

men on
restinge

the one side and the idle

men on

the

and

assured that thoes fewe otherwise

enclined, either durst not reueile themselues, or that,

by
if

reason of their paucitie,

it

would proue to noe purpose

they did,

it

is

therevpon concluded that a generall ap-

pearance should be
of a

newe

election,

summoned to St. Georges and, by waye euery man should be required to deliuer
;

his voice, his

whether Captaine Kendall should be continued in

or

command and Gouernour-shyp,

being as sodainely executed as

it is

some other man ; this contriued, and most of

the maine comeinge in a hurry to the towne, wher they are

wondrously welcomed and feasted with store of turkees and

great bowles
full

of loblolly,

some dramms of hott liqueur

seller,

squeazed out of the Gouernors

enterlaced with

all.

The assembly is held vpon the day appointed

in the churche,

and the busines propounded, in a perswasiue oration made

by Wood, wherein he tells them of the necessitie of addeinge a newe life to the nowe vpon dieinge commission giuen by
Captaine Tucker, the which certainely, sayth he, cannot

more

substantially be acted than

by the
called

free
;

choyce of a

generall voice, to which you are

now

neither needed

they to trouble themselues with lookeing out for a newe

man,
sayd)

for

who but Captaine Kendall, worthy,

;

kind, affable

Captaine Kendall (and he was in person to heare what he

could be thought vpon

speake freely, therefore,

quoth he, and speake out, whether this be not the

all desire,

man you
'^a
''

hope in and wish

for

this emphaticall speech is

noe soner ended by Wood, but euery

Kendall
!

man

cries out

a Kendall who but

!

noble Captaine Kendall

The which being

sufficiently

hooped

out, without the least

136

THE HISTORYE OF THE DERMUDAES

is

contradictioD that could be heard, very heartye thancks

giueii

them

all

(good people) by the late deputy,

it;

now absolute

Gouernour, as he takes
lished, so to

and a promise, publickly pub-

behaue and carry himselfe dureing the whole

time of his future regencye, as should giue them cause to

belieue and assure themselues that they had not mistaken

him

in their election

and thus

is

ended and made vp

this

great bussines of expectation, and the eueninge of that

blessed day

solemnised with noice of great

ordinance,
this

healthinge, and

much braue

ti'iumph

and vpon

sandy

and formelesse foundation (not to saye tumultuous and

seditious)
fession,

this

Gouernour euer

after,

vpon

his

more relyed and humored

himselfe, than

owne convpon any

it

other warrant or commission whatsoeuer.

The Gouernour being thus

at last secretly to

irregulerly confirmed,

began

be thought on by some of his most prouithis act

dent contriuers

how
fitt

might be taken in England.

all

To help out
it

the matter, therfore, and sweeten

that

distastes,

was thought

sett

some publick worcks wer presently vpon, and especially such as, being propounded and

vrged vpon him by Captaine Tucker at his departure, the

accomplishment of them was likely ynough to be warranted

by him

to the

Company

at his arriuall,

and so by them
if it

reconned as good as done, whose expectation,

be deceiued, might well

should

make

tliem very angry.

Herevpon,

the people of the Maine being called to the execution, the

perfection of Smithes Forte
is

first

attempted, the which,

being begun by Mr. Moore, then proceeded on by Captaine

Tucker,
is

nowe

lastly sett

vpon

to be accomplished

by

this

man

but the rock wheron they wer to worck proueinge

exceedingly hard, and the layers out of the plott and ouerseers of
it

haueing but small experience in such

affayres,

after a great deale of labour,

and many moneths expence,

is

a fayre plattforme and a hansome redoubt

in a

spoyled, and

manner

left

vnseruiceable, by being slubbred up with

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

137
brittle

dangerous and vnsure vpperworcks of

occasion and great shott of an enemy, of
are to

stone and

rubbish, to the extreame hazard and perill, vpon the least

all

such as

tlierin

mannage and

plie those ordinance.

This thus
it,

made
worck

up, and the most part of a winter bestowed on

the build(a

inge of a fayre framed church at St. Georges

cheifly

recommended vuto him by Tucker, and for which he had left and prepared for him many materialls) is determined, so that the prime carpenters of the Hands are consulted about it, and some timber appointed out for that purpose. But a sayle made from the Mount putts of that for for nowe other thinges ai'e to be affayre a while
;

hearckned

after,

and dainties hoped

for.

To

the discouery

of this shyp, therfore, out goeth

oracle
in office,

Wood
Danby

(the

Gouernours

the Liuetenant of his

fellowe called

owne company, and, a

excepted,

young hare-brayned
minion)
gives

whom

he also makes Liuetenant of the Kings Castle, his prime

;

and not long

it

was

(for

his late goeinge out

him a quick

returne, the shyp meetinge

is

him

at the

harbours mouthe) but the deed

done, and back againe

comes
he.
'^

Wood

to give

up

his intelligence,

whom

the Gouer-

nour meetinge, "

nance, " before I

What
tell

newes,

my good my

Liuetenant,^' saythe

Nay," answers Wood, with a promiseing counte-

you

that,

must graunt me three boones." the Gouernour; "I can deny thee nothinge." "Marry, the first is," saythe Wood, " that you bestowe four gallons
of aqua vitte

esteemed Generall, you " Propound them,'' replies

vpon

this

your deseruing gang

the second,

that you release Mr. Groue out of prison " (this Groue was
a fellowe sent out of England by Sr.
it

Edwin Sands, and

is

sayd he was a ballade-maker and streete-singer of

ther, but

them

now, by the wise choyce of the Gouernour,

at that

by " reason of some sawecynesse, in some deiection) j the third is, that he should make much, very much, of his owne thrise
the Prouost Marshall, though
present,

made

138

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

for the

worthy person
'^

(nowe I begin to find

it)/'

saith he,

iudicious

Company

in

England hath confirmed your

;

ioy-

full election

here with their generall approbation ther

and

long, long

may
it

you continue our Gouernour," the which

is

last petition

well

knowen he spake from

is

his heart.
it

" And,
,

for addition to this our happinesse,"

quoth he, "

is

reported that Captaine Tucker

;

not likely to

make

hetherward any more

lost his flauntinge

and, besides,

it is

said that he hath

house at the Overplus.

And

thes daintye

newes the sweete Gylly Flowre yonder hath brought in with her." For this shyp was she that (as you have heard) so
presently departed after Captaine Tuckers
first arrivall,

as

she carried away with her the

first

(suspensiue) resolution

of the Court about the two perticulers of Captaine Kendalls

confirmation and Captaine Tuckers depriuement, and so

knewe nothinge

of the reuerseraent of them, which

was

at

the next quarter Court after.

But howsoeuer, thes wisht relations could not chuse but giue an extraordinary well come to this shyp, especially with
the Gouernour and
his

retinue.
to rayse
it

Yet was ther another

to

maine cause concurreing

the most of them
;

an extremitie with

for

she was bountifully laden with

stroung beere and hott liqueurs, and had a master also as

bountefullj both in the takeinge of
in
it

in his

owne person

as

the

giueinge of

it

out vnto others, so that ten butts

of strong beere are drunk out aboard the shyp dureinge

his short staye of a moneth, enterlaced answerably with

drammes

of aqua vitae, rosa solis, and good sack, out of

which fountaine ther flowed out vpon the master such a spring of affection from the Gouernours cheife officers and
the most part of thoes commons, which for the most part

wer (and
it

am

affray d are

still)

common

drunkards, that

being afterwards demanded of some of them being in

in

England
most

open court ther what masters of shyps they

have sent vnto them, an vniuersall crye

effected to

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

139

was raised
Crayford

for

them that they above

all

men
of,

liked one Mr.

called)
:

(for so

was the goodfellowe-master

for the question

the

which the Court takinge discret notice

kept him from them
;

by

all

means

was not made so

much

to giue

them

their choyce as to
;

know whom they

was
it

especially

would desire

for

although at the present they

affection, yet

sounded not the true cause of their

generally thought to arise from
their

some grounds of seruinge

especially to be prevented,

owne

turnes,

and therfore
this
first

Dureinge the staye of

(Kendall) held his

shyp here, this Gouernour

generall assize at St. Georges,

and

that wholly after Captaine Tuckers fashion, wherein I find

upon record the

triall

of foure persons, endicted and ar-

raigned vpon two generall endictments, the one for stealeinge of a sowe belonginge to the Gouernour, prised at three

pounds sterlinge

(as

deare as a Scotts nag), the other for

breakinge into a house wher the Liuetenants wife, of the

Kings

Castle, laye at the

same time (her husband being

at

the same time in England), to both which, although the

poore fellowes (hopeiuge the rather therby to find mercye)

pleaded guilty e, yet the Gouernour would needs haue a
jury to pass upon them
;

whervpon, the bussinesse comeowne, because

inge to a publick heareinge, they answered for themselves

that, as for the sowe, they tooke her as their

Captaine Tucker (whose then she was), at his departure,

had giuen them her, and they knewe not that she was entayled to the Gouernourship, but thought she had been
his

owne

in proprietie,

and

so,

by a deed of

gift, thers.

Concern einge their break einge into the house, they could
not deny the fact
;

yet was

it

done without any felonious

entent, for they offred not to take any thinge

away when
to

they wer ther

they

only

did

it,

therfore,

discouer

whether Danby, the Liuetenante of the

castle, his

deputy

Liuetenant, did not take upon him to be deputy Liuetenant

with his wife also in his absence, a report

much enlarged

140

THE HISTOEYE OF THE BERMUDAES

and generally beleived, and

whom

at the

same time they

found lockt up with her in very suspicious manner.

Vpon

which answers, the jury, layeinge their heads together,

returned them guiltie of the felony, but acquitted for the
burglary.
well

Whervpon (by the Gouernours command, and knowen it is how angry he was for his deare Danby) three of them had sentence to be hanged but being
;

carryed to the place of execution, with halters about their

necks, they wer at last repriued, and so
left to

Hue con-

As for demned men, as some of them doe vnto man of them, he scaped by being sick, and had neuer any thinge sayd vnto him. At the same time also, one Browne (an old acquaintance of the Gouernours, and held by him valorous, because he was wronge for the
this day.

the fourth

violent

pullinge

of certaine

fellowes

out of the church

dureinge deuine seruice, and striking them at the church

dore,
tion

was censured

to lose one of his eares, but the execuj

therof was absolutely pardoned

and yet another,

be his death was

that

threatned the same Browne

to the peace.

to

bound
thoes

At

this

assize, likewise, fourteene of

men who
wer

(as

you formerly heard) had gone abord

but the cause being heard
clearely

the Treasorour at her comeinge in without the Gouernour

licence
called into question
all
;

and confessed, they wer

donned
all
;

of

them

and

fully par-

and

it

was thervpon remembred that they had bin

at his late election,

of

them forward men

ended the
assize.

and with thes

effects

Presently after which, awaye goes

the Gyllijiowere, and makes her returne by Newefoundland,

laden hether with passengers, and from thence with

fish.'^

Noe soner

is

this

shyp departed but many discontents

and dreads begin

to arrise

and

to
;

be apprehended, secretly,

among

the best sort of people

all

causes of

sortes

some of them wisper that wer carryed and discussed with litle inby the Gouernour, and that the

sight and lesse integritie

'^

Tlie record of this Assize is lost.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
first tale

141

alwayes bore
to

it

awaye

others sayd that so wholy

as one

he seemed

be lead by some fewe about him,

would

iudge that either he could not or durst not doe any things
without them, and that in the examinations and hearings of
controveries betweene party and partie, which

wer brought
was

or sent for to be heard before him, his Marshall Groue

so talkative, busie,

and conclusiue, and himselfe so mute and

quiett,as that the marshall appeared the iudge,

and the Gouer-

nour a cypher; many complained also of tricks and cousenages

putt vpon them by his fauorites in nimmeinge and hooke-

inge awaye from them their goods, and especially liqueurs;

and that when they went

to be the safest course for
it

to the

towne to complaine they

terrefied, as

found themselues so threatned and

they sawe

it

them

to returne without

doeing

they came

for, briefly

noe accesse, nor redresse of any

thinge, to be gotten without the mediation of two or three

who

only had the leadeinge of

him

and such a kind of

vse

people they wer, and the waye to winne them so costly and

vntoward, that neither honest

men would

it,

nor poor

men
lesse

could

nor was ther any other hope of a recouery, vnfallinge

by the

out of thes

theiues

the true

men

might come by
this,

their

goods

of this, indeed,

and only of

some smale sparkes and glimpses of comfort appeared sometimes, the which was likely ynough to have a quick
augmentation, in respect that ther was noe other
tie

of

vnion than the loue of themselues" and their owne lusts, the

which being so rotten hands wer not in

long.

possibilitie to hold

Diuers other the like mutteringes and complaincts

ranne closely abroad from hand to hand, the which either

the Gouernour

knewe not

of,

seemed not

to

knowe, or cared

not

for.

But whilst the Bermuda world stoode vpon thes tearmes,

the

Company

of Adventurers in England, presently vpon

Captaine Butlers election, tooke the opportunitie of a shyp

that was to goe for Virginia, and

vpon her shypped diuers

142

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

passengers for the

Sommer Hands, and among

in a shyp of the Erie of

the rest, a

preacher and his family^ (the Gouernour elect being shortly

after to

embarke himselfe

Warwicks,

which was in triminge within the dock of purpose to carry

him

his voiage), so that in the

meane time

this

shyp (called

the Seaflowre), ahont the middle of July 1619, arriues in the

Kings-Castle Harbour, the which, howsoeuer, she brings

noe generall

letters to the

then Gouernour from the Com-

pany

nor scarce any priuate ones from his freinds, which so

as touched the great mutation in

much
in the

England, by the

election of a

newe Gouernour
full

ther; yet euery

it

shyp being

of

it,

mans mouth came quickly to the GoGouernour

for his

uernours care, to the infinite discontent of himselfe and his

followers, although true
it

is

that the

part (as one that could not endure to believe what he could

not abide to

find),

was the

last

man

that would creditt

it,

vntill at last,

by secret enquiries of perticuler men, and

chiefly of the

newe-come minister, he found that which he

to lose.

was desirous

But vpon

this intelligence of a
effects of

newe
to the

Gouernour from England, two especiall

good

plantation ensued, the one was a restraint of the former in-

solencyes committed by the minions of the Gouernour,

who

nowe found

it

behoofefull for

them

to deale

more cautiously
strict

than formerly, for feare of being called to a more

account than would proue for their ease
;

the other was a

progression in publick worcks, and in perticuler in the

buildinge of the
that worck was
8

newe church;

it

being conceiued that as

much

desired and expected in England, so

preacher, for he refers to his arrival in the same terms, without

Smith apparently did not know, or had forgotten, the name of this naming him, in his General History. We learn his name from a letter of Captain Butler's to the Company in 1620: "Touchinge our preacher, Mr. Lang, and his eloquent letters, as you stile them, this is the first time I
or heard either of

knewe

them

or his eloquence."

There

is

no record of

such a minister in Bermuda, and this

name
i,

is

an addition to those

enumerated in the writer's

]\[emoriaIs, vol.

p. 691.

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
the neglect of
all
it

143

might proue very

prejudicial!

and exclude
carpenters,
felled

future expectances and hopes of fauour;

all

therefore, are on

sides

employed about

it.

Tymber is

and towed to the towne, and the forme and situation thereof
layd out and appointed after the modell and direction giuen

by Captaine Tucker
vpon the top of a

but very inconueniently and without

due prouidence, by reason that standinge ouer-bleake, and

hill, it is

of necessitie to

lie

open to euery

gust and huricanoe, the which in the winters are not uncom-

mon

ther,

and so therby not

;

likely

but to receiue continual!

dangers and dammage

neuer so
litle

and besides, the windes bloweinge

loud must needes cause so

much

bluster

and

noyce within the church, as the voice of the minister can by

noe meanes be heard by the halfe of the auditory.

Thes

wer the

effects I saye, of this

hearesaye of a fresh election.

But, howsoeuer, thes open carriages promised fayrely, yet

passed they not without close and

to

slie practices,

entended

worck

all

that might be against the acceptance of the

;

Gouernour
taine pict

elect

it

is

wispered about, therfore, and cer-

companions are the possessed and possessors of

others, that the Adventurers

and Company

at

home

(sit-

tinge by their
spectiuely
this

warme

fires,

and

full flesh potts) delt

vnre-

and harshly with the colony here, continually in

to thrust

manner

vpon them,

at their pleasure,
;

newe

and vnknowen men

here

to be their
fitt

Gouernours

wer ther none

?

among themselues
?

ynough
fittest

to take that charge

had they not witt and iudgment

selues

sufficient to

chuse for them-

nay, was

it
?

not the
it

and most equal, that so

they should doe

was, therfore, to be consulted vpon

wer not to stand vpon their might carry themselues at the approch of this newe man who was to be looked for by the next shyp, to which end some especiall ones are elected to grope the minde and affection of their old minister, Mr. Lewes Hughes, and to see whether it wer possible to winne
in time, whether they

nowe
right

that so accordingly they

144

THE HISTOEYE OP THE BERMUDAES

this course, that so they

him vnto an approbation of

tion that waye.

might

vse him in his publick exercises to angle the peoples affec-

But he

(as formei'ly

he had euer honestly

all

done) vtterly dislikeing and disclaiminge

as dangerous, ynwarrantable,

such by wayes

and

seditious,

and

withall,

haueinge a good hope of the future Gouernour, whose father

and freinds he had knowen

honestly;
against
it,

to

be likely to breed him

by

his

stiff

refusall

and earnest protestation

gaue a main blowe to their mutinous and con;

fused proiects

the which neuer the lesse secretly kept

life,

themselues in some hopes, and a languishinge kind of

vntill

by a straunge and tragi call accident, which

blowe, and deaths wound.

fell

out

not long after (as you shall see by and by), they tooke and
receiued their
finall

About

this

time

also, a

smale frigate descried vpon the coast occasioneth

all

a present distraction from

cially, after

other thoughts

and espe-

she was

knowen

to be a good-fellowe,

for the most part with English,

slie

manned who haueinge played some

some purchase,

partes in the West-Indies, and so gotten

part wherof consisted of negroes (a welcome for a most

necessary commoditie for thes Hands), she offered to leaue

and giue them to the Gouernour, so he would be pleased to admitt her ingresse and egresse, that so she might carine
her
selfe,

and take in some necessaryes, wherby to be fur-

nished for a second voiage vpon the same place and tearmes;

point
ceipt

and not many nor long consultations wer held about this for, howsoeuer, it was doubted by some that this re;
might be
ill

taken in England, in respect that she was

;

vtterly

vncommissioned

and

so in plaine tearmes a pyrate,

all

yet the desire of gettinge surmountinge

other respects

and

fearea,

and nowe knoweinge they had but a smale time

;

to preye for themselues

her admittance

is

absolutely con-

cluded, only she

is

caused to retire herselfe into a by-rode

but yet within the

Pagetts Forts
;

command

of the ordinance of Smiths and

if

that so

some excuse,

need wer, might be

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

l45

made
bours

of the matter, as if this by-place wer none of the har;

but her fourteene negroes are quickly fetched ashore

and deliuered unto the Goaernour.

Being thus gott

in,

her

demands and requests are

titie of

to

be provided with some quan-

corne, the which she

was supplied
fortes,

withall, partly

from the poore remainder in the

but especially with

that sommei-s crop, the which groweinge

vpon the common

Gouernours

ground
famely,

allotted

for to

the

sustentation of the

was of due

haue bin reserued for him, that was

as haueinge noe other

nowe vpon comeinge,

nestly also, but

meanes to

relye vpon, nor to rayse his winters prouision.

She ear-

more
(as

closely (bribeinge the minions officers

to that end) soUicited for

some helpe of munition, the which

last,

although at

first

being held a dangerous matter to

graunt) was somewhat stoode upon, yet at

was in part

yeelded vnto vpon the opportunitie followeinge.

For within fourteene dayes

after her arriuall,

newes

is

brought from Sommer-seate of a shyp falne foule vpon thoes

north-west sholes, so that botes are on
to take
all

hands sent out

after

knpwledge of her, and newe gapeinges

newe

gettinges procured.

Ypon

discouery she

is

found to be a

hansome pinnace, manned for the most part with Dutch, and some two or three English, who, haueinge long waited
for prey in the

West

Indies,

and

all in

vaine, fallinge into

distresse of victualls, is
for the colonye,

perswaded by her English to make

;

and so to refresh themselues

in,

but wantinge
fell

a knoweing pilott to bring them

coast,

when they

upon the

found themselues ere they wer awaire engaged within

;

the out-lieing rocks

so that dispareinge of themselues to

free themselues, they

make

all

their shyft,

and aduenture

vpon a

drift to

seeke for the shore, mooreinge their barck

as well as they could to a rock, and shoote of a peece of

ordinance to giue notice of their distresse.

But by the waye they meete with the Hands botes, and together with them returne to the forsaken vessell to see what may be
L

146

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

for her recouery
;

done

wher, whether

it

wer the want of

diligence or skill, as

some giue

out, or that it

was a

trick

and deuice of the Gouernours quaint counsell therby to

make her
certaine

a wrack, as others haue not stuck to affirme,

that noethinge to any purpose

it is

was attempted

for her preseruation, so that

being

left

and giuen ouer as

only in

hopelesse and lost, she was

left to

the mercye of the next

;

storme, the which shortly after tore her in pieces

the raeane time some smale parcells of goodes are saued,

with certaine murtheringe peaces, sayles, and a cable or

two, the which fallinge to the Gouernours share serued
fittly to

him

furnish out the foresayd frigate, and so

wer be-

stowed, and for which (as you haue heard) she had bin so
fei'uent a suter.

In recompence wherof certaine presents

are made, as well to the Gouernour himselfe as others.

To him wer giuen

a gold ring, like an aldermans, with a

great (and thought a good) redd stone in it; as also an

ebonye bedsteede, and a fayre

to them, diuers
hatts,

chest, with

God knows what,

and sundry implements, as apparell, linnen,

all

and a Negro or two, being

;

indeed that they had

in that kind

so that being emptied throughly this waye,

but better and beyond hope furnished with that they could

make more

vse

of,

within a while they take their leaue and

depart with a promise (which was neuer meant to be performed), that

if

they spedd well in their entended voiage

of), to

(which they doubted not

make

a second returne, and

make

a better requiteall.

As

for the poore

Dutch, they
they wer

continued in these Hands

vntill,

about a yeare

after,

shypped awaye

for

England, and so for their country by

the

Captaine Butler, noe direction nor mention of them being

made vnto him by

to the

Company

in their generall letters,

although he had carefully and punctually written vnto them

same purpose.
fell

Presently, after the farewell of this frigate,

tragicall accident, the

out that

which

(as I told

you even nowe) gaue

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

147

the speedeinge blowe to the sinister plotts and far-fetched

practices contriued for the keepeinge of the newe-expected

Gouernour.

For one

Wood

(who as a prime man, and the

this act) against

prime

witt,

had a prime part to playe in

the Gouernours goeinge into the maine had caused a saker

mounted vpon the warfe

(a fashion

to be laden to giue

formerly vsed vpon

euery such

occasion,

him an adieu and

since broken of

by Captaine Butler

as an idle expence of

powder, of which, consideringe their slowe supplies in that

kind, they

had

little

need), and standinge before the

mouth

of the peece, questioninge the gunner whether he had putt

in a shott, vnaduisedly

and vngunnerlike (although he tooke

into the concauetye of the peece,

a pride in being esteemed a good one), haueing a halfe pike

in his hand,

he thrust

it

with the yron head fore-most, to trye whether he could find

the shott; and makeinge diners blowes to that purpose,

and therby

(as it

was

likely) strikeinge

some

fii-e,

certaine

scattered cornes of

powder that

laye behind the rest

wer

kindled, and so the peece makeinge her discharge strooke

the sayd

Wood,

sorely

wounded therewith
;

in diners places,

into the sea, which

was hard by the place

after

but being reconear, within

uered from a drowneinge by some that stood

two or three dayes

he dies of those hurtes, to the

extreame passionate griefe of the Gouernour, and to such a

generall dismay of that pack of confederates as neuer after

they so

much

as once mett together to thinck of the purall

sute of their former entendments; so that

thinges growefor the receipt

ing calme and quiett, seemed to

make waye

and accesse of a new Gouernour, who was nowe euery daye

expected.

Sone

after this, the shyp, the

Treasorour, formerly

menshall

tioned at large, makes her second returne into the Hands,

and enters the harbour of

which now approacheth

St.

Georges

but of her we

haue occasion to speake farther in Captaine Butler

;

his time,
after,

for within

two moneths

l2


148

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

lesse, an-iueth the

and somewhat

Earle of Warwicks shyp,

called also the Warivick,

and

is

fast

moored

in the

Kingsfor her

Castle hai'bour, before any iland bote

makes out

discouery
are

and

in her the

nowe

to speake.

But because euery

newe Gouernour, ofwhomewe alteration and

it

alienation of this nature

must needs bring with

newe
fall

world, and for the most part a

it

is

fit

to pause a while, that so

new face, vpon we may the

all

thinges,

fresher

vpon
our

it

when we come

ther

and, therfore, here will

we end

fifth

booke and begin our sixth.

Lib, VI.

Captaine Butler, the Fifth Gnuernour.

Captaine Butler being thus arriued in the Warivick, anno

1619, vpon the 20th of October, the
first

act

he did as

Gouernour was
he was
so.

to let

them

at the

towne vnderstande that

By

the same bote, therfore, that came to dis-

couer them, he sent word to Captaine Kendall by one Mr.

Button, that came in with him, and was to be Bayly of

Warwick Company

tribe,

that being

come commissioned from the

in

of Adventurers

England, by vertue of his

Maiesties letters patents, to be the

Commandour and Gohoure of his being

it

uernour of thes Hands, and his sayd commission being

entred into force, vpon the very
in harbour,
first

hewas to take notice both of

all

and

his arriuall,
;

and to desist from

farther, that
it

publick
that,

commands
all

in that kind

and

was

fitt

with

conuenient speede, he
to giue a full informa-

did repay re vnto

tion

him on sliypbord,

and account of the

;

pi^esent estate

and condition of the

plantation

and the rather, because he was resolued not to

vntill

repayre to the towne himselfe

he had seene the shyp

throughly voided of her passengers, his

shore,

owne goods on
and
through and

and

his house at the

towne putt

in a readynesse this

furnished for the receipt of him.

And

Oil

SUMMER
fitt

ISLANDS.
to

149

quick message was thought

first,

be sent thus at the very

in,

vpon a

secret

intelligence giuen

that

certaine

tumultuous requests would be made by the generall men,

vpon such tearmes

their

as

might imply a conditional acceptance

ill

the which rehshiuge of that

fruict of

the election of
all

owne Gouernors here was conceived by

its

meanes

conuenient to be broken and crushed in

very birth.
litle

But

this relation

beinge receiued with as

shewe of

disquiett

and trouble outwardly as could be expected from

such men, an answer

same hand, that the

into

is returned the same night by the newe Gouernour was very wellcome the harbour, and so should be into the towne, when it

pleased him; that Captaine Kendall would personally visitt

him very
thinges

shortly

where he was

and that

his house

and

all

els

should be fitted for him against his landinge.

The next

daye,

somewhat before noone, Captaine Kendall,

officers

the two ministers, and two or three more of the counsell,

with diuers of the

came abord, wher they

prouisions.

are with

all

courtesie and kindnesse receiued and

dined by the Go-

uernour, with his

owne shyp

Diner

is

noe soner

ended but the Gouernour withdraweinge himselfe in priuate

with Captaine Kendall into the gallery of the shyp, had
conferences with him to this purpose.
the

He

told

him

that

Company haueinge

resolued with themselues to giue

him a

successor, he supposed that himselfe

was noe

lesse

wellcome to him than another man, in which respect answereable to the fayre reports he had heard of him, he

doubted not, but by his meanes to receiue (by reason of his

long experience in thes partes) much light and knowledge

about the atfayres and bussinesse he was to

in perticuler

fall

vpon, and

he desired to be certainely and perfectly ensince

formed concerneinge the receipt and admission of such

straungers shyps as had bin with him

Captaine

Tuckers departure, of which he assured him that the Com-

pany would be

inquisitiue,

and expect

to be fully satisfied;

150
for

THE HISTOEYE OF THE BERMUDAES

which free and
faire dealeinge

he would vpon

all

occa-

sions, either to the

Company

in generall or his friends in

perticulerj

make

a thanckfull acknowledgement.

Captain

Kendalls answer was, that he thought the

him wronge

to putt

vpon him so

Company had done sodaine a mutation. Not

yet six moneths past he had word from them of a confirmation in his place
;

now

the quite contrary was manifest, he

did not

knowe
if

of any cause of such an alteration in himselfe,

neither

ther had bin could they

it

he expected
euer
it

not.

knowe of it, and therfore The Gouernour replied, that howsovpon him the defence
of the

was not

his part to take

Companyes
it

decrees, but to execute

them

yet he conceiued

might with ease be done

in this perticuler, because that

first

confirmation of him was but with a relation and re-

ference to a

more generall approbation

at the

next quarter
of,

elective court, the

which being otherwise determined

it

then

altered

all

the former conclusions; besides

was

to

noe

purpose to expostulate this fact with him here, nor did he

thinck he could obteyne any good by
it

any wher

els.

But

as they

wer

fallinge

vpon some other pointes, comes

in, and relates a misfortune which, at the very newe Gonernour knowe that in this employment he was to meet as well accidentall as naturall disturbances and crosses. For haueinge bin that morneinge at the

one hastely
the

first, let

Kings-Castle to vewe condition of thoes fortes, which wer

to his smale satisfaction

when they wer

it,

scene, the gunner

it

(with the Gouernours meaneinge, for otherwise

likely

is

not

he would haue suffered

because he came then but

for his
j

in private)

had made ready a peece of ordinance

which at his departure he gaue
fire

farewell, the

vnto

this

haueinge done, and being ouer hastie to make after the

Gouernour to the shyp, he carelessly

a
cole of a

left his lintstock

with

fallinge

so

match in it vpon the plattforme, the which downe vpon the plancks, which wer of coder (and apt to take fire), it began by litle and litle to kindle, and

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.

151
fire,

was not heeded

neweSj caused

vntill

being

all

ou a flameinge

word was
vpon the

thus brought to the Gouernourj

all

who

instantly,

the botes about the sh37p to be manned,

in his shalope
fire
;

and made thether himselfe also

he could gett to
preuayled on
laden), as noe
all
it,

but, before

he found that the

had so generall

partes (most of the ordinance being also

hope remained of saueinge any thinge, nor of

;

doeing the least good

so that after an houres staye, he re;

turned to the shyp from whence he came

the platforme
after

and carriages of the great peeces being within a while

consumed

to ashes

neither did this accident pass without

secrett wisperings,

and censures of prognostication, the

litleor noethinge to

time and place concurringe to augment the credulite.

But the Gouernour seemeinge

of his

be moued

with either, the very next daye sends awaye the steward

house

(an honest

and discreet gentleman, named

house and to
lett the

Mr. Seimour Woodwarde) to the towne, with the most part of

his house-hold stuff, to order his

com-

pany knowe that the day followeiuge, being Sunday, he

ment to be a-shore with them. He wrote also a command to him that supplied the place of liuetenant to his owne Company, dureinge the absence of Captaine Felgate (who
was not yet heard
six for
of,

although he had sett out from England

to

weekes before the Warwick),

haue a gard

in readinesse

him

at his

comeing on land, and to cause the shalope

In the meane time many of

and bote-gang to be abord ouer night, and so in the better

readinesse in the morneinge.

the best of the maine repayre to the shyp, and present their

attendance vpon the newe Gouernour, and some matters

and decisions belonginge

to justice

being likewise offred

to heare

and entreated of him, he refused not euen ther

and determine such of them as the time and place allowed

a possibilitie vnto, tellinge them pleasantly that he perceiued he should not Hue idly
so rarely with

among them,

since they

began

him

in this kind.

152

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

with

Vpon tlie Sunday morneinge very early, accompanied many botes of the Hands, the Gouernour makes his
farewell
;

waye towards the towne, the shyp giveinge him a

with seuen peeces of great ordinance
but,

by the waye, a

bote of the Company, being ouer-whelmed by the folly of

thoes that wer in her, he caused a generall staye, and comes

up himselfe
as

to her rescue

which done, and noe harme

ensueinge, he passeth on in his shalope, haueinge with

him

many

of the counsell and baylies as the smale vessell

could containe.

Arriueinge at the towne, he finds

all

things

ready for his receipt.

Captaine Kendall, Mr. Lewes (Hughes),

came with himselfe from the shyp), foure or fine more of the counsell, and all the rest of the officers, attendinge him close by the shore vpon the
the ^minister, (for the other

warfe

at his landinge

he

is

wellcomed with two peeces of

files

ordinance, and so passinge betweene two

pikes,

of shott and

he directly takes his waye to the newe framed

churche, which he findeth halfe finished, and ther causeth

his commission to be read

by the elder minister

in a full

auditory; which

is

noe soner done, but Captaine Kendall,

left

who

sate

by him on his

hand, very hastily begins a

at the first dash falls

broken speach to the company, and

vpon the point of gi-ieuances

but, being sodainely cutt off

to this

by the Gouernour, he himselfe speakesvnto them

" Countrimen, effect:

knowe)
to

being a meare straunger

(as far as

you

all,

am come

thus farr (as you heard euen

nowe in my commission) to be your Gouernour and Commander and it may be that this ignorance one of another may begett and occasion some mutuall iealousies, especially
;

on your' part, who,

if

I proue otherwise than I should be,

first.

are likelyest to suffer

It is true that myselfe also,

findinge the like

by you, cannot but

though
it

find

and meete with you

much
me)

discontent,

wer but

in this perticuler, of
(if

being forced to carry a heauier hand than

sortes with

will beleiue

my

nature

to vse

many wordes vnto you

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
in

153
;

myne owne

behalfe by

way

of promise, wer but vanitie

best,

since the worst

men, as well as the

Only
I

can vse their

I will saye

tounges to serue their turnes.

to you, that

this

much

howsoeuer
;

am vpon no

tearmes to be called to

your expostulations

yet, if at

any time dureing mine abode

with you, I shall in the least

tyrants
part,

manner be found
straight

to act a

or Avilfully peruert the

all

course

of

iustice, I

wish with

mine heart that the Company that

sent
fall)

me hether (vnder whose censure I am legitimately to may call me to that account, as may make me an
all

example to
in the like

others that

kind

hei'e-after.

may have the meanes to be faultie As for you, I must tell you in
that without
all

plaine termes, I expect that you freely submitt yourselues

to be ordered and
capitulations, for
in the least
will

commanded by me, and

not in you to putt
it

it is

to the question

manner;

as therefore, in matter of religion, I

endure noe recusant, so must I haue none in point of

If ther be

obedience.

any of you that vpon some former

it

grounds haue iust cause to find your selues agreiued,

must be your part and discretion

place to shewe
it,

to take

your due time and

and then,

too, in

such a manner and

it

temper as becomes you; the redresse whereof, although

may

hapely proue beyond the limitts of

my

strength for the

present, yet

you
it

shall

not need to feare, but that by

the

myne
for
it

expression of

to

Company, and mediation

will in

(which shall be serious and faythfull), ther

good time
It shall

be obteyned an ample and reasonable

that our behauiour and

satisfaction.

bo in the meane time mine earnest prayer and endeuour

carriage

may be such one vnto

we
are thus mett at the

another that as

it

seemes ther be very fewe, or rather not

any, that are discontented that

present

so euery one

may be

sory in

some respects when

which
re-

we are to part hereafter." The Gouernour haueinge ended

for

this short speech,

aught that could be perceiued was generally well

154

THE HISTORTE OF THE BERMUDAES

ceiued, the elder minister proceeded to deuine seruice, and

so to a sermon, wlierein

was

briefly

touched the necessitie

it,

of the magistracy e, the submission due vnto

the hopes

and expectations of the future

pointes
fitt

in perticular, with

some other
:

and proper
his

for that

day and action

the which

being finished, the most part of the company attended the

Gouernour to

house

(a

garde being made for him from

the church thether), at the entringe wherof a very ready

and well followed volley of smale shott was deliuered by

thoes of his owne company,

who wer

all

in

armes

the

counsell, the baylies of the tribes,

and most

of the officers

dineinge with him at his owne table, the rest at others pre-

pared for them.

But thes ceremonyes and feastinge were sone cutt

assemblinge the counsell and
all

of

and
per-

ended with that night, so that the next daye the Gouernour,
the baylies,

made

ticuler inquirie of the estates of their seuerall tribes,

and

gaue them notice of such instructions and orders of court as

he had receiued
in

charge from the Company to putt in

fitt

execution, and wer

also,

for

them

to

knowe

at that time,

he swore two newe baylies that came ouer with him,

all

and so dismissed them

rest of that weeke. he
fortes,

to their seuerall charges

the

bestowed in takeinge a vewe of the

it

and of the munition, wherin

seemed that he found

but smale content, being heard publickly to giue out at his

returne to the towne, that he looked not to haue had the

Companyes and
was sorry

his

owne expectation
all

so farre shortned

and

deceiued in that perticuler aboue

others

and that he

to finde himselfe constrayned to write so vnwell-

come newes vnto them

hereof, as

nowe he must.
is

About

eight or ten dayes after this a sayle

descried from the

is

mount, and thervpon a warneinge peece

presently giuen

from the townes warfe, and the shalope well manned out to

make a

discouery.

About

fiue

houres after, the bote reis

turned and brings word to the Gouernour that she

an

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

155
this

English shyp and called the Garland, and by

time

she had moored herselfe in the Kings-Castle harbour.

This Garland had putt out to sea from England about

eight weekes before the shyp the Warwick, that brought

the Gouernour, so that not being heard of vntill nowe,

some misdoubts ther wer of her miscarriage, she haueing fallen vpon the Hands three weekes before and within sight
of them, but not seen from the shore, she was againe putt of

by

foule weather,
it

and being forced to the south-wards,

all

laye beatinge

vp so long that her water was almost

spent, and a great

sick

many

of her passengers and

seamen

also
dis-

and dead

being in which extremitie, and almost

payreinge to recouer the Hands, she was vpon a newe

resolution to

make

for Virginia (whether after her touchinge

here she was also bound), but by the waye she meetes with
a

Dutch man
by

of warre that had bin in course

vpon the West

(for

Indies,
also
for

whom

vnderstandinge wher she was

she

had seene the Hands), and that the harbour she looked

was within twenty leagues of

her, receiueinge

some

quantitie of water in exchange of

some wine and

boeuf, fol-

loweing in that direction, she shortly after (haueing bin

seuenteene weekes continually at sea) thus recouers her

wished port.

Being come

in in this sick
all

and weake condiHis

tion, she putts the

Gouernour from

other employments
hers.

for that present to helpe

and succour her and

botes, therfor, are in

all

hast sent abord to fetch of her sick

are in seuerall

people which wer

many and weake, who

:

places bestowed in the towne, and certaine persons ap-

pointed to tend and looke vnto them

perticuler prouisions,
for a while

much

of his

owne

and

all

the milck of the cattell being

this shyp,

employed that waye. In

among some

others of fashion, arrive also Captaine Felgate, the liuetenant

of the Gouernours company, and Captaine Stokes, the captaine of the Kings-Castle.

Haueing thus

in

some reasonable manner

settled

this

156

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

businesse, the Goueruour

makes a passage quite through

and
this place

the maine and tribes to hold a generall assize in Captaine

Tuckers fayre house at the over-plus

occasion he might

was

chosen at this time for that purpose, partly that by that

by the waye take knowledge of the

country, but especially that the towne of St. Georges might

thorby be eased from the burthen-some accesse of

people, haueinge already bin lately

much

euen eaten up with newe commers.

much oppressed, and The prefixed time of

all

the assizes being come, the Gouernour would by

meanes
in

that the forme and carriage of that action should for that

time be wholy and altogether as Captaine Tuckers time, the which

it

was wont

to be

(as it

appeared after-

wards) was either because he would not ouer-sodainly begin

an innovation, or that therby he would discerne what that

had
time

bin, rather then that

;

he ment to continue

it

so in his

but not

many

either criminall or ciuill causes appearis

inge at this assize,

it

fully finished in

two dayes, which

had wont

to hold out for foure,

and so the Gouernour makes

a present returne to the towne, to be nere to the continuall

occasions of the shyps.

Noe

soner was he ther but diners vnhappy and disasterous

accidents began to assault him, one in the neck of another

for first

by a most
is

terrible

storme and huricanoe the shyp

the Garland, rideinge in the harbour of the Kings-Castle

ouermuch open to north-west windes), is forced from her safetye to cutt downe her maine mast by the bord, and (so maimed) to ride it out for her life but the Erie of Warwicks shyp (moored not far of from her), all her
(which
;

anchors

comeinge home,
:

is

driuen upon the rocks and

in

vnrecouerably lost

you may iudge

what distresses the

Gouernour
not so
future,

felt

himselfe vpon this blowe: which yet was

much

in regard to thoes that

wer past as of the

;

which ther vpon threatened him

for the

shyp the
that

Warwick being the magazin shyp, and thus

lost, all

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
3'eares crop of tobacco

157

was

likely to pei'isli with her

by want

of exportation

and, besides, he conceiued that the adven-

turers not heareinge anythinge of

raig-ht

them that winter, they

be held for
ill

lost
:

produce very

effects

by the waye, which could not but neither could ther be apprehended

any other waye or meane of redresse than by riggeinge up the Treasourour to serue in her stead, the which, as it would
proue both
plainely
difficult,

tedious,

and dangerous,
(in

so

it

was

and euidently

to be scene that the Garland, not

being able to make her voiage to Virginia

the case she

was

in)

without the Gouernours helpe, she was of necessitie

to be left destitute

by

his spendinge of

all

his raeanes

and

store another waye.

Here-vpon,

sittinge in

consultation

with the whole body of the counsell, the master of the Gar-

land
to

is called in,

who being demanded whether he wer

able

make

his entended voiage to Virginia of him without

farther assistance of men, sayles, mast, cordage, victuall,

and the

like, his

answer

is

that by no

meanes

it

was

to be

done, but with apparent and certayne ruine both of shyp,

goodes, and persons

the Gouernours

whervpon being publickly assured by

that in respect of the losse of

owne mouthe,

the Warwick, and

the necessitie of trimeinge

and

fittinge

up

the Treasorour to serue in her steed, ther was noe possibihtie of affordinge of
it

was

at last

him any such releife at the present, concluded and resolued vpon (as the best
that the shyp, the Garland (leaueinge

course for
all

all parties)

her Virginian passengers behind her) should be accepted

for the mao-azin in steed of the

wreackt Warwich, and so to

returne directly for England, fraughted with the tobacco of

the Hands, being that somraers crop
:

and

this she should

doe vpon the same teai'mes of threepence vpon the pound

Warwich was only the master petitioned that, if his owner who sett him out should, vpon his non-performance of his voiage, refuse to allowe him his out-ward fraught, that the Gouernour would be pleased to moue the Company
that the
:

158

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

in his letters to

make

it

vp vnto him by rayseinge one penye

:

more vpon euery pound of tobacco that he carryed home the which soUicitation was pi'omised him and performed, as hopeinge that his owner (who was also a brother of the

Company) would not exact so hardly vpon him, consideringe the extremities that he was fallen into by God's hand ; and
that also he was likely to rayse a great crop of tobacco the

yeare followeinge, by the improuement

of thes Virginia
;

men, vpon
this

his vnsupplied land in the

Hands

and thus was

wound

cycatrized.

denye not but diners other ap-

prehensions, both here and at home, wer nourished and em-

brased about the carriage of this affayre; for some conceiued that the speach of riggeinge up the Treasourer for
that voiage, which the

Gouernour so openly and frequently

gaue out, was only to drawe in the master of the Garland

to accept the fraught of the

Companyes tobacco vpon the

he would othei-wise make

easier tearmes, as doubtinge least

too great vse of the necessities and extremities that he was

fallen into
;

for, as for

the Treasourer,

it

was well ynough

knowen
out of
store to

in

how

rotten a case she

it

was euery waye, and how

especially

all

trimme, so that
fitt

laye not in the strength of his

make her

and capable of the voiage,

:

being to be a winter one

some other secret reasons also it was conceiued that the Gowherby vpon, thought wer
for the

uernour could not chuse, but hold her altogether improper

employment.

Others ther wer, who, being of lesse

all

charytie, would needs haue

the consequence of this bus-

sines to consist only of a plott

betweene the Gouernour and

the master of the Garland, for the better blindinge and

beguileinge of his owners in England, and the helpeinge of

him to a more colourable and hansome pretence. But thes and the like conceites, especially this last, seemeinge rather
as the fruicts and
eflFects

of ignorance, passion, or malice,

than grounded vpon any probable likelyhoode, are to bo

slierhted

and contemned

for

what need indirect

tricks or

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

159
offer

crooked polycies when fayre and straight courses

selues.

them-

But

this losse of the

ill

good shyp, the

Wariviclc,

was not
it,

the only

that this cruell storrae brought with

for a

generall blast of the winters crop of corne ensued, so that

an exceedinge feare of want seazed on the inhabitants genefor howsoeuer the Hands ynough euery waye, and haue two haruests euery yeare yet what with the improuident wastes that
rally,
:

and that not without cause

are prolefull

are

growen

to a

custome among the most of them, and that

the maine part of their standeinge and staple foode consists

of corne (so that, for the

number

of people, I beleiue ther

is

scarce halfe so

much
if

graine eaten in any part of the whole

world againe)
in

but any one of thes two haruests miscarry

any generall manner, a dearth and kind of scarcetie for

is

some monethes
grewe
it

assuredly to be expected

and the rather

terrible at this time,

by reason that

knowen
uided

that both an vnusuall

in,

number

bin lately brought

:

and the most of

it was well newe comers had them ill ynough pro-

of

as also that the foregoeing

yeai-e)

sommer

(in
all

Captaine
kindes of
all

Kendall

had bin miserably mispent in

;

wastes and ryotts

neuerthelesse, the

effect

of

this

became not

so senceable vntill the

:

monethes of February

and March followeinge (1620)

at

what time, not only the

common

soi't

but euen the

Gouernours owne table (by

due prouisions to the

reason of the wroungs done vnto him by Captaine Kendall,

in giueiug or rather sellinge

away

his

pyrate before his arriuall), was for some monethes some

meales found without bread.

At which season

also

it

being

discouered that diuers close fellowes, better borders than

others, haueinge

more

store of corne

by a great deale than

and
the

would serue
to

their

owne

peculier turnes, vncharitably refused

;

communicate

it,

but at most vnconscionable prizes

that

many

sticked not to feede their hogges withall, wliile

their neighbours

wer ready to starue

for

want of

it

IGO

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

Gouernour, for redresse hereof, graunted out a perticuler

commission to his serieant maior and the stewart of his

house (both of them being of the counsell), to make a strickt
search through-out
all

the tribes^

commandeiuge
to the famely

that wher-

soeuer an ouerplus of corne was found, a conuenient com-

petencye being allowed and

left

wherto

it

belonged, the residue should be sold, at a reasonable rate, to

such of the same tribe as wer knoweu to be in most misery

and need.
yet was
effects,

The which

course, howsoeuer,

it

was

at the first

sinisterly taken,
it

and so caused some secrett grudgeinges,

sone after discerned to produce very excellent

euen to the saueinge of some Hues.

also the

About the same time

proclamations (the
their
first

Gouernour sent out two

that thes

Hands euer sawe from

Gouernours in that forme), the one for the recallinge

all

and recouery of

such goodes as had bin embezeled out of

of the Treasorour (whose

the wreackt Warwick, and out

ordinance also he
the towne)
;

commanded

the other was for the

the tribes, Mansfeilds tribe

of Warwick,

all of them brought to newe nameinge of two of being to be called by the name

to

be

and Cauendish to take the appellation of

is

Deuonshyre.^ Not long after this the former sowre sauce

a
litle

sweetned by the findinge of some amber-greece, the

as honestly

which being honestly brought vnto the Gouernour, the

finder thereof
is

payed

and

this

payement

like-

wise was the

first

that euer

was

really

performed in that
first

kind, and this ambei'-greece also the

that euer the

Gouvernour sawe here.

The Gouernour being bestowed

the recouerye of his former hurts

in doeing his best

;

towards

and nowe hopeinge (the

dearth only excepted) of some future amendment, so that

he might find the meanes to keepe a quiett Christmas,

which approached very neare; behold

8

in the verye

beginninge

is for

These proclamations have not been found. The earliest preserved the " Observacon of the Sabaoth day", dated 20 Marcli 1620.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
of it, arrisetli

161

vpon an extreame sodaine as great or greater

with them seruiceable)
;

violence of wind than euer before, wherin the Garland (the

only shyp

left

is

once againe brought

into all extremities

for all her helpes glueing waye,

falls

and so

being vpon

drift,

she

within a cables length of the

rumeinge rocks, and had vndoubtedly perished, but that one

of her maine anchors, fastened to an excellent

newe

cable,

by

great good chaunce hitts foule betwixt two rocks, the which

thereby fasteninge the whole stresse and waight of the

shyp, so keepes her aliue the remainder of that

which by deuine prouidence lasted not long

after.

hugh gust, At the

same time
high

also (for

one mischeife neuer goes alone) a foure

square frame of timber, called the Mount, and built vpon a

hill

nere the towne by Mr.

Moore (and by him much

for the discouery of shyps

gloried in), seruoing to

at sea,
rootes.

good vse

and so the Eye of the Hands, was blowne up by the

But
to

it

seemed that thes straunge and vnauoideable misso

haps serued rather to quicken the Gouernours industry than

dull
it,

that (haueinge finished the a large

newe framed

churche, which is and hansome one) with the very first of the newe yeare he begins a newe peece of fortification

vpon a rock

lieing in flauncker to the king's castle,

and

excellently

commandinge the

chauell that leades into that

first

harbour, being a place that at the very

tion,

of the planta-

by an Order of Court, was enioyued

to

be

fortified,

yet

not ventured vpon vntill nowe, by reason of the great

dainger of landeinge of ordinance vpon
splittinge the botes.
culties)
it,

and the

feare of
all

But which

(in

despight of

difii-

he found most necessary to be performed, by reason

that otherwise, shyps at their entraunce

vpon the chanell

vnder the high

might shroude themselues so nere and

thoes ordinance, which

close

rock of the castle as that they could not be touched with

nowe they cannot doe

v/ithout being

played vpon by thes.

And

to the onsett of this worck,

and

L62

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES he called

all

for the first fourteene dayes^

such passengers

as

wer
it

to passe in that shyp for England, tellinge

them

that

was

fitt

and eqnall that they should doe some publick

for
:

good ere they went,

he knew not whether euer they

to the ouersight of

ment

to doe

it

hereafter

which worck

(haueing layd

it

out

first

with his owue hands) he sent his

Luietenant Captaine Felgate, being himselfe constrained to

keepe

at the

towne

for the dispatch of the

all

shyp for England,

the which not long after (haueing

the tobacco of the

Hands that was made

upon
selfe

in Captaine Kendall's yeare, laded

her, being very

much

in quantitie, but miserable in

qualitie),

about the 23rd of January, an. 1620, cleares her-

of the harbour, and

makes

for

England

and was

saluted at her goeing out with a great peece of ordinance

from the newe worck (wher the Gouernour was also in

person), that so she

might carry the report of

time, also, she

it

to the

aduenturers

at

what

was

in

danger in her

passeinge out by fallinge too nere the Southerne Sholes,

that
lie at

the harbour's mouthe, so that she rubbed

vpon a
brittle,

rock, the which,

by good hap, proueinge but

soft

and

did her little or noe harme.

By her, likewise, the Gouernour

Company, wherein he
and estate of the

sends his
giuos

first

generall letters to the

them

intelligence of the condition

Hands

at his arriuall,

and especially laments the want of

munition, and the weake case that he generally found the

fortes in
:

as also the

want of gunners, carpenters and

sufficient supply.

men; desireinge a speedye and He giues them perticuler notice withall

colony
as had bin entertained

of
;

all

such shyps

by Captaine Kendall

as the
,

Dutch

wrack, the roueing frigate, and

how the Treasorour haueinge

bin vpon the coast at Captaine Tucker goeinge awaye, was

admitted by Kendall; and so went to the

West

Indies,

from whence she returned to Virginia, wher, not likeinge

her entertainement, she conueyeth herselfe awaye secretly,

and shapeth- her course

for the

Hands a second

time,,

and

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
arriueth extremely poore, haueinge
all

G3

her vpper worcks so

rotten as she

was

vtterly vnable, without uery

much

cost

and labour,
fore,

to putt out to sea againe.

iniuiictions

He

attendeth, therto the

their

and directions (accoi'diuge

in his instructions)

prescriptions giuen

him

concerneinge

thes perticulers, that therby he might shape his course.

And, indeed, he was very

carefull to enlarge himselfe

about

the Treasorour, in respect that he had bin acquainted with

some passages of bussinesse concerneinge her

(to

in England,

and found the violent and captious courses that by some

make good

their

owne endes) had bin practised against

it

her,

and therfore knew

very likely that they would doe

all

the same with him vpon the same occasion, which by

meanes he endeauoured to auoide.

The magazin shyp, the Garland, being thus gone, the falls closely to his worcks, so that within some fewe weekes the newe platforme is fully finished, and hath fine good peeces of ordinance mounted vpon it, three wherof wer with infinite toyle, much danger, and some
Governour
perticuler

charge and expence to the Gouernours purse,

waighed out of the wrackt Warivich.

He

built for

it,

also,

a smale powder-house of CEeder, muskett profe, and in

nature of a redoubt, to secure the ordinance
;

and then

honnored the whole peece by callinge

Fort.

it

South Hampton

At

the same time, likewise (by the oppotunitie of an

of

expert Dutch shyp-carpenter, falne vnto him out Dutch wreak, whom he hired to staye with him
seruant for three yeares), he began to sett some

the

as his

newe bote

vpon the

stocks, of which not only himselfe at the towne,

all

but in a manner

the captaines and gunners of the fortes,

of.

wer

in

dangerous want
tall

Being thus busied on

the
hill

all

handes, a

shyp

is

made from

wher the mount

all

stoode, and a peece of ordinance (to giue warneinge to

the fortes)

is

discharged from the warfe

but the wind

bloweinge a

stiff

gale at north-east, noe bote could possibly

M 2

16i

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

gett out to discouer her.

la^'B

She plied

it

vpon a tack, and

Georges

close

by a wind alongst the north

side of St.

Ilaiid,

and had the rocks

thi'ee

for her lee-shore,

and so continued

two or

houres, being at last falne so nere the rocks, as

all

the Gouernour (who stoode

glasse,

the while with his perspective

veweinge of her from of Warwick Fort) feareinge

she would strick vpon them, went in person hastelj to St.

Katheraines Fort, meaneinge from thence to giue her a

warneinge peece

but being come thether, he perceiued

she had tacked about, and so stoode vpon the other bord,

and

at last bore

vp before the wind, and made her waye

shyp should be.

south and by east, and was quickly out of sight.

diaputeinge ther was what this

Much Some

thought her to be English, and that she wanted a pylote to

bring her in
;

others would needes haue her a Spaniard,

and that she ranne in

vewe of the

fortes,

manner alongst the shore to take which lie all on that side. But most
this

wer of an opinion

(of

which the Gouernour was one) that

she was some Dutch man-of-warre, that in her course to the

West

Indies, fallinge with thes Hands,

and knoweinge them

to be planted with English, stoode indifferently affected to

her comeinge in

but lindinge neither a bote to make out

hitt so

towards her, nor knoweinge of herselfe how to

dan-

gerous and intricate a chanell, she thus made awaye, and

pursued her voiage.

In the eueninge of the same daye, one

it

of the colony people (a luckey fellowe,

should seeme that

waye, for he had twise done so before) found eight ounces

of very good amber-greece, and brought
it

to the Gouer-

nour,

who
three
all

(accordinge to an Order of Court in that case

full

prouided) payed him the

after

moyetie of the value therof,

poundes the ounce in good English gold:

to looke out for so
it

wherby

men wer encouraged

good a
it,

commoditie, and honestly to reueile

when they found

whcras formerly, by reason of continuall and vsuall breach

of promise, they euen openly professed the contrary.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

165

Within two
frigates

daj^es after this,

wer descried two smale

which came vp

close

side of the ilauds_,

and so
;

by the shore on the south the Castle gaue the warneinge

peece, about sunne sett

whervpon the Goueniour manned

out his shalope presently, and

commanded

to double the

gardes at the towne

all

that night, about the midst whereof

Captaine Felgate (who had bin at the worck vpon South-

ampton Fort) comes

him
cei'taine

to

the

towne, and being instantly

brought in to the Gouernour, who was in bedd, he deliuers

letters

written
:

in

Italian

Scouten, a

Datchmau

the contents wherof wer

from one Peter " that

:

being in seruice vndor his lordes, the States of the Vnited

Prouinces, and haueinge bin in the

West

Indies for the

same entent, and nowe

falne vpon thes Ilandes (which he

tearmed a Promontorye), he desired assurance vnder the

Gouernours hand of iugresse and egresse into the harbour,
that so as a friend he might carine his barkes, and take in

some

fresh water,

and be

gone.''

In his company also

(as

captaine of ye other frigate) was the same Powell that you

heard so much of in Captaine Tuckers time, and by whose

aduise and encouragement the other was thus piloted
in.

The

Gouernour

haueinge

receiued

thes

letters,

and

throughly enformed himselfe by Captaine Felgate of the

burthen of their

vessells,

and the number of their people,

whether they wer well victualled

and
and

especially enquireinge
free

from

all

infectious diseases; after

some time of

thinckinge with himselfe, he towards morneinge returned

by the same hands this answer, written als.o in Italian " that being here vnder his Maiestie of England, the Com:

mandour

of thes Hands, he

was to carry himselfe a freinde

his

to his freindes,

and an enemye to

enemyes

if

therefore
sufficient

he could shewe for himselfe and his a lawfull

commission signed by the States of the Vnited Prouinces,

who wer

freinds

and

allies to his

king, of his being nobly

and honestly employed by

them

in thes partus, he

and his

166

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

should be welcome, and (behaueinge tliemselues as honest

men) should

find all the

securitie they

desh'ed or could

expect, otherwise they

wer

to looke for seuere justice

and to

enter vpon their perill."

Vpon which

answer, within two

dayes after (the wind not sufFeringe them vntill then) they

both of them came in at the harbour of

St.

Georges, and

presented tliemselues and their commissions to the Gouer-

nour

who, findinge them very ample and authentique,

caused them to be coppied out, and gaue the straungers his

best entertainement.
to doe, as findeinge

And this he was the rather forward them the men he had need of, for
extraordinarily

perceiueinge
victuall,

them

well

furnished

with

and

especially with a

good quantitie of oyle and

it

bacon, he delt with them about the sale of

inhabitants (who by this time began very

to the needye

many

of them, to

haue a deepe sence of a scarcetie, and came running daly

vnto him, with lamentations), the which both of them
(especially Powell,

who had alwayes shewed

was
sold out

himselfe a good

wellwiller to the plantation) very readily

and willingly condiuers and

sented vnto
trust

so that ther

and deliuered vpon

it

and

creditt to such as

had most need of

sundry commodities, to the value at the least of six or

seuen hundred pounds sterleinge, to the

much refreshment

and great content of the people.

shall

Concerneinge the which,

afterwai'ds carryed,

and how the payment thereof was

speake when we come to
receipt of

we

lett

you knowe how the

in

them was taken and apprehended

England by

the company.

Thes shyps, haueinge rested here about the

space of seuen or eight weekes, tooke their leaue and de-

parted

Scouten back againe to the West Indies, and

the

Powell

first for

Lowe Countries and then

for

England; by

whom

also the

Gouernour wrote priuate

letters to diuers of

the Lords, and some others of his freinds, in his behalfe

and fauour.

The

whilst these thiuo-es wer in action in the

Sommer

OE SUMMER ISLANDS.

167

Hands, the Company of Aduenturers in England make out

many

a long looke for the Garland and Warwick,

much

wondei'inge at their long staye, and especially they wer in

great feare of the WarwicJi, as carryinge their newe Gouernour, and being the magazin shyp
arriues,
all
;

at last the

Garland

and by her they receiue the perfect knowledge of

the former mentioned euents.

By

her likewise, they

haue Captaine Kendalls yeares crop of tobacco, the which

proueinge extreamely badd, and
part
little

(to

say troth) for the most

;

better than starck rotten

and

withall

comeinge

to a very

lowe markett, giues them a great and generall

both distaste and discouragement, so that they presently

fall

into

many
it is

distrusts,

and almost dyspayres of the sub-

sistinge of that

plantation, especially

by the meanes of
proiects for

tobacco

resolued therfore that

newe

newe

commodities must speedely be found out and putt in execution, or els all thinges ther

would sodainely
first

fall

in pieces

the which what they wer,

by whom

propounded, and

by

whom

vndertaken, you shall see when

we come

to the

arriuall of their

next magazin shyp, which was almost a

whole yeare

after.

But
liuely

in the interim, the

Gouernour

ther,

being cleared

from the distractions and impediments of shypinge, goes

on with his worcks of

fortification

and haueiuge

fully

finished

Southhampton Fort, he remoues the people

to the

Kings Castle

for the restoreinge of the burnt redoubt

it,

and

the makeinge of a large plattforme vnder

the which, after

eight weekes of hard labour by thirtie men, he absolutely

perfectethj

and then plantinge vpon

it

seuen peeces of

excellent ordinance

vpon newe
site

cseder carriages, wherwith

to playe and

commando
to

into all nookes of the harbour to

which the aduantage of the

he causeth
it

serued veiy opportunely

be called Deuonshyres redoubt.

About the

which time, haueing received some requests from some of

the baylies of the tribes, which petitioned the surcease and


1G8

THE niSTORYE OF THE BEEMUDAES

this nature, in

adiournemeut of bussines of

regard

(as

was

pretended) of the hardnesse of the time, and scarcetie of

corne, he tooke occasion
rest to

by waye of

satisfaction for all the

answer the Baylie of Warwick Tribe, who had wrote

j

vnto him to that purpose

to

the which answer he also caused

be secretly and vnderhand

dispersed abroad, and was

:

deliuered in thes followeinge wordes

" I baue receiued your letters
are so obscured as you giue
;

in the very beginninge whereof

you

me

not present meanes to answer you to

it VDtill 1

that perticuler.

must therfore wholy ommitt

see

you next;

only

it

seemes somewhat odde wher you write, that that loue of mine

which (you saye) I haue vnto you, should any waye preiudice you, or obnoxious, and especially (as you to seeme to implye) guiltie it was not wont to be so infectious. I hope I shall euer affect to place my loue vpon deserts, the which when I find the grounds answerable, is

make you

not easily shaken, nor can be.

In the second part of your

tell

letters,

you

become a vehement,
appeare to
as

if

not passionate counsellour against the progres;

sion of the fortes this yeare

but I must

you
;

plainely,

your reasons

me

both vnseasonable and vnsounde

they are vnseasonable

(I

in regard, that after

two moneths worck, wherin

to as

dare be bold to saye)

much hath bin performed,

as in thirteene

much purpose, and vpon as much neces;

sitie,

weekes by some others

;

you would haue me giue

to saye vntiil the next
after the midst of

them ouer
yeare
;

vntill after haruest

that

is

as

much

for I cannot doubt, but

you vnderstande, that

wholy to apply themselues to the plantinge of tobacco, to the gatheringe in of their corne, and the summer labours, as it wer i^itty in deed to distrackt them, and besides the heate of the season in this eleuation is altogether vnsufferable in thoes monethes for thes labours. To leaue the fortes therefore, the which (thancks be to God) are so well forwarded, vntill the next winter, wer to lose what soeuer hetherto hath bin done vpon them for who knowes not but that in the meane time the winters great and common wiudes will blowe the most part of the rubbisli into them againe, and so the layinge out of the worck be altogether defaced and to seeke the ordinance also that lie dismounted ready to be planted vpon them must needs be halfe buried in the dust and sand; the ten newe carriages that I haue already almost finished at St. Georges lie scattered about, and many peeces of them (in despite of all care) dispersed and lost, the portage and rejjortage of the mattocks, spades, beetles, wedges, tents, and such like necessaries, You knowe that this bussinesse was not proue a double labour. attempted nor begun without mature aduise and deliberation it was publickly propounded at the assize you your selfe had your place and
Aprill, the people are so
;
; :

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
voice at the meetinges of the counsell without

169

approue of

it

then

why are you altered nowe?

come you
see

reason of the present want of

it: you did you saye it is by amongst vs? who was he so

me

about

will

blind, weighinge the extreame wastes of the yeare before

in, the generall blast of

my

comeinge

our late winter crop, and the thrustinge vpou us

so

many

ill

prouided newe comers, but foresawe as

much

long since

haue you not heard me diners times to speake as much in publick? haue you not seene me lament it in priuate? why did you not diswade me then, when it was timely? or why doe you nowe so out of season ? And wheras you saye, that you presume I would forbeare this worck if I but knewe the necessities of the time is ther any man in thes

Hands a more publick man than

sencelesse of that

doe you thinck I can be which I euery day feele ? Ther are not fewer than fortie persons that feede dayly on my store, the third part of them extraordinary men, entertained for publick worcks. I spend not lesse
selfe? or

my

than 1500 eares of corne weekely, whereas I feare

delt withall

me

(so

ill

haue I bin

by you knowe whom) my whole remainder ammouuts not to lOuO in all ;^ we are resolued therefore to line some mouethes without bread, and are contented, submittinge our selues to Gods good pleasure, who hath layed this affliction vpon vs, to teach vs to amend our selues,
and to learne wise prouidence, not that we should forsake our important
worcks. Neither, to saye truth, doe I perceiue how the present labouringe
at the fortes can any

waye aggrauate

or encrease our sufferings in this

kind, or cause the sword of famine (as

you tearme

it)

to

wound

us any

whitt deeper

can fine

men

taken out of

Warwick Tribe

for fourteene

dayes, starue the tribe?

must they not

lesse

Ob
so,
is

but you will saye, that

it

eate at home, as with me? would serue them at home it may be

;

and yet

may

rather be suspected not so.

It

is

true, indeed, that it

requesite for such as

come

to the fortes to be furnished with

some

quantitie of corne to serue their necessities in f oule weather

fish

when uoe

can be had abroad, and

is

is it

not so with them at home also?

my

meaneinge
suffice,

not,

when

command

prouisious from you for the fortes,

;

them with them a conuenient proportion will and the rather because I doubt not but to take fish for them when you cannot come by it. As for the present necessitie of the speedy repayringe of the old worcks of fortification, and the rayseinge some newe, iudge you your selfe what it is, v^'hen of twenty peeces of artillerie, the which the aduenturers in England conceiue to be seruiceably mounted in the kings castle, ther are not three that can be aboue tbree times vsed or disc barged in a fight besides, I can assure you that ther are more plotts and proiects vpon thes ilands than you are aware of, and I am forewarned of some not fitt to be publickly
that you should glutt
;

mentioned
of as

neither are thes doubted dangers (as you call them) so far

you imagine.
1

Hold
Sic in

fast therfore

your

first

opinion and ioyne

MS.

Probably 10,000.

170

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

all

with the rest of your fellowe counsellours, by

meanes, care and

encouragement, to farther the speedy perfectinge of thes so needefull and concern einge peaces. In vaine doe we build houses, and churches,
plant tobacco, sett corne, vnlesse

we prouide

for the keepinge of

them

when we haue done

hope
shall

and ther

is

noe earthly meanes to doe this but by

Howso-*

the sufficient fortefieinge of the mouthes of the harbours, and this 1

be in reasonable manner performed by Easter next.

euer I will not trouble you of the maine beyond that time, but rather

then fayle, perfect the residue with

myne owne

seruants and the generall

men.

Concerneinge the slaunderous tounges of some wherwith you goe

about to scare me, I would haue you knowe I can easily contemne them ther was neuer any honest or worthy action but found such base
;

calumniators
of

and yet let such knowe and take heed least in ther misvse me, they proue not sawsye with the place of command that I hold here vnder his Maiestie, from whom, next vnder God, all power and
;

authoritie

is

deriued

for

howsoeuer I can easily passe ouer a priuate

iniurye committed against mine

will endure
it,

owne

person, yet I neither dare nor

when

it

toucheth and extendeth so far as to question

my

command.

am

senceable, I take

God

to wittnesse, euen as deepe as

;

my

and endurance of this people but when must chuse the euill that is least. Encourage them, therfore, as it becomes you, both by precept and example and therby, as in all thinges els, make your selfe still more and more capable of that place in mine affection, the which you (not vntruely) are senceable of to be well begun, and which shall willingly, also, be euery day more and more expressed by your loueinge freind, Nath. Butlek.
heart, of the least greiuance

I cannot free

them wholy,

And
sion

thes wer the contents of this answer vpon the occa-

of the bussinesse of the forteinge, the which sone

passinge abroad from hand to hand, gave a good fortification

in this
perticuler,

and caused a more wilhnge and free

puttinge forward of themselues that

would haue bin

so that

by the

latter

way than otherwise end of the March

followeinge, the Gouernour, findeinge thes worcks at the

Gurnetts Head and in the kings castle very well forwarded,

and the heate of them ouer, he dismissed the people of the

tribes,

and accomplished the remainder within a while

after

by thoes of the towne, by which time he had cutt out two newe plattformes, built a newe redoubt, made fifteene uewe
carriages of cgeder, and

mounted twenty peeces of

ordi-

OE SUMMER ISLANDS.
nance, whicli
all

171

of

them before

laye eitlier vtterly dis-

mounted, or mounted vncerviceably, and soe to noe purpose. Neither did thes martiall employments so wholy take vp
the Gouernour but that he also found time to bestowe his

thoughts for the setliuge of other matters

and in perticuler

concerneinge the churche affayres, perceiueinge that neither

of his two ministers would by any meanes subscribe nor

vse the booke of

common
so,

prayer, or liturgie of
different,

England

and that not only

but wer also

and

in

noe good

and

fitt

agreement betweene themselues

in the formes of
:

administration of the sacraments and marriage

differencies,

the which

though they wer noethinge

substantial], yet

many

of the

common

people wer therwith troubled and

to

disquieted,

some beginninge

question the validitie of

them, others to growe into factioninge and disputes, which

of the two did best, and
scoff

many

of the worst sort to

it

make a
wer
but dis-

and

iest of both,

he found that

was time,
:

if it

possible,

to

reduce them to

some vniformitie
all

payreinge to bring tbem to that here, which

in

the byshops

England could not doe

ther,

he at

last

bethought himof Garnesey and

selfe

of the liturgie vsed in the

Hands

Jarsye, the which being of his maiesties dominions, and

by

him

tollorated,

he conceiued would not be ill-taken

it

if (for

the time) he putt

in practice here

beinge also in good

to

hope that
the vse of

his ministers
it,

might be both of them brought

in respect that all thoes perticulers

wer therin

ommitted
stumbled

at
at.

which they tooke so much exception and

Callinge

them both them

at once, therfore, pri-

uately vnto him, he told

that he

was verye sory

to find

them

in

no

fuller

consent one with another in the vse of

the seruice, and in especiall in the forme of the sacraments

and marriage.

He

graunted, indeed, and

knewe

well

ynough

that their dissentions wer noethinge essentiall, yet could

they not but proue uery scaundalous and offensiue, as well

to

some

in England, as to

most of the inhabitants here.

172

THE IIISTORYE OF THE 13ERMUDAES

it

In England

would be obserued, how that being but two

of them only together, and so far remote from their country,

that yet the prouerbe might be verefied

vpon them,

"

So

many men,

so

many minds

^';

besides,

it

was not vnlikely

but that the hearesaye of

it

would occasion some such

iniunctions from thence as would displease

for the people here, they well

them

both.

As
wer
of

knewe how

ill

the effects

that this their disvnion had already bred

amoug many

them, and the which wer likely euery day to growe worse

and worse. and meane

He had

bethought himselfe, therfore, of a waye

ill,

to cure this

the which he doubted not but

to themselues also
;

would proue uery acceptable

and

it

was

by propoundinge the punctuall vse and practise of that forme in the vse of the sacraments and marriage which was
vsed within His Maiesties dominions in Jarsye and Garnsye,

beinge one and the uery same with that of the French

Protestants, thoes of the vnited prouinces, and euen

itselfe.

Geneua

This was

it^

that,

without

all

inouation and alte-

ration,
this
all

he would haue them for the time to vse here, and

was that which he hoped would quench and make up the infectious heates and dangerous breaches that other-

wise might ensue.

sition

And,
it

truely, it

seemed that

this

propo-

had a peaceable constellation

was

in aspect at its birth,

for noe soner

borne than gladsomely receiued by

both the ministers, who instantly promised the Gouernour

all

conformitie in the acceptance and vnitie in the practice.

Whervpon he

himselfe

translateinge

it

verbatim

into

English, out of a French

Bible which he brought ouer

with him, he caused the elder minister to begin the vse

therof at the administration of the Lords Supper, at St.

Georges, vpon Easter

himselfe,

Day next

followeinge, at

what time

many

of the counsell, the officers, and a great

auditory communicated together, a speech by waye of intro-

duction being also deliuered by the minister out of the

pulpitt about the receipt of
it,

and the ground and causes

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
therof expressed.

173

And

this

forme was generally obserued

throughout the whole Hands (the Gouernour endureinge

noe

variation) in thes
all

perticulers of the sacraments

and

marriage
I

the time of his gouerment ther, and for aught

this daye.
1(320, the

knowe, so continueth vnto

Presently after this Feast of Easter,

nour, haueing

Gouer-

made and launced

vpon

newe

cgeder bote,

torowe

with foure oares only, and built of purpose to goe well

vpon the

oares, the nimbler

all

occasions to serue for

a boate of aduise, he began to thinck of preparations to-

wards the erectinge of a newe mount,

in lieu of that forplace.

merly blowne downe, and to be raysed in the same

He

sent away, therfore, the

liuetenant of his company,

Captaine Felgate, into Harrington tribe, and gaue him a

commission to

fell

cseder ther for the

same end, the which

wer conuayed

to

the towne in flotes.

He made
of,

also a

presse of carpenters, the best he could heare

and com-

manded them vp

wher he conferred with them about the sayd worck, and propounded diuers fashions and formes to be considered, which of them was the fittest and most sightly, both in respect of strength and hansometo St. Georges,

nesse.

At

last,

the ti-ianguler forme, being most generally

is

approued, the bussinesse

sett

on foote on

all

hands, the

timber squared on the warfe, and from thence, with great

toyle and labour, haled and

drawne up the
it

hill

wheron

it

was
ally

to stand

from which time forward

was so continu-

and

closely followed as that, within one

is

moneth

after,

this

frame

once againe accomplished, and becomes seuen

it

foote higher than

was before

and

(to

preserue

it

from

the like fortune)

belowe,

is

stroungly keyed at the three corners

;

with very substantiall posts

and playsted and

it

whited at the top, for the better discerneiuge of

sea; at the foote therof, also,

out to

vpon

a cseder plattforme, is

mounted a peece

of ordinance, taken out of treasorour, to


174

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

to
all

serue as a vvarneinge peece

the fortes, vpon the

discouei'ye of sliypps from thence,

and the which, by being

all

so loftely placed,

is

the better to be heard on

sides

and

so this worck, being absolutely finished and perfected, is

named by
stoode

the Gouernour Riche-Mount, which hath already

in many a terrible storme, without the least dammage that can be discerned, and may be hoped to doe so in many more. At the same time, the Gouernour dedicated a smale peece of worck to the memory of the dead for, walkeinge about the towne to see the worckmen^ one Mondy very early,
stiffly
;

accompanied with two or three of his

great crosse of a by-place,
all

officers,

he espied a
wher-

wood

pitched, slopeing into the ground, in

;

ouergrowne with bushes and rubbish

it

vpon, enquireing what

ment,

it

was told him that Sir

George Sommers (who, as you haue heard, was one of the

vei-y first of

the discouerers of thes Hands, and certainely

his

the prime author of their plantation) dieinge here,

heart and bowells

some freinds

wer buried vnder that crosse ; the which, and followers of his had fastned ther, in
;

memory therof made noe other

to

which

relation,

howsoeuer, the Gouernor

replye at that present, but that so noble a

;

gentleman deserued a better monument

or two after, haueing found out a
(that

yet, within a

day

hansome marble stone had bin brought out of England, and laye almost
and takeinge downe the crosse, and cleareinge the

buried in the sand), he caused masons to be sett on worck

about

it,

place round about, he raysed, in the

same

place, a plaine,

long-square of hewen stone, about three foote in height,

hansomely and conueniently contriued, and vpon

the sayd mai-ble stone to be layed.

it

caused

Vpon

the top, and in

the midst wherof he cutt out in a plate of brasse, which he

sent for out of England, this epitaph followeinge
;

sayd to

be composed by himselfe

OE SUMMER ISLANDS.
"In
the year 1611,

175

Noble Sr George Sommers went hence to Heauen, Whose well tride worth, that held him still employde, Gaue him the knowledge of the world so wide Hence 'twas, by Heauens decree that to this place He brought newe guests and name to mutuaJl grace. At last his soule and body being to part, He here bequeathed his entrayles and his heart."-

2 There is an error in this epitaph, perhaps not uninfluenced by the exigency of the rhyme, which has been the parent of much confusion. Sir George Sommers died 9th November 1610. The " handsome marble

stone" has long since disappeared

stant as to the
it
site,

but tradition has apparently been conand the writer, when Governor of Bermuda, replaced
;

by a marble

tablet bearing the inscription following :

NEAR THIS SPOT WAS INTERRED IN THE TEAR 1610, THE HEART OF THE HEROIC ADMIRAL
SIR GEORGE SOMERS, KT.,

WHO NOBLY

SACRIFICED

HIS LIFE

TO CARRY SFCOOUR TO THE INFANT AND SUFFERING PLANTATION,

NOW
THE STATE OF VIRGINIA.
TO PRESERVE HIS FAME TO FUTURE AGES,

NEAR THE SCENE OF HIS MEMORABLE SHIPWRECK OF 1609, THE GOVERNOR AND COMMANDER - IN - CHIEF OF THIS COLONY FOR THE TIME BEING
CAUSED THIS TABLET TO BE ERECTED.
1876.

Another inscription, of scarcely

appeared
:

inferior interest,

which was extant in

1671, and "set up in the Governor's Hall over his chair", has also dis-

CONDITVR IN HOC LOCO NAVIS PER REICHARDVM FROBISHERVM ONERIS 70 QU^ VIRGINIA DESTINATOR (slc), NOS OMNES HINC

TRANSPORTABAT

ANNO
the

1610,

MAY

4.
to

See a tract, entitled "Description of Ship 'Manjgold\ S. P., Commander.

Last Voijage
J.

By

H.

Bermudas London, 1671."

in the

And

Memorials of Bermuda^

ii,

p. 341.

Some

topographical details will be found in the Appendix.

176

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

In the beginning of May next followeinge, whicli was about

some eigbt monethes

at St. Georges^

aftei' tlie

Gouernours

first

arriuall,

he

sent out his generall warrants for the holclinge of an assize

vpon the 6th of June

it

after;

and because

he found many defects (not to saye absurdities), in the

forme of this great action, as
his best to redresse them,

had bin formerly carryed

in Captain Tuckers and Kendalls times, he resolued to doe

and as nere as possible could

be,

to reduce the

whole course therof to the vse and fashion of

England ;

in

which respect also

in that

(as

beinge a newe thinge,

and vnseene

manner

in thes

Hands
it

vntill

nowe), I

am

resolued to describe and deliuer

vnto you somewhat

at large.

He

caused, therfoi'e, a graund jury to be warned,

consistinge of the most able and sufficient

to

men

of the tribes

whom

all bills

whatsoeuer wer to be presented, and by

offered vnto the Court

them examined, before they wer

course formerly wholy omitted.

He

appointed, also, two

petty juries (wheras, in former times, ther neuer was but

one) to be sworne
;

the one for the

;

triall

of causes crimiuall,

and pleas of the crowne

the other for the decysion of

actions of dept, trespasse, account,

sies

and the

like controuer-

between partie and

(the sett daye), after a

June sermon in the framed churche, the

partie.

Vpon

the sixth of

Gouernour, attended with

all

the counsell and baylies, with

his ordinary garde of 12 halberds, resorted to the sessions

house

(a place

very conueniently fitted for that seruice),

first

wher himselfe
rally
called,
:

takeing his place alone, after three

proclamations or oyeres, the counsell and balies are seue-

and tooke

their

seates on
is

each side of him

;

accordingly

then the grand jury

empanelled

the which

done, and sylence enioyned by the crier, the Gouernour

himselfe sittinge as judge (this being the
first

time that

euer Gouernour was

knowen

to sitt so here, both Captaine

Tucker and Kendall allwaies deputeiuge others

part), with his

to act that
;

owne mouth,

lie

gaue them their charge


OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
the wliichj in respect of the noueltie of
it

177
here (hauing, by

the tneanes of some freinds, procured a coppy therof)^ I

thought
" This

fitt

also to insert,

and was verbatim, as followeth

all

is

the second time (as you

knowe) of
you, which

my
is

assize or generall gayle deliuery

among

holdinge of an an action tend-

inge to the glory of God: obedience and loyaltie to our Souerainge Lord the King: and to the peace and tranquillitie of our selues. Breifly,
for the vpholdinge of justice, for the rooteinge out of vice,

and rendnoe sober

ringe of

all

men

their due.

Nowe,
is

ther

is

noe man, at

least

man, but

will confesse that it

one of the fayrest happinesses in this

vnder the subiection of good lawes. How much cause haue we, therfore, to blesse and prayse God, that being thus far remoued and planted from our natiue soyle, He hath not only brought us to a good and happy place, floweing with milck and hony; a place wherin, certainely, we cannot want any good and necessary being (prouided we be but industrious to gett it, and prouident to keepe it), but also hath vouchsafed us the meanes and libertie to liue vnder the conlawes inuented and estaduction and guidance of our owne lawes
woi*ld, to liue
;

by our owne auncestors such lawes as are, in themselues, euery waye excellent and such as hauing bin borne and bred vnder, we haue noe pretence nor excuse left us, either of ignorence, or mislike. For mine owne part, I haue euer told you, and I hope to make it good vnto you, that I am resolued, by all possible endeauours, to reduce all courses of justice, and to passe all decissions and determinations by that square; and at the present, in this perticuler of an assize, I haue, as you see, empannelled and sworne (accordinge to the laudable custome of Engblished
; ;

land) a grand jury, which, hetherto,

(I hope) of integritie

you haue not and they are men and judgement, such as both vnderstand themsuch as kuoweiuge the selues and the seruice they are employed in bond and high nature of an oath, and makeinge a conscience of it, will not be leade, either by partialitie on the one side, or malice on the other, to committ the least action which may burthen their consciences,
;
;

transgresse against justice, or disturbe the weUfare of this plantation,

and you, my masters of this euquest, you are to take due notice of the value and eminence of the place you hold. In this important action, you are the eye of the action for you are to looke out and discouer aU such thinges as you shall discerne necessary and becomeinge the knowledge of it. You are also the ears of it, by giueinge ready admittance to the informations and iust complaincts of all such as find themselues distressed, and haue occasion to use your mediation and lastly, you are, in some sort, the tounge of it also, for you are freely to vtter, without all passion and affection, whatsoeuer is offered to your eye or eare, that may concerue the iiiaintenauce of justice, and tlie
;
:

178

THE HISTORYE OP THE BEEMUDAES

In vaine
sitt

rerlresse of abuses.

I here to iudge

and decide
;

sucli

con-

trouersies as are

bred and growne dayly amongst you

to

reward the

good, and punish the badd, vnlesse yon^ shall present and manifest
to

them
the

my

knowledge, that so I

may knowe who

frame such as

are the good, and

who

badd.

You

are,

therfore, I saye, to

receiue all bills of endictment

fall

offred vuto you, as also to

within the compasse of

for the ears of

your owne knowledge, and findinge them

the Court, you are to deliver
that so they

fitt

and proper

them

in vnto the clearck of the assize,

may

receiue their censure.

But because you may the better

of,

vnderstand thoes perticulers which you are especially to take notice

I shall, as briefly as I can,
;

remember them vnto you at least such of them as more nearely and peculiarly belong and are pertinent to you of this plantation wherin you may well beare with me and mine oratory, if I fayle to obserue the quaint methodes and nice eloquence practised by common publick speakers or not so fully reckon vp all thinges unto you as you may perhaps expect. For my breedeinge hath bin rather in and since my comeinge hether among you, my action than wordes memory hath been putt to thinck of more matters than one. For your better apprehension, therfore, and my remembrance, I will deuide what I meane to speake vnto you at this time, into thes three heads, vnder
;

such thinges
r

as concerne

<
(.

The Person The Person The Person

of God. of the King. of our selues.

"By

such thinges as I ranck vnder the

first

head, I entend only those

is

that most directly belong or strike at the sacred god-head, which

vnitie of essence, in the trinitie of persons.

the

I saye most directly (for

otherwise

all

thinges whatsoeuer are to tend and aime at God's glory,

et

a lone principium, and I will adde

prime

omnia). And among thes, in the who not only, with Davids Foole, but being among their saye in their heartes ther is noe god companions, and in their roreinge brauerye dare pronounce as much
place, are athists, a generation
;

with their blasphemous mouthes, thinckinge to gaine a reputation of being more profound than others, by being more prophane than others
a viperous kind of broode they are, and by
as,

indeed, not worthy to treade

all meanes to be rooted out, vpon the face of the earth nor to
;

breathe any aire but the

fire of hell.

Blasphemours, likewise, of God's

holy name, by barberous oaths.

like, are to

Irreuerent speakers therof, and the

be considered vnder this head. Hereticks also, holdinge or maintaineinge any opinion contrary to the articles of our Christian

fayth, or against the doctrine of the sacred Trinitie, receiued

by the

Churche of England.
refuse to

And

here also

may

be rancked
;

all

such as shall

come

to churche, to heare deuine seruice

vnciuilly.

or being ther, shall

behaue themselues disorderly or

Such

also as interrupt the

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
minister and preacher of Gods
tion.

179
exercise of his func-

word dureinge the

Thoes that are common and ordinary prophanours and breakers

as fight or quarrell in
rest of this kind,

of the Sabaoth.

any churche or churche-yardes. Ail you of this inquest are mainely and principally to take notice of, and to present them, that by the hand of justice they may receiue condigne and deserued punishment. "As for such delinquents, as in their plotts and misdemeanours, strike most perticulerly at the sacred person of the King our Soueraigne Lord,
thes,

"Such

and the

they are suche as transgresse in facts of treason.

" Ther are two sortes of treason " High treason

cially
is

High Treason.
\
t

Petie Treason.
is

committed when an attempt

deuised and

made
espe-

against the vniuersall and generall maiestie of goverment,

and
It
is
it.

towards the person of the king, his queene, or

issue.

high

treason, also, to counterfeite the kings coyne, to

wash or
offred.

clipp

To
the
the

forge the kings hande, or

any

of his scales,

is

treason.

oathe of allegeance also, after

it

hath bin twice

To refuse To denye

kings supremacye, by mainteyneinge the Popes, or any other forraigne

princes authoritie, which, in his Maiesties dominions,
is

highe treason.

To

kill

tice,

any of his Maiesties and in the execution of

cheife officers, sittinge in the place of jushis place, is highe treason.

The rayseinge
of his deputies

of mutenies or rebellions, against his Maiestie, or

any

same nature. The deuiseinge only, and and dangerous to their Hues, is high treason. And such as are found guiltie in any of thes, by a jury of twelue men, are by the lawe sentenced to be drawen, hanged, and quartered. You of the inquest, therfore, you are diligently and carefully to make enquirye after all such, and to present them, that they maye receiue their iudgements accordingly and this, at mine hand, they shall be sure of. And these are facts of high treason some other perticulers ther are besides, of the same nature, which you may remember

and

cheife officers, is of the

plottinge of any attempts preiudiciall

of

committed when any bloudy and heinous practiced and perpetrated by an inferior vpon any such a one, being his superior, as hath a dominion, and a kind of maiestie and regalitie as it wer, in ruleinge ouer the sayd partie. As for a child to murther his parent a seruant to kill his master, or mistris a wife to murther her husband. It is likewise petie treason for
it is

your selues. " As for petie treason,

offence of willful! murther

is

man out-lawed of felony to breake prison, and therby sett at libertie any one emprisoned for treason and in case of pyracye, a straunger, being captaine of an English shyp, wher in also wer certaine Englishmen, and they, together, robbed at sea this was adiudged f elonye in the straunger, and petye treason in the English, who wer drawen and
; ;

k2

180
hanged.

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

You may
The

apply the example of your

selues,

your

selues.

frigate that

was here

tliis last

and to some of sommer, before mine

who had bin, and nowe is a roucinge in thes partes, without any commission at all from any prince or state at her being, as I haue
arriuall,
;

heard, she colourably gaue a

is

Dutchman the

title of

her captaine

but

it

ynough knowen that an Englishman was her cheife commandour, and Englishmen her only strength; it was very vnaduisably and dangerously done to relieue such and had I bin here, as I am nowe, she should neuer haue followed her ill trade any longer. For my part, I knowe not how it can be answered by such as wer then in prime command, and would be loath to giue such aduantage to any against my selfe. As thus much touchinge petie treasons, the punishment wherof is to be drawen and hanged; and if they be women, burned aliue. The forfeiture is, that the king haue all his goodes; and for his lands, the king likewise is to haue them annum diem, et vastum, as the lawyers saye and the escheate ther of shall be to every Lord of his owne proper
well
;

fee.

"Now,
If

besides thes

two

sortes,

high treason and petye treason, the

lawyers mention a third kind, which they tearme misprision of treason.

any one,

therfore,

entent only, to wound, strike, or

presume to drawe his sword, although but with an kill any of the kings magistrates or

deputyes sittinge in the place of justice, or to strike a juror in the presence of any magistrate sittinge in iudgement, or to refuse any one so
offendinge, this
is

misprision of treason
is

as also for one

man
It
is

to strike
also very

another in any Court of Justice

another hath committed or

misprision of treason.

properly misprision either of treason or felony

is

when one knoweth

that

about to committ any treason or felonye,

though not conseutinge ther vnto, and yet will not nor doth not discouer the same to the magistrate. The punishment of misprision of treason is that the offendor forfeite to the king all his goodes and chattells for euer, and the proffitts of his lands dureinge his life, and also shall be
perpetually emprisonned.

And

thus farre of the high offences of treason,

petye treason, and misprision of treason, which, belonginge to the person of our Souerainge Lord the King in perticuler, strike as it wer directly
at his crowne and dignitye.

''As for thoes crimes committed against the person of one man towards
another, they are infinite as vice
is infinite.

I will only at the present

make mention

of such as I find of this

and touch the wellfare

" Of
tlies,

more neerely and peculierly to concerne plantation, of which you of the jury are

especially to enquire, that they

may be brought
is

out in their censures.

is to be held a murthcrour who takes away the life of any one vpon malice forethought; and yet stabbeinge another man, if he be killed therby, although it be sodainely done, and without malice forethought, is by a

the cheife and prime one

murther, and he

willfull

OE SUMMER ISLANDS.
late statute

181

made

willful!

murther

and

it

seemes that herein the statute

hath an eye to the basenesse of the action, as being generally the worck and act of a coward. The penalty of murther is hanginge. If you find

any

such, therfore,

you are bound

to present them, that they

may

fare

therafter.

" But because euery killinge of a

quarrell

man

is

not vpon malice praepensed,

If,

the lawe in that respect addmitts a distinction.

therfore, a soudaiue

and brawle

ariseth,

and

so one

man

Idlleth another,

without

all

former hatred or malice, in a sodaine heate of fury, this the law maketh
manslaughter, in which case the offendor
saueth his
life, if

is

allowed his booke, and

he can reade, by being burned in the hand.

is

But if an
kill

infant, one that

an ideott, or a luuatick person, chauuce to

man,

this

is

neither within the compasse of murther nor felony, for

it is

felonia quiajieri debet felUo animo,

of thes are capable of
it, it is

and

it is

to be thought that neither

in this case, therfore, accounted homicide.

fitt

Marry,
for
it

if is

a druncken

man

kiUeth one in his

of drinck, this

is

felony,

a voluntary ignorance in him, and by the lawes of some

it

countryes

hath bin heretofore doubly punished, as carryinge with

it

double sinne, drunckenuesse and bloud. " Another kind of killinge ther is, called homicide by misaduenture,
or chaunce-medly,
action,

and

this

is

when any

person, being in a lawfull

shooteinge to trie his muskett, and

kill a man, as if a man by the swerueinge of his hand the shott falleth wide of the entended marck, and striketh a man, and so killeth him. This is homicide by misaduenture, or chaunce-medly, and But if a man be doing of an vu-lawfull action, and in so of the like.

without any

euill entent,

chaunceth to

doeing therof chaunceth to

,

kill

man

ere he
if

is

aware, and not with any

entent, yet this

is

felonye at the least,

ther
are

not murther.

"Besides
deathes,
like, in

thes,

other distinguishinges in this, as casuall

by being killed with a beast, and the which case the cause of such casuall deathes is forfeited to the king and taken for a deodand, as it is called, because at first it was giuen to the Churche. Ther is likewise a homicide vpon necessitie, as when the justice of the lawe commandeth a man to be putt to death, or when a iudge pronounceth the sentence of death against an offender attainted by due coui-se of lawe, or when an inferiour person is enioyued to be the executioner of this sentence, that is to saye, the hangman and
fall of

by the

houses, or

this leaueth the

name and nature

of murt^ier or homicide,
is

and

is

tearmed

iustice, or rather

iudgement, which

the lawfull execution of iustice.

and sencelesse the nice custome which is taken up in the world, of such hateinge and abhorreinge of the hangman and publick executioner. In some places, as in Italy and Germany, the people will scarce so much as eate with him. In most places it is a very odious office. Here amongst us, I find that euery man flies from the
It
is,

therfore, straunge

182
office of

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

a whipjaer more than from the crime which causeth the whipI saye
it
is

pinge.

altogether vnreasonable, and a

mear conceited
this
office

foolerye this,

for

certainely, whosoeuer he be that hath

imposed vj^on him (and some one must haue it), if he be an honest man, he is neuer the lesse so, any way, for his office indeed, if it be inflicted
;

vjiou
it

him

for

some delinquencye and crime, he weares

and other

it

as a badge,

and

serues almost in the nature of a burneinge of the hand.

casuall

And thus much

and accidentall

of murthers, manslaughters, homecides,

deaths.

"

The next
is

to be rancked vnder thes are felonies and burglaries.

Felonie

a fraudulent takeing awaye of the goodes of other men, the

prize of the sayd goods

it

ammountinge the value

Burglary
is

of twelue pence, doing

committed when in the action of the felonye, the dore or wall of a house, although neuer so Aveake, is forced and broke open and thes two offences are by the lawe punished with death. But if the prize of the stolne goods ariseth not to the worth of twelue pence, this pilferinge is called petit larceny, the I^unishment wherof is whippeinge and the like, at the discretion of the
with an intent to steale them.
;

And truely, you of this great inquest, you are with all and diligence to looke about you in thes cases. Theeues and idle persons are the worst vermin that a plantation can haue they are farr worse than the ratts. How is it possible, thiuck you, that any honest man can preserue his goodes or life in any securitie and enioyement, especially in your weake palmitoe houses, vnlesse seuere and strict inquisition be made after thes disordered persons ? Neither is it in my power to procure any redresse of thes misdeamenors vnlesse you of the graund iury shall carefully looke out and present them. You also that are petie iurors in the trialls you passe vpon them, shewe yourselues both discret and conscionable of your oathes. Take heed, least either by fooleish pitty or partiall affection you suffer them to escape you by your strauuge and seucelesse acquittinge of them. I am sorry to find such a number of thes malefactors in my time, and to see so many prisoners at the barre. I graunt that this hard year hath bin an occasion of this encrease, and I belieue that many haue played the theeues to fill their bellyes besides, we haue had ouer many ill chosen and ill prouided newe people huddled vpon us this yeare. It behoufes you, therfore, so much the more to looke well vnto it, for I can assure you that if ther be discouered and perceiued i^euer so litle conniuancye and tolloration of them on your part, they will sodainly encrease with that violence vpon you, as it will proue ouer late to repent of your kiuduesse, or
magistrate.

care

rather indiscretion, not to saye viiconsciouablenesse, in not respectinge

the duty of your oathes.

For mine owue

in

part,

if

I shall discouer

any
that

such fooleish and dishonest haltinge tricks practised either

are iurors, or

by you

you that are to giue

your euidence against the

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
prisonners, I shall be compelled to take
;

183

up such courses as will distaste would haue you knowe that whilst I am here, 1 neither dare nor will eudure that iustice be baflfelled or betrayed among you. Take warneinge, therfore, you especially that haue bin robbed of your goods, and are. bound ouer to preferre your bills of enditement, take heede, I saye, that ther be noe shufliinge up vnderhand of matters of this nature; you
for I

for you are to knowe, that whosoeuer he be that shall receiue back
stolne goods,

any

though they be

his

owne, before he hath prosecuted against

the theefe that stole them, makes himseKe guiltye of the steeleiuge of
his

owne goods, and may be hanged for it. " One beastly vice I had almost forgott (and sorry I

am

to haue found

meane the foule and vnnaturall sinne of It is a most barberous and inhumane practice, and by all lawes punishable with all seueritie, and in the highest kind by noe meanes to be borne withall. If I shall find that any one dureinge my time is by sufficient profe found guiltie hereof, and that he be
so

much

cause of remembrance).
. .
. .

capable of due
It
is filthie

triall,

he shall be sure to feele the seueritye of the lawe.

and impious ynough but in the least manner to attempt or come nere it, and I shall find inflictions to make such a one smart for it, but the act and perpetration therof is altogether intoUorable. " Nowe, besides thes notorious delinquents, who by the lawe are the most part of them punishable with death, there be many other, the which howsoeuer of an inferior degree and lower ranck of ill, yet in a well-gouerned place are by noe meanes to scape scott free, or be wincked And amongst thes, the very worst of them all is periurye. Ferat. iured persons are thoes who whittingly and willingly falsifie their
oathes, therby either for fauour, affection, desire of gaine, or the like, to

owne base and vnworthy ends. Thes wretches and bane of and good order are by all meanes to be rooted out. We haue noe other waye nor meanes left us to discouer, decide, and iudge the causes of highest nature than by the oathes of men and all lawes haue entended that noe man who professeth God to be his Creator, Redeamour, and Sanctifiour, comeinge into the presence of this all-seeinge, aUmightye, and all-powerfull God, and before his deputye on earth, the magistrate and being by him enioyned to sweare to tell the truthe, the whole truthe, and noethinge but the truth, that such a one so called and so sweareinge will dare to proue such a wretch and presumptuous vilaine as to call Him that is the Father of Truth, nay, Truth itselfe, to wittnesse and auouch a knowen and determined falsshoode. It is a wonder
serue their

aU

societie

that God, in his iust iudgement, strikes not such a one with a thunderbolt instantly to heU.

lurors also which have taken their oathes (as you nowe) to iudge iustly, according to your consciences, and trye equally, without all respect and partialitie betweene partie and partie, after the
profe of their euidence, when, for any respect or commoditie, they shall

184<

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

doe otherwise, contrary to their owne consciences, what doe they but (as much as in them lies) endeuour to make euen God himselfe a Her. All
thes, therfore, are,

with

all

possible diligence, to be

made

after,

and

found out, that

so,

according to lawe, they

may be

seuerely punished,

and made examples to all men. " Oppressors, likewise, are euer found a dangerous kind of beasts, especially in a newe plantation as this is, and therfore, with all might and maiue, to be hunted out. Oppression (that you may rightly distinguish it) is a wroung or hard vsage, practised by one man vpon another, beyond lawe, conscience, and charitie as for example, when an incrochment is made vpon other mens landes or liuelihoodes or when one man taketh aduantage vpon the need and necessitie of his neighbour therby to gripe him as haueinge a commoditie which he may conueniently spare, and the other is in extreame want of, he either refuseth to sell it him, hopeinge still for a dearer markett and enhauncement of the prize or, if he doe sell it, after much importunitie and entreaty, he cutts his throate with the rate and in this nature are all enhanncers and engrossers of corne, especially in deare yeares, as this is one. Tradesmen also, who (by reason of the scarcetie of them in some places, and the necessitie of them), when they encroach vpon their poore neighbours, and make vse of their wants to make them paye vnreasonable rates and so to sett them (as they saye) vpon the tenters what are
:

they but extorters? as

withall, or

when smithes

shall refuse to

make hookes

to fish

any other the

like necessary toole, that the people

cannot

liue without, vnlesse they

be payed at their owne vnconscionable prizes

and pleasure; very same it

this is a biteinge vsury

is

and horrible oppression: and the

in all other tradesmen, practiseinge the like course.

if

Thes, therfore, and such as thes,

present, that they

you meet with them, you are to

maye be ordered

as justice requires.

" As for deceiuors and cony- catchers, who (I feare) are too rife among you they are, by you of the graund inquest, with care and diligence to be looked after and of so many kindes they are, as scarce to be sommed in a whole day. I will only, therfore, name some of them such are they who falssifie waights and measures; such are the practisers of cunninge and cousennage in any kind of commodities and merchandice. And amongst the rest may iustly and properly be comprehended the false makers up of tobacco, and such as vse base and dishonest tricks, to giue it a hansome shewe for a while (thes sawe-cers of tobacco), when they knowe too well that it wiU be rotten within one wecke after. It was a pitty and shame to see Avhat a deale of base stuff and rascally ware was made by you here, and sent into England the last sommer, in Caf)taine Kendall's yeare. You will call it cuff-tobacco, and it hath carryed that name with it into England and it was good yuough, you sayd, to be payed vnto Cuffe, the cape merchaud for the
; ;
;

'

OE SUMMER ISLANDS.
magazin.

185
I
of

But take you

heed, least

it

Cuffe your selues most.

am

affray'd it will proue a

meaues so to
it

vilifie

and abate the prize

your

best tobacco, aud to discreditt

in generall, as therby both your vnder-

For the time that you and ouer you, I shall assuredly take all the courses I can deuise and apprehende to redresse this encreaseinge disease, and to cure this wound. Looke vnto it, and let this be a fayre warneinge vnto you all whensoeuer and whersoeuer I shall hereafter find such bashawe and vnmerchandable stuffe, I will rather make bon-fires of it at your dores, than suffer it to be exported. And you of the inquest, you are to emi^loye your vttermost skills and knowledge to enforme against this abuse. It is a great part of your oathe, and I see not how you can cleare your selues from the foule taxe and imputation of periurye, nor be able to acquitt your selues if you neglect it.^ " It is your duty, also, to present and haue a vigilant eye ouer such vn-conscionable fellowes on the one side, and vnsatiable swine on the other, as either seU or buy their liquour at vnreasonable and vnmeasurable rates, and especially after such as mingle it with water, euen salt water. Dureing the being of the shyp the Garland here, this last
I

takers willbe discouraged, and your selues vndone.

am

to staye with

made their complaincts vnto me about this abuse; and I examined some of the most suspected marriners about it, but could not find any pregnant profe against them; generally, they affirmed that it was either done by your selues to vent it so againe, and to make it hold out measure or by some that you entrusted to bring it vnto you, who, tiplinge tlie one haKe of it by the waye, wer forced to make it up againe on that fashion. I cannot tell how to beleiue thes saylours onlye thus much I must needs saye, that I finde thes good liquours so deuillishly bewitchinge and powrefuU ouer many of you, that it proues stroung ynough to violate all the bonds of trust and freindshyp. I protest (be it how it will), could I finde out some of thes water-brewers, I would make them seuere examples to all the rest. I beleiue, verely, it hath bin one of the maine causes of the much distemper and sicknesse that we haue had amongst vs this shypinge time. It is yenough, and too much, that we so extreamely abuse our good liquours with ouerdrinckeinge, we need not add this kind of ouerbreweinge it also. I haue sott downe (as you knowe) certaine prizes and rates, the which, in the buyinge and sale of them, wer not to be transcended, because I would neither haue you abused by others, nor haue you abuse your selues but you haue found out a trimine trick of equiuocation, to frustrate mine
winter, diners
;
: :

This abuse was never eradicated, and contributed very greatly to

the loss of reputation and ruin of the plantation. It affords one of

illustrations of the short-sighted policy

many

which bolsters trade, by manu-

facturing frauds and deceptions.

; :

186
entention,

THE HISTOEYE OF THE BERMUDAES

and to cbeate your selues; which
it
is,

that by

waye

of bargaine

you

will
;

paye noe more, but, by waye of goodwill,

well vse
side

will giue as

much

againe

whilst you will,

it

will at leangth appears, that as

you ouer-bye your driuck, so on the other you will ouer and at last (as many of you doe already), looke as if you were halfe sodden, with scarce a ragg to hang on your backs. " Ther is another ill-fauored vice and custome rauiginge amongst you, which by aU meanes is to be suppressed and it is an itche of tounge, and a kind of base delight to depraue and slaunder the actions and good names one of another. By the Statute Lawe, this is punished with emprisonment and besides the partye wrounged maye haue his action of slaunder against the f oule-mouthed man and in some cases by a discreet and vnderstandeinge Jury, deepe dammages are allowed. Thes kindes of talkers are by the laweyers tearmed common barrettors. And if the deprauations extend to men of place and command, very seuere and sharpe punishments are inflicted and with good reason, for howsoeuer it is true, that wordes are but wind (as they saye), yet expeon the one
driuck both your witt and wealth
; :

rience tells that oft times they proue the fire-brands of all other

ills

for a verbis

ad verhara : it may be that some busie heades and factious discontents haue bin the breeders and sowers of this ill seed among you but let them take heed least at length it produce hempe, to make a rope to hang themselues. " And thus as breifly as I could I haue sommed up vnto you such disorders, offences, and crimes, as by you of the graund inquest are stricktly and in conscience, by vertue of your oathe, to be looked after and presented vnto this Court. Some others ther are which of your selues you may remember to your selues as the want of due cleareinge of the path:

wayes, the negligence vsed

by such

as are entrusted with your botes, a

and stupide negligence

and the carelessnesse be punished for botes, next fortification, are the most important, beneficiall, and vsefuU instruments that thes Hands can possibly haue, and therfore the more warely and diligently to be vsed and preserued. You are also to present
dangerous disease infectinge ouer
of you,
of such people is seuerely to
;

many

such as by their wreacklessness

shall suifer the ratts to encrease and growe stroung vpon them in their grounds, to the aunoyeance both of themselues and their neighbours as also the dammage and misrule that may arrise by the sufferinge of hoggs to goe lose, the carelessnesse of gatheringe in of corne in due time, aud of due houseing of it likewise. Breafly, whatsoeuer, you in your discretion shall find necessary, for the
;

good and wcllfare of this plantation, you are with all care and conscience to giue this Court knowledge therof, that so all thinges being ordered after justice and equitie, ther may ensue, by Gods blessinge, peace and
tranquillitie.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
" For

187

my

part, 1 shall require at

your hands, that you carefully and

conscionably discharge this your charge: take heed, therfore, of slightinge such dutyes as by oath you are bound to performe.
so discreet

I hope you are and honest, as that by your care and integritie shewen in the seruice, I shall find the meanes and opportunitie to settle many thinges for the good and wellfare of this litle Common-wealth and so to leaue them setled when I am to leaue you, as not easily to be shaken. In doeing wherof, as you shall giue great satisfaction to my selfe, so you shall performe an especiall part for the free passage of iustice here, without which it is not possible that any societie can long subsist for, vnlesse good men be cherished, the badd corrected, and the incorrigible cutt of, all things must needs come sodainely to confusion and ruine."
:

And

this

was the
;

effect of the charge,

dehuered in the

very same wordes

the which (as I haue sayd) I thought

properly and duely inserted into the body of this Historye,

as well in respect of the noueltie therof, in regard both of

substance and forme

and being giuen by the Gouernour

himselfe, which formerly neuer

was vsed

as that also

by
the

diuers touches therin,

may be vnderstoode and perceiued

condition of the people, for the most part, and the sick-

nesses that they are infected withall (I feare me) euen to

this day.

But
a

this charge

being thus ended, the gayle was called

for criminall causes

ouer, wherin

wer eighteene prisonners

number very extraordinary

(as

for this place, but

nowe

occa-

sioned by reason of the hard yeare, and the ill-supplied

newcomers

you heard in the charge), the which done, the Court brake up for that morneinge. Presently, after
dinner, the Gouernour returned to the bench, and so did

euery daye for two dayes after, and then finished the assizes,

wherin diuers and sundry actions of controuersie betweene

partie and partie wer ti-ied and decided some contempts and abuses in that nature censured to the whippeiug post
;

and

pillery;

others for petye pilferings, saued by their

in

booke and burned

the hand

two only of the most

heinous and notorious offenders wer condemned to die

whereof the one of them (vpon some especial considera-

188
tions)

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

was by the Gouernours precept repriued ; the other

hanged.

The daye
the able

after

was bestowed

in a generall muster,
;

and

all

men

exercised in armes

the which being

done, euery
rest of this

man was

dismissed to his owne home.

The

moneth of June, and the other that followed,

wer wholy
in

by the Gouernours command and direction, makeinge of botes, in mountinge and remoueinge of
spent,

ordinance, and in repayreinge and makeinge of carriages

at the

same time,

also,

he made diners
lost

trialls for

the re-

couery of some goods out of the

Warwick

(ther being

noe
of

possibilitie of

weighinge up any more of her ordinance,

all

vntill the

shyps carkasse be quite rotten, by reason they

them wer made fast to the sides of her, and cannot be come at), some butts of beare only (being boyant ware) wer not without some adoe gott out of her some of which, although they had layne almost six moneths vnder water
;

(beyond expectation), proued very good.

time, or not long after, writts
baylies, for the
St.

About the same wer sent downe to all the

generall assembly at

summoninge of the

Georges
of

and

for the choice of burgeoises against the

first

August (1620) followeinge, when it was to begin. Presently after, a messenger was sent from the serieant
two sayle wer seene of
to the

maior at Sommer-seate, to the Gouernour at the towne,

that

westward of that Hand,

Southewarde;

and that they stoode alongst the

side of the

who was
and

presently dispatched back againe, with

command

to the serieant maior to haue a continuall eye

to stande

vpon them,

vpon

his garde for feare of their landinge

vpon

that coast with shalopes.

The next

day, both of

them

are seene from the mount, one comeinge close

shore,

up by the
called the

and within a cables length of the rocks

breackers, the other keepeinge of a leauge more to seaward.

Whervpon

a warneinge peece was giuen from the foote of

the mount, and the shalope

manned and
or
six

sent out to dis-

couer them.

Within

fiuo

hours after word was

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

189

returned that one of tliem was the same Dutch frigate that

had bin formerly here with Powell ; the other a smale barck
of the west country of England, belongeiuge to a mer-

chant that was of the

Company

of the

Sommer Hands, and

The daye
fol-

by him purposely

sett out for thes

Hands.

loweinge, the both of them gatt in at the harbour of St.

Georges, and the English barck

before the towne
;

fell

close up,

and rode

as for the other, being poore

and ragged,
very well

she had noe mind to shewe herselfe, but kept at an anchor,

close

vnder Smithes Fort, only her captaine

(a

fashioned and well quallefied gentleman)

came ashore, and

to carine her

demanded
ther, the

leaue

and

libertie of the

Gouernour

which the Gouernour graunteing, and comfortinge

him for his badd voiage, she shortly departed for the NetherBut by the English barck, the Gouernour receiued lands.
diuers priuate letters from his freinds, that gaue
ticuler notice of the occurrents

him per-

and passages in England

by

her, also, he
;

was enformed of the approach of the Maga-

zin shyp

she was fraughted cheifly with passengers, and

the most of the well chosen labouringe boyes for apprentices,

for

which she came to a good markett

for her

she had,

besides, a smale magazin of goods, the most part

wherof
re-

was appointed

owners owne people, and the

mainder to be sold for tobacco.

But the Gouernour (although he was somewhat diuerted

by the comeinge

in of thes shyps)

was

at this time cheifly

taken vp in fittinge and disposeinge of bussinesse against

the meetinge and session of the generall assembly, which

nowe drew neere wherin, at the very first, he mett with many and materiall difficulties for, haueinge prepared certaine of the ancientest Ilanders, who wer best knowen, and
;

best entrusted by the people (the elder of the ministers

being a prime one among the

gett
all

rest),

he employed them to
assembly

the knowledge they could, what the maine pointes

at at the
;

wer that would be generally shott

by


190 THB HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES
for a certainetie bin assured that the cheife
drift of

whom, haueing
wer entended

aime and geuerall scope and

most of the

bills that

to be preferred,

would beate vpon the ena

largeing of themselues and their liberties, and the enfringe-

ing and curbeinge of their vndertakers in England;

course and endeauour which he well ynough

knewe would

proue as well
to

effectlesse as sencelesse,
it

worck the entent

and neuer be able was plotted for ; and besides, could

not but giue great discontentment to the Aduenturers. endeauoured, therefore, by

all

He

meanes

to diuert
it,

it,

and to

possesse the burgeoises with the vanitie of

possibilitie of

doeing any good that waye

and the imand this he did,

as

as well

by the meanes of those men aforesayd,

by

his

owne mouthe and person, all conference with many of them; to whom also, to the same end, he shewed the perticuler instruction that he had receiued from the Company in England, concerneinge the holdinge of this assembly,

which

ranne in this manner

"

We require you,

that as sone as you

maye

after your arriuall in the

Hands, you doe assemble your counsel! and as many of the ablest and
best vnderstandinge
as

men

in the Hands, both of the clergie

fitt,

and

laitie,

you and your

counsell shall thinck

wherin we wish you rather to

take too

many than

too fewe, both because euery

man will more willingly

;

obey lawes to which he hath yeilded his consent as likewise because you shall the better discouer such thinges as haue need of redresse by

many than by fewe

and aduise

and that in this assembly you deliberately consult and constitutions as shallbe thought fitt to be made for the good of the plantation, and for maintenance of religion, As also vpon what justice, order, peace, and vnitie among them. penalties you thinck fitt, the performances of each lawe be enioyned wherin we aduise you to be very moderate, allwayes so proportioninge the penaltye to the offence, that the greatnesse of the punishment doe
:

of such lawes

not encourage the delinquents to offend out of hope of pardon, as

falleth out

it

wher this rule of moderation is not obserued. And what in assembly shall, by the maior or better part, be agreed vpon, we would haue you distinctly to aduertize us of by the returne of the next shyp, that they may be ratcfied and confirmed by the authoritie of the Court here, is such manner as by his Maicstics Letters Patents is limmited and appointed, with such alterations, explanations, or amendments as to the

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
sayd Court
sliallbe

191

thought meet and conuenient.

And

this course of

and discreetest men in thoes Hands, to consult and.aduise with you and your counsell of such thinges as may conduce to the generall good of that plantation, and to the well gouerninge
assembUnge
of the grauest

and

we aduise you to hould at least once in euery yeare, your resolutions and determinations from time to time to aduertize vs, that they may be established and confirmed by order of our Courts here as a foresayd and in the meane time you shall not need to
of the people ther,
of
:

doubt to putt in exectutiou any such wholsome Orders or Constitutions Proas shall by the maior part in the sayd assemblies be agreed vpon. uided that the same be not repugnant to the lawes of England nor contrary to thes your present instructions, or to the standing lawes already

by us

established."

Haueing read tMs wer the leadinge

instruction, perticulerly directed for the

holdinge of the assembly, vnto some of the prime ones,

speritts of all the rest,

who
was

he especially and
it

punctually obserued vnto them that clause, wherin

enioyned that the Aduenturers wer to be distinctly aduertized of

what so euer was by the maior partye agreed vpon,

it

that so

might be

ratefied

and confirmed by the authoritie

of their Courts in
ties

England, in such manner as by his Maiestherin " first letters patents is limited and appointed
:

you maye see

(S'rs sayth he) that

patents, the vndertakers in

thoritie to giue us lawes
:

by his Maiesties letters England haue power and au-

as also that howsoeuer they haue

giuen us licence and libertie to propound here, and prouide

some peculier ones

for our

good and

wellfare,

by

this our

generall assembly, yet

they haue so restrained us, that

it

whatsoeuer we enact amongst our selues,

cannot, stand in force, vnlesse
it

shall not,

nor

be by them

ratefied

and

confirmed ther

so that whilst

you endeauour and practice

thus to aduantage your owne ends only, and to giue your

selues your full content,

and them noethinge but the consaue only discouer your minds and

trary

what doe you

wills,

els,

good

or rather

ill-wills,
it

towards them, by giueinge

them

to vnderstaude, as

wer, in plaine tearmes, that you

care not

how much

they be streightened, so you

may be


192
free,

; ;

THE HISTOETE OP THE BEEMUDAES.

and as you would haue

it

all

which they

shall

noe

soner heare, but with holdinge vp their hands only, and a

dash or two of a penne,

shall

wholy be annihilated (nay)

this course, that

perhaps be a cause that the quite contrary be concluded

and

this is all that

you can gett by

you so

generally affect.
this affayre

It is

mine aduise to you

and that the

therfore, that

be carryed in a better temper and with more

:

moderation and eauanimitie

benefitt

and

commodite of the Aduenturers may be so mixed and enter-

wouen

Avith
:

our owne, as they

may proue

impossible to be

seuei"ed

and

this course will certainely

be a meanes not

only to winne them to a ratefication of what

but to ioyne with

us-

also (euen

by our example)

we ennact here to cany

is

and
call

leuell all bussinesse

(I

and conclusions with an indifferent

the recipro-

hand, without which

doe assure you) such

bond betwixt you and them, ther cannot long continue

to either side/^

any hopefull subsistance

This speache seemed, euen at the instant, to gaine well

vpon them,
leaue to
fellowes,

so that desireinge the

it

Gouernour to giue them

to the rest of their

impart and make

knowen

which

in a while after they iointly returned this

answer, that they had well considered of what he had deliuered vnto them, and found
followed, as they
it

so

fitt

and necessary

to be

wholy resolued

to referre the
:

whole conbill

duction of this affayre to his guidance

and that noe

should be pi'eferred by any of them to the Assembly, but

what by him should

first

be scene and approued, the which

resolution gaue the Gouerno'jr

good content, as findinge

himselfe more than halfe through the

waye he was

to

make

by so

luck3^e a settinge out.

Ypon
generall

the

first

of

August (being the

prefixt day) the

at St. Georges, in

Assembly began, and was held

the

before I let you

tell

newe framed churche, fitted for that purpose. In which, knowe what was done, it is meet I should you how it was done. The forme and composition
:

therof was therfore as followeth

OE SUMMER ISLANDS.

193
counsell, the baylies

The persons wer, the gouernour, the

plurallitie of voice, a secretary, to

of the tribes, two burgeoises out of euery tribe, chosen

by

whom

all

the Bills pre-

sented, and by

him openly reade

in the House,

and a clearck

to recorde the Acts.

The order (appointed and prescribed by the Gouernours " The first daye (after a serdirection and command) was mon in the morneinge) the burgeoises, the secretary, and
:

the clearck tooke their oaths.

The

secretary

was openly

sworne by the Governour himselfe, whose oath was that he

should receiue
all

Bills

presented vnto him, or to be pre-

sented, and as opportunitie serued, distinctly,

and word

for

word, with an audible voice, to reade them publickly in the

Assembly

that he should dilligently obserue

and take

es-

peciall care that all Bills

wer openly reade three

seuerall

dayes before they wer putt to the question, and came to

be decided by
fully

plurallitie of voices

that he should heedall

and

faythfully take account of

such Bills as by

most voices should be passed and ennacted for lawes ; that he should conceale the secrets of the House, and neither
directly nor indii-ectly reueale or discouer

them

to

any per-

son whatsoeuer not being a member of the Assembly, all which he should duely and truely performe and keepe to
his vttermost abilitie, so helpe

him God/'

The

secretary, being

sworne himselfe, he gaue the oathe

:

to the clearck,

which conteyned
such

''

That he should

dili-

gently, exactly, truely, and faythfully, as nere as possible

he could, engrosse

all

Bills as

should be deliuered vnto

him

to that entent

by the

secretary.

He

should assist and

ayde him, the sayd

secretar}'-, in all

such employements and

affayres as (belonginge to the present

Assembly) he should
should not reueale

haue occasion to use his seruice.

He

any bussinesse or affayre handled or determined by the Assembly, being within his heareinge or knowledge. Thes

two being sworne, the

secretai*y

gaue the oathe to

o

all

the

194

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

burgoisses, whicli was, that being to be

members
that

of that

generall Assembly, they should sweare to vse and employe

their best endeauours as a furtherance therto
;

all

such

propositions as by

them

or their

meanes should be offered

that

vnto the consideration and discussinge therof should especially

be entended and leuelled at a publick wellfare

they should not be leade by any partiall affection, or respect

of priuate gaine or interest, to oppose or hinder the establisheinge or ennactinge of any lawe aimeinge at the refor-

mation of any disorder and abuse

as they should practice

that in

all

such actions

and contriue dureinge the whole

in

time of their assistance in that seruice, they shoulde striue

to discharge a

good conscience

all

equitie

and

integritie

that they should

by

all

meanes conceale the

secretts of the

House, and not impart nor discouer, either by word, writteinge, or any other meane, directly or indirectly, to

any one

not being of the present Assembly, the passage or carriage

of any affayre or bussinesse that should be treated of and

disputed dureing the time of the whole sittinge and continuance of the sayde Assembly.
therof, they should

All this, and euery part

promise and sweare to keepe and perabilitie, so

form e to their vttermost power and

help them God."

called ouer

The whole Assembly being thus sworne, wer

by the
came.
secretary,

and so tooke their places in the House, the

counsell sittinge next the Gouernour, and the rest as they

All of

them being

seated,

and in

quiett, the

Gouer-

nour declared the cause and benefitt of the Assembly, and

the duty and due aime euerye particuler
to carry
tions

member

therof was

and bring with him, together with some instruc:

and aduises to that end, in thes wordes followeinge

we

" Thancks be to God, that

are thus mett, to so good an end as the

inakeinge and ennactinge of good and holsome lawes

blessed effect will manifest that this course

into the hearts of the vndertakers in

and I hope the was inspired from heaueu England, to propound and offer it
;

vnto

us,

for the

for the singuler good and wellfare of this plantation. As forme and regularitie to be obserued herein, you haue heard it

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
read vnto you euen nowe by the Secretary
skilled in it
; :

195

and I hope you are well

end I gaue coppies therof vnto the baylies at Concerneinge the scope and aime that we are to bring the last Assizes. with us hether, I shall (God willinge) briefly deliuer somewhat vnto you at this time: and hereof, the principall and maine part is, the Glory
for to that

and resolue of all such thinges in geneand beate downe the contrary, which The second aime we ought to haue is the is sinne and prophanenesse. maintenance of our fayth, obedience, and alleigeance to our Soueraigne the Kinge and therfore are to prouide against all such coiu-ses and
of

God wherein we
:

are to ponder

rail,

as

may promote

true religion

due either vnto his Maiesties owne by his authoiitie are placed ouer vs. In perticuler, we are to take heed and to scourge, if need be, that dangerous opinion (which hath too ouerboldly been wispered and nourished among you) of choseing and electinge your owne Gouernour here. Thirdly, it is our dutyes, and will proue our wisdome, to conclude vpon some such courses as may best secure the vndertakers in England from many abuses and wrongs, which (I must tell you plainely) are by many planters offred vnto them. It is therfore an vn-wary and vn-wise affection, that some manifest, while they striue to haue all thinges to be carried in this Assembly to the gripeinge of the aduenturers and profiitt (as they fallsly
actions as

may

lessen the respect

person, or

any such

as

thinck) of themselues

ther

is

noe thinge, I can assure you, to be gotten

that

waye

it

serues only to discouer your selues vnto them, to your

:

owne disaduantage

for

you must knowe that

it

it is

but in vaine to enact

be confirmed by them ther. We are to be honest, therfore, and discreat, and soe to mixe our owne good and proffitt, and theirs together, as may make it inseperable, by being
or conclude any thinge here, vnlesse
fully receiued

by both

sides

and

this

you

will find to

be the true way,

I

for the firmeing of this plantation.

Fourthly,

we

are to endeauour and

aime at the good and benefitt of our selues in

perticuler.

meane

at

the generall good and wellfare of the inhabitants of thes Hands wherin

we

liue

and

herein, in the first place,

we
:

are to prouide against the

attempts of

by secureinge our harbours, and all and this is done by sufficient places of accesse by botes or shypinge fortification, and well manninge of them, as also by makeing of our
all

forraigne enemies,

selues in generall to vnderstand

how

to defend ourselues, that

is

to saye,

to be soldiers

otherwise, I see not with

what comfort we can plant

tobacco, and take paines to

we

prouide to keepe

ried

man

that

make it good (as we ought to doe), vnlesse when we haue it. Me thincks, that euery marhath a childe borne to him here should (if it wer but for
it
:

be ready to keepe it a freeman and ther is noe earthly meanes to doe it better than by this. It may be, some of you conceiue and flatter your selues that all thinges this waye are well ynough already, and that ther needs noe more to be done then ther is. It is a deceitf all
his childs sake)

o2

196

THE niSTORYE OF THE BEKMUDAES

;

and dangerous apprehension this and you doe noe lesse than betraye yonrselues and your owne safetye by it. You heare by this barke that is uewely come in vuto us from England, of the rumours and likelyhoode of great warres in Christian-doome. If it should so fall out that any soudaine breach happen betweene England and Spaine (and who knowes how sone this may be), ther is not any place that it will breake out vpon soner than vpon this. The pyrates, likewise, haue a longinge eye after thes Hands, and knowe well how behoufefull they would be for them let us, therfore, so prouide for our selues, that come an eneraye when he will, and be what he will, we may be able to giue him a braue And thes are the foure maine pointes and aimes that we Wellcome. are to respect and looke after in this action we are nowe to enter vpon. Nowe, the waye and meaue to be prepared for them is, by takeing due notice, euery one of us, that we come not hether for our selues only, and to serue our owne turnes, or any mans els in perticuler, but to serue and regard the publick. We are, therfore, to riddle our selues from all
;

base desires of gaine

at least, as to cause

we

are to despice all priuate interests, thus farre

generall.

them to giue place to the

to be burgeoses here

It

may

well be

that some

men chosen

may find some

bills

preferred

into this Assembly that

theirs in perticuler.
If

some gettinge and in-come of them yet remember their oathes let them not shame themselues, and the place they hold here, by doeing the contrary. If, in their owne consciences, they find that hetherto they haue done iniurye to a common good, let them not augment it by obstistrike at
so, let

may

they doe

for in this case, I nacye. It is in vaine to striue against the streame hope they shall allwayes find the currant to runne against them. I graunt that ther is a freedome of speach and opinion, with modestie, to
;

be held by euery

man

here.

It is laufull

and expedient

also,

that

all

men

should deliuer their censures and judgements vpon any bill whatso-

euer, as their discretion shall induce,

yet I hope ther

is

and their opinion carry tliem but nee man here amongst us so wedded to his owne con;

and delight in opposition, much lesse to thinck it a a wiseman by holdinge straunge and extrauagant opinions to be singuler on this fashion may be a meanes indeed to make him a noted man but such a noted one, as
ceites as to affect

waye and course

to obteyne the repute of

:

for

my

part, I should be full loath to be.

It is after that fashion as if

all to

one of you should walke through Cheapeside at noone day,

sure to be looked
at,

be be-

painted and stuck with feathers like an Americane, wher he

may be

but laught at

it

behoufes us therfore to haue our

iudgements

rectified in this point as well as in all others,

:

and the meanes

thervnto are principally three

"The first is, by comeing hether, without all preiudicatiou. We must bring equall niindes with us that is to saye, without haueinge our mindes so preoccupied and taken up before, as noe rtioine is left for
;

"

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
justice

197
and diligent eare any

ami

right.

Secondly,

we

are to giue attention

to suche reasons as
bill

we

shall heare deliuered, either for or against

Thirdly, we must ingenuously and quiettly submitt whatsoeuer. our judgements and suffer our opinions to be ruled, swayed, and ledd

by the
our

truth, force,

and reason

of thoes reasons,

and

so accordingly giue

votes.

And

certainely thes are the true wayes, this the only clue to

of selfe-loue.

conduct us out of the pitt of passion, darcknesse of error, and laberii.'the Let us beseach God to inspire us with peaceable speritts,
desires as

become honest, loyall, and wise men, and the formeinge of this hopef ull and forward plantation. We ought to knowe that somewhat of worthe and value is expected from this action, and from us the actors in it; and this, bothe by the Company in England and the inhabitants here. Let us make it, therfore, our master peece, and not thincke the time long that we bestowe on this seruice. Deuines saye that in point of religion ther is noe standeinge at a staye, but that men goe either forward or backward, and surely euen in this ciuill affayre I maye well saye thus much,
and such thoughts and
such as

may be

for his glory,

that our condition and estate here cannot but hereby either be bettred

Let us therfore It is our parte to.prouide for the best. take heed, least by peruerse obstinacye and foolish willfuUnesse, we But, let cause that to prone a poyson, which was entended a medicine.
or empayred.

us foUowe and embrace that excellent counsell of the wisest king that

euer the world had, or shall haue, the which he deliuered thus:

" 'Be not ouermuch just, nor make thy selfe ouerwise. " Wherfore shouldst thou be desolate? " Be not wicked ouer-much neither be thou fooleish.
'
'

Why shouldst

thou perish not in thy time ? " 'It is good that thou laye hold on

this,

yet withdi-awe not thyne

shall

hand from that

both.'

for he that feareth

God

come

forth of

them

This speacli being tlms

tliat

fiuislied, tlie

Assembly rose

for

day

(for tliey satt

only in the morneinges), the aftereither in

noones

being

bestowed

consultation with the

Gouernour

in his house, or

vpon some perticuler committees

to frame bussinesse against the next daye.

At
reade

the next meetinge of the Assembly, the seci-etary

all

such Bills as wer propounded, the which done,

for
it

whosoeuer would rose up and spake either

it,

or against that en-

in

which action

this order

was obserued.
it

He

tended to speake, stoode up (vnlesse

bareheaded, wherby
it

wer the Gouernour),

was discerned that he had a meane-

198

THE HISTOKTE OP THE BERMUDAES

If

ingo to speake.

more stoode vp than one

first,

at once,

he

that was iudged to arise

was

first

heard,

Euery man
to be heard

was

to direct his speach to the secretary,

and

without interruption.

He

that

had once spoken

to a Bill,

though he wer presently answered and confuted, might not replye that day, so that none might speake twise to one and
the same Bill in one daye
;

and

this

was

to auoide

ouer-much

and tedeous disputes, and tautologies, and losse of time that waye. In speakeinge against any mans speach the partie
spoken against was not personally to be named, to shunne therby heates of contention, and the giueinge of distates one
to another.

Noe

reuileinge nor nipinge speaches

wer

to

be vsed vpon any occasion whatsoeuer. All Bills wer to to be reade three seuerall dayes once, and but once before
they came to be consiugned and concluded of by voices,

meane time they might be aduisedly examined, and euery man haue space to deliberate, and so to accept or reiect them when they came to be put to the question. After a Bill was read three seuerall dayes, and sufficiently disputed vpon, the secretary was to demand whether it
that so in the

should be putt to voices or noe, the which being graunted,

the sayd secretary was to hold up the Bill in his hand and
to saye, ''All
let

you that
soe
;

will

haue

this Bill to passe for a la we

them saye
if

as

many

as will not let

them saye the

contrary'^;

the then crye affirmatiuely yea, wer found ap-

parently greater than the negatiue noe, the Bill was passed
for a lawe, if on the contrary,
it

was dashed.

If

it

proued

doubtfull which crye was the greater, the secretary

was to

saye thus:
feete
;

"As many

as allowe the Bill, stand up on your

it sitt still";

you that refuse

and then bothe the numit.

bers being counted, the most carried

fashion, all

And,

in

this

the Bills wer decided dureinge the whole session

of the Assembly.

Vpon

the last daye,

all

the Acts that wer

passed wer reade, the which being done, the Gouernour dis-

missed and brake up the Assembly with a short speach, ac-

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

199

cordinge as the former passages of bussinesse had giuen him

occasion.

And
seuerall

this order

and forme was punctually obserued dure-

ing the whole time of the Session, dureing the which fifteene

Acts wer, with a very great and generall vnanimitie,

;

agreed vpon and enacted

breife
shall

the

titles

wherof only with some

(for breuitie sake),

annexed reasons occasioninge them

be inserted in this history, referringe the reader for a

large

vewe
all

(if

he be so minded) to the bookes of statutes

for the inform-

and the publick records, kept in the Hands

ation of
I.

men

that are to Hue vnder their subiection.^

sale,

The

first

wherof was an Act against the vniust

and

lettinge out of apprentices

and other seruants, the

which especially respected the rightinge of the vndertakers

in England,
it

being obserued that diuers inhabitants here

trust,

haueinge committed vnto their

in England, certaine seruants

by

their vndertakers

and apprentices to be placed

and

settled

vpon

their shares, the one halfe of

whose labours
vse and

wer

to

redound to the benefit of the vndertaker, the other to

the planter ; the sayd planters

practice
to
let

made
the

it

common

out to

hire

sayd apprentices vnto

sale of their

straungers, and

many times

to

make

whole

time for some certaine prize, without the knowledge, and

contrary to the intention, of the vndertaker, wherby
it

was

conceiued that
taker, as well
hire
out,

dammage might ensue

for the

to the sayd vnderhalfe of the

let

by a secret concealement of that

which was to be receiued

sayd seruant so

and which ought to belong vnto the vndertaker (the

as also

bayleife of the tribe, in that case, being not able to discouer

the deceite)

by a lower emprouement of

his labour

than otherwise might be for the remedye and redresse of

the sayd wroung and abuse, this Act and statute law was
enacted.
II.

The second concerned the disposeinge

*

of aged, diseased,

The Acts

are given at large in the Memorials of Bermuda.

200

THE HISTOEYE OF THE BERMUDAES

and impotent persons. For it being considered that by the vnheedefuU and carelesse choice of some vndertakers in England (who, this waye, caught at all they mett) ther had

by some

late importations, diners

such bin throwne in and

still

forced vpon the colonye; and more wer

to

be euery day

expected, not only to hindrance of thoes that so tooke them

up, but to the great disturbance of orderly

Gouerment and
by waye of

the generall slackeinge,

this

if
;

not chokeinge of the grouth of

it

newe hopefull plant

was thought

fitt,

causeinge and procureinge, for the future, a greater respect

in their choice,

and to deliuer the plantation from so vn;

timely a burthen

that

all

such persons so sent ouer should

be presently shipped back againe, and that at the only charge of him that sent him, or els to be maintained here

vpon the sayd vndertakers

freed from the paimeut of
III.

land,

and in the interim

to

be

all

supplies.

The

third

Act was

for the necessary

mainteininge of

the Kings-Castle,

The importancye
vnfitt,

of the preseruatiou
it

and makeinge good of which place, being duely weighed,

was found altogether

to leaue the

and a straunge improuidence,

gard therof, and of three twentye peeces of good

ordinance, vnto the care and

mannagement

of one poore halfit

blind gunner and his wife, as in former times

had bin
sufficient

whervpon

it

was ennacted that twelue able and

for

men

should be continually resident ther, in the nature of a

;

garrison
thirtie

and that

their

foode and

entertainement

thousand eares of corne should yearely be raysed,

is

and one thousand waight of tobacco, the which

present executed
;

at the

and the captaine of the

castle,

together

with his famely,

commanded by

the Gouernour, to be con-

tinually in person ther, over

IV.

and aboue the said number.

The

fourth prouided against the

triers of

makeinge of rotten
bashawe
is

and vnmerchantable tobacco; and vnsendible ware,

tobacco being yearely

all

to be sworne in euery tribe for the discouery of

all

which by the sayd statute

en-

ioyned to be burned at the owners dore.

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
V.

201

The

fifth

enioyned the erection and fraraeinge of cer-

taine publick bridges^

this

and the maintenance of them.

for foote-conueyeance

And
and

was found necessary^ as well

vnion of the people one with another for their publick and
priuate occasions^ as for the better answeringe of any alarme,

and the conuenyance of the women,

children,

and impotent
if

persons vnto the fortes and places of saue-garde,

any

botes and shalopes should land vpon them in the mayne.

VI.

The

sixth statute

was

for a continuall supply of resi-

dent corne in the fortes.

exacted and receiued,

The which, haueing formerly bin but wholy exhausted and spent in
was

Captaine

Kendalls

disorderly yeare,

nowe againe
by an Act
all

thought

fit

to be reuiued (without intermission)

of a generall assent (which might stop the

mouthes of

grudgers), that therby

all

it

might serue as a legicy store

for

publick occasions and necessities, and the fortes neuer

suffered to be vnfurnished with

some necessary prouisions

fixed dayes in euery yeare
;

to entertaine all comers, either for defence or offence.

VII.

The seuenth appointed two

for the holdinge of the generall assize

the which was done

by Act of Parliament, vpon due and considerate choyce of

the most proper and easefull times and seasons, that so,
therby, publick notice and answerable preparation might

be had of them, and noe mutations moued nor allowed.

The eighth commanded the makeinge of highe wayes, and this was for the redresse of a common practice, in making an ordinary passage ouer mens corne and peeces of tobacco, to their much dammage and spoyle, and also for the better anVIII.

and prohibited the goeing ouer mens ground

swereinge of

all

soudaine alarmes, and the drawinge of the

people together, vpon any occasion, to any place of rendeuous, and especially to the King's-Castle.
IX.

The ninthe was

for the preseruatiou of the

breede of

tortoyses, the which being an

excellent and daintye fish,

wer, by the liquorousnesse and wastefuUuesse of

many

per-

202

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

sons, killed ouer

young and scared awaye, the

wliich this

lawe prouided against.

The tenth punished vagabonds, and prohibited the entertaininge of other mens seruants.
X.
XI.

The eleuenth enioyned the

settinge of a due quantitie

of corne for euery famelie, and a collection and keepeinge of a publick store in euery tribe, the which was looked into,

vpon notice taken of the improuidence

the keepeing of that
XII.
litle

genei^ally crept in
it,

amongst the inhabitants, both in the prouideinge for

they had.

and

The twelfth Act respected the care of the corne being

sett,

and, therfore,

commanded

the keepeing in of poultry

vntill the

dureinge certaine weekes, and

past their damnifieinge,

corne was growen

which formerly had bin much

preiudiced by them

and many poore men, which had noe

oppressed by their neighbours this

poultry, extreamely

waye, who had more than ynough of them. XIII. The thirtenth was for the maintenance of
fences,

sufficient

and against the

it

fellinge

downe

of

marched
ill

trees

appointed for boundes;

being conceiued an

iucrochment,

which diners persons

(either out of carelessnesse, or

vncon-

scionablenesse, or both) began more and more to practice to the danger of breedinge many confusions and much contention, and, therfore,

by

this Act,

prouided against.

XIV. The fourtenth graunted a leuye of one thousand

pounds of tobacco towards the payments of publick worcks

for the yeare 1620.

XV.

The

fiftenth

was bestowed

in enioyneinge

an acknow-

ledgement and acception of resident Gouernours, and for

their warrantice, in case
it

should

fall

out that the date of

their commissions be expired before the arriuall here of a

legitimate successor from England, the which was apprehended very necessary and of great importancye, bothe for the auoideinge of the dangerous confusions that an anarchye, by a vacancye of gouerment, might briug vpon

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
the whole plantation
;

203
all

as also for the cuttinge of of

coulours and pretences of vnmeet and presumptious elecIn the same Act, likewise, a certions among themselues.
tain clause

was inserted (by waye of entreaty

to the

Aduen-

turers), that the future Gouernours, in succession, might,

for a

moneth or two before

their receipt of the

so,

helme of

Gouerment, remaine here as priuate men, and

fashion and

by looke-

inge on and obserueing (dureinge that time) the settled

manner of the carriage

(as their
it

of the publick bussinesse,

they might

iudgements should lead them) either

in their after courses
;

approue or refuse

and

this

was

humbly

offered vnto the determination

;

and consent of the

their commissions,

Honorable Company

that so, from thence forward, an anall

swerable date might be obserued in

by them

to

be graunted vnto the sayd future Gouernours.

Prouided alwayes, that the quondam Gouernour remained

and stayed the sayd time and tearme of two moneths

ilands; the which, if he did not, that then the sayd

in the

comfull

missions might, vpon the instant of his departure, be of

power and

authoritie.

And

thes wer the contents of the fifteene Acts conferred

and ennacted dureinge the Session of this generall Assembly,

the which, being digested (as
it is sayd by the Gouernours owne hand) into a conuenient methode, wer sent into England by the magazin shyp, the Joseph, an. dom. 1620, ther to receiue their confirmation and ratification by the Company in their courts ther, in such manner as, by His Maiesties letters patents, is limited and appointed ; and, in the meane time (as he was warranted by his instruction), the Gouernour

did cause the sayd Acts to be publickly reade in

all

churches,

and so

to stand in full force, vntill he heard the contrary

from England.^
3

To

appreciate the judgment, firmness, and caution evinced

tain Butler in the conduct of this General Assembly, the reader

by Capmust

204

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAKS

soner
is this

Noe

bussiness ouer, but the magazin sliyp

is

discouered vpon the coast, and the warneing peece giuen

from the mount to

nightj she

all

the fortes.

The same daye, towards

came

into the harbour of St. Georges, but in a

state,

very weake and sickly

haveinge cast ouer bord twenty

or thirtie of her people, and

account

some of them men of good and among the rest, a neare kinsman of the

GouernourSj being his sisters sonne.

the infection growen

And

so violent

was

among them,

that the most part of

the people and marriners wer either so sick, or so dismayed,

or both, as the master of her himselfe confessed to the

Gouernour, that

if

they had stayed aboard but one weeke

longer, he verely perswaded himselfe she could neuer haue

bin brought

in, for

want of hands.

Vpon

her wer shypped

their wiues,

and arriued diuers gentlemen of fashion and

soeuer, the most part,

but most of them veiy crazie with the voiage, wherof, how-

by the bounty of the

aire,

sone reco-

uered

yet some ther wer that died presently after they wer
it

ashore,

being certainely the nature and qualetie of the

place either to kill or cure quickly,

fected bodyes.

wher

it

meetes with in-

By

this

shyp also the Company sent a supply

ill

of ten persons for the geuerallitie, but so

chosen they

wer

(for

they had bin taken out of Newgate), that smale

it

hope of good was to be had of them, and

was

secretly

remember the

entire novelty of Colonial legislation at this time.

With

exception of the Virginia Assembly of 1619, the proceedings of which

had probably not reached Bermuda, as they were only ratified in London in April, this Assembly at St. George's is the first in our Colonial history. Its powers were ill-defined, principles of constitutional liberty were struggling into day, but not yet acknowledged by the Crown or readily granted by the Company, and the Burgesses were wholly inexperienced. Tliese difiiculties invest the first experiments of legislation, humble and minute as are the subjects of it, with an interest beyond their intrinsic
importance.
ceediiKjs

See

a paper by the writer in the Aixheologia, or the Pro-

of

the Society

of

Aiitiquaries, for 1879,

not printed when this

sheet passes through the press.

OR SUIIMEK ISLANDS.

205

muttered about
infection .^

tliat

they wer the occasion of the shyps

The Gouernour found himselfe some-what

this

distressed with

sickly

accident, being once

againe putt to the re;

leiueinge of great

numbers of thes sick people

and not
his

only so, but by reason of the continuall

employment of

botes in fetchinge them of the shyp, man;y of his

owne men^
also,

and especially thoes of and

his botes

gang, became infected

to

and for some weekes wer not able

doe him any seruice

truely, ther could noe' other iudgeraent or censure passe

this

vpon

infectious

disease than that

it

was the plaine

bin almost in
selfe to a

plauge, the purple marcks being plentifully discerned vpon

many

of them.

And
it
;

without doubt, had

it it

any other place,

would haue enlarged

dan-

gerous desolation

but the exceedinge excellent salubritie

of the ayre (than which I belieue the whole world hath not

a better) surmounted
in a

all

thes dangers and difficulties,

and

fewe weekes became such a conquerour as this dreadful!

infection

wholy ceased, and the former wonted health of the

fully

Hands was

recouered

for well

knowen

it is,

that dis-

eases (vnless meerely accidentall) are straungely and, in-

deed, wonderfully rare and

shypeinge times, when

thus recouered.

it is

vncommon here, except it be in many times thus brought in and

But, howsoeuer this could not passe with-

out disquiett, yet other occasions ther wer that came packt

up

in the generall letters

by
;

this

shyp which

far

more

dis-

contented the Gouernour

*

for the

Adventurers in England,
of Virginia, in their anxiety

The

Treasurer, Counsell, and

Company

in November 1619, to provide, as he had done the previous year, " one hundred children

to people that iilantation, addressed the

Lord Mayor

from the superfluous multitude to be transported

thither, there to

be

bound apprentices, upon very beneficial conditions"; and the city granted 500 for their passage and outfit. At the same time, by the king's order, one hundred convicts, from various prisons, were sent out also, and the Bermuda Company was prayed to provide for a portion of them. See E. D. Neill, History of the Virginia Company of London, p. 163.

206

THE HISTORTE OP THE BERMUDAES

haueinge receiued such a rotten shypfull of Captaine Kendalls yeares of tobacco as

would yeeld them

litle

or noething,

and withall haueinge aduertisement from the Gouernour of

the meane and weake condition that he found the Hands in
the point of fortification,

wherby they sawe

(I

it

likely that the

redresse therof (which was so vnauoidably necessary) would

proue a matter of charge, they became

saye) well nigh in

an vtter dispayre of the subsistance of

staple commoditie) they reede,

this plantation,

and

the rather because this drugge of tobacco, wheron

(as their

had

fixt their

hopes, like a rotten

came

into their

hands (not

to saye hearts)
it.

when they

especially

wer to be vpheld by

It was, therfore, the

general! crye and couclusiue apprehension

that

amongst them some newe commodities must be sodainely sett on

foote to serue in poore tobaccoes

roome

marry, to

tell

what

this should

be was (indeed) the mistery.

Captaine Tucker (who, by being a dilligent

courts,

Whervpon commer to the

became priuye

to

all

this),

catchinge hold of this

opportunitie

the very next court-daye after, proposed a

pi'etie proiect of

makeinge of suger, the which he offered

thes tearmes
:

vnto the

Company vpon

that himselfe in

person would goe that voiage, and carry with him, vpon his

owne purse and the purse

of his friends, a sufEcieucye of

men and

materialJs to erect

an injenio,
all

in

consideration

wherof he demanded the one halfe of

such suger as by

him should
full

so be made, tellinge

increase of the canes ther,

to

them wonders of the hopeand what a great quautitie of

This proposition was
to

ground he knew

be

fitt

for them.

at the first highly appi'oaed,

and in great likelyhoodo

be

generally swallowed, had

it

not come interlaced with some

odde prouisoes vpon the by, among the which one maine
extrauagant one was that himselfe and
absolutely freed from
all
all

his

might be
th-s

commands

of the Gouernour,

which

v^'as

held as well extreamely and vnreasonably ambi-

tious, as vtterly irreguler

and impossible

sortinge, indeed,

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
only to

207

make

that boast

good which he had not forborne

:

improuidently ynough by some such slight

to vent dureinge his rule here

that

as

this,

by him fastned vpon the

and

Aduenturers, he would

make

his returne to thes Hands,

dwellinge in his braue house at the ouerplus, ther braue the

Gouernour, who so euer he wer, to his

soeuer,

face.

But_,

how-

by reason of thes

distastes, this captaine

;

was not
shall see

accepted of for the suger vndertaker

yet went that bussi-

nesse on by other meanes and other hands, as

hereafter.

we

The

only point herein that especially disturbed

the Gouernour was that by reason therof, being stricktly enioyned, and the Kings

name vsed vnto him

to that pur-

pose, to employe and (in a manner) force the people (who

wer extreamely vnwillinge and backward vnto

litle

it,

and did
themnot only
farr

lesse than laugh out at the proiect) to betake

selues to a generall planteinge of suger-canes.

He

doubted that the Aduenturers would find themselues

shortned
(if

not quite deceiued) of their golden hopes this

waye, but also plainely found that he was of necessitie to

giue ouer and desist from
fortification, as
all

such entendments in matter of

he was

fully resolued to

haue prosecuted that

of,

winter,

and found the Hands

in

want

as being very de-

sirous to leaue

them

in sufficient case

and condition in that

kind before his leauing of them.

Another point
in the

in the generall letters that disgusted the

Gouernour was the fastnesse and constancye that he found

Company

to the non-diuident of tobacco here, for

haueinge at his comeing awaye receiued from them an order

of court, in thes wordes
:

" That to preuent wroung to the owTiers,

all

tobacco and other com-

modities -which wer to be diuided betweene the owners and tenants,

should be sent into England vndeuided, with a note vnder the Bayleyes

hand, what portion belonged to each person

iust diuision

accordinge whervnto a and distribution should be made, as the same should be

;

sold in^England, etc., at his arriuall"


208 THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES
difl&culties,
it,

he found so many inconueniences,

infinite discontent that

and

litle

lesse

tlian impossibilities in the effectinge of

together with the

he should generally giue vnto the

people by

it,

as he gladly

and greedely layde hold vpon an

from the exe-

excuse (luckely offered) of freeinge himselfe

cution therof for that yeare
;

and in the interim, writeinge

for the reuerseinge of

very earnestley to the

Company

and

employeinge the assistance of his ablest freinds to that purpose,

he was in good hope to

cleai'e

himselfe absolutely from

so odious a taske,

by thes

letters

when (contrary to his expectation) he finds a newe re-inforcement putt vpon him, enall

ioyneinge the strickt and exact prosecution therof by

meanes

possible.

Some
them

other perticulers ther wer in

them

also that liked

not, as the ouer-credulitie he perceiued

among most
all false

of them, in their receipt, naye, welcomeinge, of

and

groundlesse informations, the

ill

expression and bad co-

herence which he obserued in the very letters themselues,

as seemeing^e rather contriued with artificiall obscurities

and

incompatible iniunctions,

wherby he might

rest

confounded

and entrap t, than plaine and direct dealeinge

mation.

to giue infor-

But because you may the better iudge whether thes grounds of his discouragement and discontents wer truely and causefully taken or noe, and that withall you may
the more succinctly and perspicuously vnderstaod

howe he

behaued him-selfe in them, and in

what manner and fashion

he continued the passages and carriage of thes affayres, I haue thought it not amisse to dehuer vnto you' the true
coppies of the generall letters, together with his replye,

verbatim

and

this the rather also that the

garbe and forme

seeue in their
first

of the writeinge one vnto another

may be

natiue and true dressinges and trimme; and

(as the

occasion and ground of the replye) of the generall letters

written vnto the Gouernour, the
stile

wherof was


OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
209

; ;

To

the right

ivorshypfull, our very

good freind, Captaine

the

Nathaniell Butler^ Esquire, Gouernour of Hands.

Sommer

The contents
"
Sir,

of the letters as followeth

we

receiued your letters

by the Garland^ which arriued here

about the third of March, being glad to hear of your safe arriuall, with

your company, whose proceedeings we praye God to prosper. The first that we obserue in your letters is, that certaine Dutch and English vesvictualled out againe, for their seruices
;

we vnderstande by others, wer and proceedeings vpon the AVest Indies wherby we conceiue the Hands are the more vnfurnished with victualls for the inhabitants and thoes rouers ayded by you to thoes ill seruices, for which we are here accused and charged by the state to be accessory to Pyracye, whereof we saye noe more, till we come to speake of Powell and his consorts. We are sory for the losse of tlxQWarwick, and for the burneinge of the platforme in the Kings Castle, and thoes other disasters you mention, which we hope you will endeuour with all diligence to repayre. Your agreement with the Garland for threejDcnce fraught vpon tobacco we haue performed, and threepence more we sett vpon it, to defraye charges for the publick, as by the invoice vnder the husbands hand may appeare vnto you. Many necessary men you write for, as carpenters, smithes, gunners, etc., and many prouisions to be sent for the publick, the which for want of a publick store we cannot accomplish for, in truth, the whole returne being noethinge but a quantitie
sells fell

vpon your Hands

which, as

of very vile condidioned tobacco, neither well cured, nor well

made

vp,

noe

man would

consent for

all

the perswasions could be vsed in two

generall courtes, to yeeld aboue three pence for the publick charge

which three pence, and that other for fraught, many men esteeme to be more than their rotten tobacco is worthe, whereby, for a great part of it noethinge at all is payed, and so it remain es packt vp in ware-houses and sellers, wher for ought we see, the owners entend to let it lye, rather than giue six pence to fetch it out whereby you may iudge of our We knowe it was not abilitie and the planters of our iucouragement. your fault, as being done before you came thether, but we rest vpon your word and creditt that the next shall be better to make amends and for returne thereof we haue no we furnished and sett out this magazin shyp, in this calme time of the yeare, as your selfe desired, that she may be ther in such due time as to bring awaye the first and prime crop of tobacco, and to arriue with all here before winter shall approach ; as for their second crop, which we perceiue they putt altogether, it doth but spoyle and discreditt all, better to cast it awaye than send it. " We haue resolued here by an order of a great court to take in hand
;

210

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

a uewe course for the benefitt of that plantation, which we doe earnestly recommend to your dilligent care to see effectually performed, wherby the
people

may be withdrawue from their cxccssiue toyle and plantinge about tobacco, which brings vs neither proffitt nor reputation which is, that euery share of land, one acre at least of such ground as is fittinge,
;

be planted with suger-canes, and in like manner one acre at least be planted with vines. Heere are those who haue vndertaken to goe in hand to erect an injenio to grinde and boyle the canes into suger, and if need be to erect another or more injenioes in places more couuenient for the planters to bring their canes to grinde the worckmen to haue one-third part of the suger brought to such perfection as we haue agreed, and the other two-thirds to owners and planters. And for the vines, being once
;

their

growen to beare, the planters sliall haue sufficient instruction to make wine wholy for themselues and their owners. We vnderstand ther is good store of suger-canes in sundry places of the tribes, we praye you fayle not to take some course that, vpon reasonable tearmes, ther may be a distribution from them that haue plentie to thoes that want, wherby we may understande by the next, that all shall be furnished with more or lesse, and that they be all charged expressly to multiplye and encrease their beginninge of plants till all be complete, and also to keepe both them and their vines fenced and weeded from annoyance of cattell and vermine, and also from the force of violent windes that may shatter them in pieces. This to begin and effect, shall be your reputation and exceedinge creditt, not without recompence, for which wholy we relye

vpon you and leaue it to your charge. " Sundry complaints are here made

of the bayliefs,

by planters and

owners, as that they are not diligent in their places, especially as touch-

inge the tobacco, betwixt the masters and their seruauts, that therin they
for which, to satisfie the complainants,

doe not farther seruice than to take the thirtieth part, due to themselves it is agreed that the sayd bayliffs

shall relinquish the sayd thirtith part, their due,

and

shall

noe more exact

it

as

but in

all

other thinges shall doe their dutyes belongeinge to

all

their place.

We

haue here with

sent a magazin of goods, though

not so great as we would, yet accordinge to the meanes and smale encouragement sett out by a fewe priuate men, and with all a Cape-merchant, the bearer hereof we praye you, let him not want your assistance
;

to followe his commission giuen him, as well in sales as gettinge in debts

for this

and old accounts, as he

shall

haue cause to vse your helpe.

"

We

haue, for this once, accepted

and payed your

bill of

exchange

and we hope the last, president in that kind. " Diuers men write from thence that you want come, which by this we haue in some measure, as well for the publick as by perticuler men to their famelies supplied but it hath cast a great aspersion and discrcditt vpon our plantation, that, after such plenty ther as formerly hath bin
.22, being the first,
;

boasted

of,

ther should now,

by

their slouth

and negligence be a wast.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
" Diuers of the tribes haue written that
tribe a preacher, they will maintaine

211

one

for they hold it too

if we will send them for euery them at their charge, euery tribe, much for them and theirs to goe so far to

deuiue seruice when

tliree tribes are tied to

one congregation.

If that

be generally their opinion,

we desire

it

vnder the hands of the cheife of the

tribes and in what manner of competencye they will maintaine them, and we will endeauonr to satisfie their desires with as much expedition

as

we

can.
is

" Here
of

also complainct

made

of impositions layd

vpon planters

for

warrants, passes, and such

like,

which some

inferior substitutes

doe exact

them

we praye you

suppresse such incroachments, that ther be noe

cause of farther complaincts.

"We
"
that

doubt not but the decree of the Honorable Lords

is

ere this

time put into execution touchinge the ouerplus land to be deuided, wliich we would haue performed, accordinge to the lordshyps arbitrement.

We pray forgett nott to

doe right in this point of your instructions,

men complaiueinge of their seruants for ref useinge their seruices, and betakeinge themselves to other men, may be redressed and by name we
;

recommend vnto you the

uant to one Mr. Caswell,
plied

case cf one Nicholas Gabry,

sometime

ser-

who was
at

transported at his charge, and suptribe

;

by him, now

resident

Pembroke

this

man

is

here
de-

chalenged by Mr. Caswell, and to haue justice done him, which

sire

we

you may be performed, being the second time we haue written in And also one Koger Llwellin to be restored to Mr. Roberts, this case. whose seruant and apprentice he is testified to be. " Ther was a communion cup, with other furniture, sent as a guift to Pembroke tribe, we pray you returne certificate from your selfe and some cheife of that tribe, which may be here registered, to satisfie the
world that that tribe
is

possessed with

it.

by Captaine Argolls shyp and the other pinnace, let them be deliuered to the right honorable the Erie of Warwick, his ofiicers, or seruants, as his lordship himselfe shall direct, and
left ther

"All the negroes

the marriners of the treasorour sent home, they payeinge their fraught.

"John North and

and, as
desired
is

Nathaniell his brother, which haue bin long ther,

sayde, take great paines in fishinge

and other

labours, are

by

their freinds here, with great importuuitie, either to

be

re-

moued
labour.

to the tribes, or so disposed in the general!, that as they labour

for others so they

may

take some benefitt with them for

whom

they

his

is a note annexed from Mr, Daniell Tucker, subscribed with name, conteyneinge a perticuler of such thinges as he desireth may be rendi-ed vnto him, which he ther left behind, as belonginge and due vnto him, which the Company haue thought good should be recommended

" Here

vnto you, not doubtinge but you will cause him to be righted, that he may noe more importune nor complaine of iniustice. We cannot perti-

p2

212

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

mans
case

culerrize in our letters euery

and complainct, therfore we have

resolued that an order of Court hereafter and the coppy therof sent vnto

you, vnder the secretaryes hand by whomsoeuer shall signifie so vnto you, as if our letters did mention the same.

much

"

We

pray you

let

thoes of the generallitie employe themselues in

plan tinge of suger- canes and vines, as well as others, that

by

their in-

dustry therin they

may be mainteyned
made

hereafter.

" Complainct

is

that here to fore there hath bin an abuse of

shooteinge of the ordinance, wherof so much hurt hath ensued, and prodigall expence of powder in the Hands vpon euery slight and vaine
occasion to salute the comeinge, and goeinge, and landinge, and jolhtie of gouernours, captaines, and shyps, which custome and abuse his maiestie

hath here forbidden vpon the Thames at his comeinge and goeing from Greenwich and other places which are intimated vnto you, as an example to followe, which we doubt not but that in your wisdome and prouidence

you "

will.

We haue

sent

you a smale remembrance, which you

shall receiue

by

the master, viz., one rundlett of sack and two suger lofes. " The order of Court for all tobacco to be sent into England and

deuided here, hath bin considered

of,

and

is

agreed shallbe continued

and be

of force.
last

" The

thinge

we mention vnto you

it is

is

that

we

cheifly

recommend
lately re-

to be remembered, and

vpon occasion

of Powells being with you,

whom

your people

call
;

Captaine Powell, and by

this

whom we

you knowe hath his recourse by commission from the States, with other Dutch and English, to the West Indies, from whence they haue retired, and made their reudeuous at the Sommer Hands, wher bringinge suger, oyle, and other victualls gotten by trade or pillage, we knowe not whether, but being such thinges as please the people well, they willingly entertaine hun and such others with great applause. Against thes enterprizes and practises we haue here to fore giuen you speciall warneinge and directions in your instrucceiued letters from you
as
tions,

man

that

which we meruaile you doe not better obserue, nor see the danger ensue. And amongst others, that Mr. Lang, yom- preacher,^ should so applaud and seeke by his eloquent letters to winne vs to the likeinge and approueinge of thoes courses, sayeing we must by all meanes endeauor and seeke to weaken our enemies, and help to pull downe the members of Anti-Christ, with other such like reasons, the

may

common

obiections of our

Spaniarde.

modern theeues when they meane to robbe the Once againe we admonish you, and praye you that this

affectinge of such purchase

may

be layde

aside,

not alone for the vn-

lawfulbiesse of

it

before God, but hkewise for the danger

may hereby

The preacher recorded

to have arrived in the Sea Flower (ante,

p. 142).

He

is

not otherwise known.

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
ensue to us, by complainct of the Spanish that
in thes courses,

213
we
suffer

and abett you

wherby

his maiestie

may

rightly recall our patent for

it, but cheifly to your selues, by sufferinge such to have be familier with your entrance and land strength, as may sone consort with others like themselues to surprize your fortes on a soudaine, and to make thoes ilands theirs, which may proue a stroung fort for

abuseinge of
accesse, to

theeues and a greater plauge for christians than

is

Algier by the Turquish

out, it
it.

py rates, than which, if such a meicheife should so fall better they had neuer bin borne that are the causes of
yourselues, though carelesse securitie

had bin
assure

And

maye make you not to feare it, yet thoes pyrates abroad haue an aimeinge at it, and your owne people by knoweiug them too well, will yeeld to take their partes, when you shall
not be able to with stand
it
;

and the Spanish knoweinge the entercourse

it

of rouers to thoes ilands (as they doe already), doe hold

intollorable to

and is likely will iustly make an attempt to roote you out, when neither you nor wee shall preuent it. If all this may not suffice to cause you to banish all entertainement of thes, that they may not so much as harbour in your rodes, nor come ashore, and that you doe not stricktly restraine your owne to goe out in such cases, wee shallbe forced to take such farther courses and direction from his maiestie as shall be requesite
be
suffred,

in this case to redrcsse

it.

"

We would

glady receiue from you and your counsell a note, specifieof ordinance

inge what

number and manner

and munition

is

ther at this

present for the safetye of the ilands, for

we

find that a great qaantitie

and number haue bin thither sent and

left,

and wer at Captaine Tuckers

comeinge thence, and store of powder. " Mr. Caswell has here moued the Court to write vnto you in the be-

John Ward, who formerly was in question and afterwards pardonned, which the Court approueth so far forth as their letters patents allowe, and doe pray you in his behalfe that he may be well reputed and esteemed ther, so far as he behaues himselfe orderly and well, without any imputation of thinges formerly passed. " Also we desire that the requests of ]Mi\ George Smithe, accordinge to an Order of Court, maybe effected. We earnestly praye you that this
halfe of his brother in lawe
criminally,

shyp

may

not be stayed ther, but dispatched to returne with

all

speede

possible. If this litle

magazin be not better respected and

satisfied

by the

inhabitants noe

man
it.

will hereafter aduenture, they puttinge all their

trash tobacco vpon

And

so leauinge you, together

with your charge,

freinds.

to the protection of the Almightie,

we

rest

your very loueing

Subsigned with diuera of the Lords and many of the

cheife

of

the

merchandsj wherin

the pointes

that

the

Gouernour found, in
able,

his opinion_, strange

and vnreconcileeuioyned that

all

wer

first,

in that place

wher he

is

214

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

;

the tobacco be sent undeuided into England

sently after, in

and yet pre-

two other places, he

is

prayed, admonished,

and charged,

to

haue an especiall care for the good of the

in

magazin that the payments be made

good tobacco, that

ther be present pay, and old debts gotten in by his assistance.

He sawe

not
If

how he
all

could act the one but must

violate the other.

the tobacco wer sent for England,

iniunction,

accordinge to that

first

how

could the magazin

be presently payed, as the second required, if the magazin wer presently payed in good tobacco, and old debts recouered,

how

could

all

the tobacco be sent for England

Another perticuler (which he apprehended to be perplext

the Dutch.

and obscure) was concerneinge Powell and the receipt of In the beginninge wherof thes very men and
shyps are by themselues confessed to be commissioned

from the states of the vnited Prouinces

to his maiestie),

(allyes

and freinds

by the same hands, they are styled pyrates and rouers, and strickt commands (not without threats) imposed vpon him by all meanes to
and yet sodainely
after,

keepe them out of his harbours, and in

all

thinges to vse
selfe

them as enemies, by which course he nowe found him

to seeke

how

to distinguish in thes kinds betwixt honest

if

men and

theeues,

such as had lawfull and authentique

commissions wer to be held as pyrates, who wer the sea-

men and marriners that he was to take for honest men ? If men lawfully commissioned wer to be esteemed and used as honest men, why ai-e thes with such feruour excluded?
And, besides, who could haue imagined (vnlesse by inspiration) that thoes wer to be held for knaues, and shutt out of
doi'es, in

thes Hands,

when the very same passe

all

for true

men, and are dayly receiued into

and vsed as freinds
?

harbours of England,

Some
letters,

other thinges and passages ther wer besides (as he

tooke them) that gaue him iust cause to wonder at the

and misdoubt

for himselfe, for

which

I will referro
:

you

to this his cnsuoingc answci-, thus entitled

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

215

To

the right noble

mid worthy

the

Lords and others of the

Honorable Company of Adaenturers, for the Sonimer Hands.

" Kight Honorable Company,

begin thes

my

letters

wher

my

last

ended, at the Garlands leaueiuge of us,

when

findinge noethinge

more

important than some newe worcks of fortification and renewments of the This last past yeare therfore I haue in old, I presently fell vpon them.
First, I have sunck a plattthis kind perfected thes pieces f olloweinge forme vpon that rock which flaunckers the Kings Castle, being the very same that by an Order of the Court you haue here to fore enioyned to be fortefied, yet neuer aduentured vpon vntill nowe, and upon it I have
:

planted fine peeces of good ordinance, three wherof wer with

much

toyle

(and some perticuler charge to my selfe) weighed out of the wreackt Wancick, and now they all of them playe with great freedome and aduantage vpon that harbours chanell their carriages are all newe of caeder; I have, besides (as an accomplishment of that worck), raysed
;

a smale redoubt of cseder, muskett proofe, to secure and gard thoes

ordinance, and haue honored the whole peece (being such a one, I hope,
as
it South-hampton began the recouery of the burnt redoubt in the Kings Castle, which is restored, and vnder it I have cutt (out of the maine rock) a conuenient plattforme, wherou, vpon newe carriages, I haue moimted seven peeces of great ordinance, which are of great vse, for the foundringe of any shyp that shall attempt a passage by force, as being lodged to shoote into her hould and besides they command into euery nooke of the harbour, and I haue bin bold to call it Deuoushyres Redoubt. From hence I went to the other plattforme, that shootes it selfe more out to sea-ward, wher, findinge scarce two peeces seruiceable, I haue newed and renewed all of them with substantiall carriages, and remounted the peeces. So that you haue at this present three and it

may aduenture

seKe vpon a censure) by nameinge

I

Fort.

This being perfected,

twentye peeces of ordinance in gard of the harbours mouthe, wher you had not fiue any way seruiceable at mine arriuall and nowe J dare
;

(modestly) afiirme

it

to be sufficiently fortified.

As

for the harbour of

St. George's, it is too far short of

being so, yet must rest as it is, vnless meaues to succour it. I haue also this sommer finished the framed Churche at St. Georges, and when you send me bells, it shall haue a steeple. The mount likewise is up againe, and seuen foote higher than before. I hope it will proue long-liued, to which end I haue giuen it a trianguler forme, and keyed it at the corners below with substantiall postes. You have also a newe storehouse vpon the warrfe at St. Georges. I have builded, likewise, eight newe botes, and dispersed them to the gunners of the fortes whoe had none before, and the rest are with me at the towne to answer all occasions.

you

will allowe

"And

thus hath this yeare bin expended in thes kiudes of worcks, the

216

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

which I layd hold vpon the accidentall helpes I then found, and ara nowe to part with all, so that nowe I knowe not how to serue you any farther this waye, for nowe I haue not meanes left me so much as to manne out a bote to sea, nor hands ynough to sett my come, especially being of necessitie to cleare ground in St. Dauids Hand to that end, wher I haue layd out accordinge to your order of Court two hundred acres of land, for the reliefe of the owners of Bedford tribe, and I haue sent you the plott of it, and the overplus land is also punctually distributed, after the Lords decree, wher are twentye acres of excellent good ground, more (I thinck) than you expected. " This yeare also (being instructed by you) we haue held our generall assembly at St. Georges, in the newe church, and all the Acts passed therein, are presented to your confirmeinge approbation, and in hope we are that you will not stricktly examine our defects, but cousideringe it was
our first, rather encoiirage us to a second. " We haue also (thancks be to God) fully recouered our plenty of
thinges,
all
;

and have a good hope to haue it seconded by this winters crop yet we thanckfully acknowledge your care of us in jDrouision of meale, which (though we baue corne ynough besides) shall not be abused in the truth is that thes your excesses, to which I am a sworne enemye prolefull islands cannot (vnlesse extreamely wroung'd by wasts and negligence) lye long vnder that burthen, and therfore all the aspersions and discreditts you mention, duely placed, are indeed to fall vpon the yet let me tell you that you vnderstaud it not persons, not the place aniisse when you stile some mens reportes of their well leaueinge of them
; ;

to be but boastes.

"Being thus growen ready

oiar

for the magazin shyp,

and soner than

ordinaryly in the yeare lookeinge out for her (as hopeinge that some of

meane aduertisements might be fastened vjjon you), we made a sayle,

fallinge with our harbour of St. Georges, jDroued a smale barck

which
she

belonginge to one Mr. Delbridge, a brother of your Comj)any, fraughted

was with

well chosen country boyes,

for his

cheifly ordained

owne people

here.

and a smale magazin of goodes By her we had newes of

your magazin shyps approach. " Vpon Munday, the one and twentieth of August, we had sight of this your Joseph, who, although she came merely in vnto us, yet made us sadd when she was come, for she had throwue ouer bord twenty of
her passengers, and was full of sick folk, so that diners of them haue

not only died since on shore but also began an infection amongst us
the which notwithstandiiig (by

Gods mercye and the bountye

all

of our

ayre)

we wcr

sone ridd

of.

In

other respects, bothe herselfe and

goodes wer well conditioned. " By her I receiucd your generall

letters,

wherin the

first ill

newes

mctt with was the misse

of

my

neccessary men, as carpenters, smythcs,

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
especially gunners, without

217

which how can the continuall decayeinge

carriages of your ordinance be supplied, or so

much

as hookes

made

for

what purpose have I fiftie good peeces of ordinance nowe well mounted within three miles compass of me? " As for the last yeares rotten crop of tobacco (if you please to remember) I wrote to you suspiciously of it then, and sory I am I proued But the imposition of three pence on the pound so true a prophet. is yet obserued to amount well nigh to a thousand pounds sterlinge, and glad the people would haue bin to haue found a litle more of it bestowed towards a publick securitie. I am bound vnto you for your acquittinge I meane of of me from that of which I hope I shall neuer be guiltie being the least cause of this badd ware nor shall I fayle you in my word nor breake creditt with you, but performe my very best and most attentiue endeauour, so far as my skill and authoritie can exact an amends but I doe not remember that I wrote so absolutely of this point, as you tell me of. " Your newe resolution in your great Court about sugar-canes and vines I wish may fall to your wish, yet I hold myselfe bound to tell you freely that I find not the grounds therof answerable to your hopes. True it is that the canes at St. Georges and els-wher growe conueniently well
your people to
fish
;

or to

saue that they are extraordinary short in the iointes), but ther can not

be found one share among twentye that will afford one acre fitt for them yet shall I giue life to your injunction with all diligence and to this end I have already made a passage through the tribes where I find the people generally in distaste of it, and many of the best vnderstanders altogether dispayreinge of any good eifect, and much they seeme to
;

wonder that any experience fetched from hence should begett such a

As for certain propositions produced in open court, pretended vpon thes respects, but entended to enfringe the commission, it hath pleased you to hold me capable of, and with all fallsly conueyeinge close imputations to the woundinge of my reputation, I shall neuer belieue that so noble and iust hands as yours will euer subscribe to their passage, nor I hope shall I euer deserue it.
proiect.

" Concerneinge vines here, I conf esse they conserned

verily thought to haue presented

me much
first,

this

Springe, for so admirably wer they taken and sett at the

that I

you with a

vessell of

Sommer-Ilands

and fenced, but when I expected their matureing, not one cluster of fine hundred came to perfection, but groweinge into a kind of hardnesse and shyneinge like a home, they still proued rotten instead of being ripe. Whence this cause of miscarriage and sicknesse proceedes some vigneron must tell you. " But since you are so graciously inclined to proiectors, giue me leaue
wine, and to that end had

them

diligently tended

among the rest. I am perswaded that there is not a fayrer hope of any staple commoditie from hence (besides tobacco) than the
to proue one

218
makeing of
(as far as I

THE HISTORYE OF THE IbERMUDAES

silcke
;

the sweet aire and excellent temperature which

we

enioye are exceedinge naturall for the wormes.

The mulberry
to thoes I

trees also

remember) are altogether resemblant

infinite

haue scene in

the best silck makeinge places, and they encrease exceedingly and will

be quickly in

numbers. Neither

is

the obseruation to be slighted,

much

lesse despiced, that

such spiders here as worck abroad,

fect silck, both in respect of strength, substance,

and

colour.

make perAs for the

Frenchman, I heard it from

discouragements you haue formerly receiued herein from one Peter, a am credibly informed by diners here that protest they
his

owne mouthe
;

in

London, since

his returne, that

he

hath sayd that ther are not better trees nor a better place in the world

than thes Hands for that end

neuer haue gotten

and being asked why then he reported

the quite contrary vnto you, his answer was that otherwise he should

home to his country, and that he staruedthe wormes on

is

purpose to that entent. Ther

noe great cost belongs to this experiment,

you shallbe pleased to make it once againe whilst I am in your seruice, I shall not fayle you in any part hereof belonginge vnto me. For the desire you haue to drawe the people from their excessiue toyle and plantinge of tobacco, you saue me that labour, and haue taken the best of courses for it by your non diuident order of tobacco, as I shall farther manifest when I come to that poynt, and you will find I feare the next crop doe I what I can. Accordinge to your commands, the bayliffs are commanded from their thirties, eueu this yeare, for so some ioyfuU and not lesse than iusultine letter of priuate men expound your generall, which eles might haue bin more charitably enterpreted yet are they enioyned to the due execution of their places (as your will is also), at which they shake their heads and quote scripture to me, that the labourer is worthy of his hire, and noe man goeth on warfare vpon his owne cost and truly I am perswaded if they had bin but heard before they had bin condemned (I meane the most of them), they would not haue appeared so vnworthy as you deliuer them unto me. Full well you knowe that none are more obiected to malice and slaunder than publick men, and I haue heard that the inconuencies are many and weigh tie that may ensue the giueinge awaye, by an ouer-ready beliefe and applause, to the traduceinge of such. Howsoever, sure it is that it must needs make ill for me and and
if
'
'

my commands when
vpon
their

all

my

subordinate

officers are to serue

me

thus,

owne

purses, as voluntaryes.

in all to twentye haue payed the finders here their moyetye, after your Order of Court), the which at the rate of three pounds the ounce (for so much I haue allowed them) ariseth to fortie

" I haue recouercd as

much amber-greece as amounts

I

eight ounces three quarters and a halfe.

three pounds six shillings three pence.

order, ten groates on cucry ounce which

You allowe me, by the same comcth to fourc pounds and

OE SUMMER ISLANDS.
fifteene shyllings, so that the totall

219
is fortie

due to

me

eight pounds

one shillinge and three pence.

into your court,
if it

please

The amber-greece shallbe presented you to make payment vnto the bringer
it is all

therof of
If

my

part of due and disbursements for you,

of

it

yomu

you thiuck I have payed ouer much for it at three pounds the ounce, I will buy yoiu' part at that rate, and so make it all mine. Likely it is that by reason of the dryeinge by keepeing, ther will be some losse in the waight, which I leaue to your consideration. " The bill of exchange I charged vpon you the last yeare (which it seemes you misliked) was forced vpon me vpon thes grounds. At my
first

arriuall I

found a generall wast, not only in particular for

in
sayles, netts

my

priuate famely, but in stuff for botes,

cloathes for your negroes,

for fishinge,
pittyfull

and the

like publick vses.

Vpon

complainct in thes cases, I

made

enquirie after courses formerly held,

and was generally answered that whilst ther was generall magazins the custome was to take up so much for such vses as was found needful! to supply thoes necessities, and so to returne it vpon the adueuturers wherupon, conceiueing this to be the same in effect, and haueing as great a necessitie layd vpon me as euer had any, I presumed to f ollowe thoes presidents, which you nowe tell me you neuer found before, and Informe me then, I beseech you, how are in hope neuer to doe againe. shall your publick botes attendinge the fortes be furnished ? how are your negroes to be kept from goeinge naked ? and what meanes els are ther to recouer mattocks, shouells, grabbinge axes, and the like tooles requii'eable for fortinge ? For it is not your meaneinge nor expectation sure, that the Gouernours peculier entertainement (especially being at the passe that mine is) shallbe lyable to this change ? if it be, he will haue but a very hard bargaine of it. You haue three hundred and odde smale shott in thes Hands, which continually require trimmeinge, for ther is noe place (by reason of the aire of the sea) that more cankers arms than this, and yet you neuer allowed me one drop of oyle towards it. Hetherto I haue performed it with mine owne store, but can doe it
noe longer. " The impositions for warrants, passes, and the
like so,
like, which you miswere neuer made other by me, or any of mine, than I found presidented vnto me by my predecessors, euery one of them. The secretary is allowed one halfe pound of tobacco only vpon a warrant, and (me thincks) he deserues it, consideringe his penns, inck, paper, and

paines.

I protest vnto you

if

I find

any

of

mine

oflicers

a dishonest

incroacher in any of thes iniurious kindes, I shall

make him an example,

and I belieue they expect noe lesse. "As for the wastes you feare of powder, and the jollitie (as you tearme it) of Gouernours, captaines, and shyps, I thinck (though mdeed I haue found more cause of doubt this waye than euer I could imagine)

220

THE HISTORYE OF THE CERMUDAES

that noe tounge hath presumed to be so bold with you, as to informe

and your gunner practice with dumbe we knewe what smale quantitie we had, and nowe feare how litle we shall haue. I questioned Mr. Kendall about the overmuch lessinninge (for one yeare) of that store of powder as it is sett downe in the inuentory, left him by Captaine Tucker, whose answer was that Captaine Tucker at his goeinge awaye comagainst
in that kind.
INIyselfe

me

signes to saue your powder, for well

manded
thinges
of

that all the ordinance in your Islands should expresse (as all
els

did) a ioyfull partinge,

of

and that thence grewe both that wast

;

powder and dismouutance

doe
it

your ordinance

when

I depart, there-

fore, I will

sylently.

pleaseth

have receiued the one rundlett, and two suger-lofes, which it you to style a smale remembrance, but thauckfuUy I hold it a great one, because it comes from you. Your constancye to your owne order of Court, against the diudent of tobacco here was no soner here

"I

but in the tribes, and scarce had I reade your letters before many lamentyinge men came vpon me. Sir (sayth one), I am a kind of chirugien, and haueinge cured many this yeare vpon creditt, I nowe heare I am to goe into England for payment. I haue lent corne (sayth another) this last hard winter, to be payed in tobacco this yeare, and
saued some liues with
it,

must I goe
all

to

me

in plaine tearmes, that since matters are

London for it ? come to this

third tells

passe,
(for

not sett one plant of tobacco

sake) I clapt

the next yeare,

whom

he will example
it

by

the heeles.

But vpon

thes forewarneinges, aduiseinge

with the counsell

thus resolved, and

how
is

to satisfie you, and keepe a quiett here,

was

answerably performed, I hope, without offence to you. First, that noe man shall diude his tobacco, vnlesse he can produce vnder his vndertakers hand an admittance and couenant for a diuision,
all this

or giue in a certificate vpon oathe, that he hath receiued noe supply at yeare from England. Secondly, that in respect of many detts
partie

growen betwixt partye and smithes for fish-hookes and

vpon most vrgent

occasions, as to
;

tooles, carpenters for botes, etc.

it

was

found necessary that for this yeare all single detts vnder the value of fiftie pounds of tobacco should be discharged and payed out of the lumnipe of euery such deptors crop, a note being to be putt in that so much is to be defaulked at the diuision with you out of his part. And I earnestly craue that in theis deuisions with you ther may be all equall and iust respect had to the content of the people here, otherwise 1 haue much cause to feare that their clamours will proue both loude and
dangerous.

yeare, I

Dutch and English that haue bin here this must confcsse myselfe mistaken in the receipt of them and yet wher findeI aduised with your instructions before their admittance inge the title pyrate giuen to such as wcr to be excluded, and authentique

"As

for the extraordinary

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

221

commissions with these, 1 therby became (I nowe perceiue) ouer bold

to distinguish
as well in respect that at that time

and with the more ease was I hurried to this boldnesse, we wer in great and vrgent need of their refreshments, as also that such and the very same are harboured euerywher in England itselfe. But I will noe farther diue into this
;

secrett; for the future

your will shallbe absolutely performed, so that

I hope to giue you noe farther occasions to meruaile at

seruances.

my

misob-

stUe them, this

"Touchinge our preacher, Mr. Lang, and his eloquent letters, as you is the first time I knewe or heard either of them or his

eloquence.^

"
all

As you would
creditt
it

gladly receiue, so 1 haue as gladly sent you a note of

we have, as well good as badd, and you and call me to account you haue the counsells hands to it also. Compareiuge it likewise with the note you had from me the last yeare, in my generall letters, you may finde how I haue carried
the ordinance and munition

may

myselfe in matter of expence that waye, I desire, therfore,

publickly reade.

it

may be

" You haue sent you also a certificate of the receipt of the communion cup, belonginge and bequeathed to Pembroke tribe.'' "That I haue not bin forgettfuU of that point in your instructions which concernes seruants alienateinge themselues from their masters seruice, mine actions may witnesse for me, as also that lawe to that end ennacted in our generall assembly. As for the perticulers in this nature commended to my redresse I haue disposed of them after your prescriptions for I durst not vary and yet I must needs saye that vpon due examination I found some materiall partes, and diuers circumstantiall, farr dissonant from what (I believe) you were possessed with all, so that I could wish (if not in my time, yet in some other mans hereafter better entrusted) that your absolute commands in thes kindes might be sweetened with some wholsome prouisoes and references for you can instruct me of the perill of groundinge a definitiue censure, vpon the hearesaye of one side only, and wUl teache me that euen very good men oft times are wiUfolly blinded with selfe loue, and their owne
; ;

interests.

The annexed note you send me, subscribed with Llr. Daniel Tuckers name, conteyneinge a perticuler of such thinges as he desireth to be rendred vnto him hath had its full due from me and yet haueing thus
' ' :

fully righted him,

how can

I be sure he will noe more importune nor

complaine ?

if

he hath charged
it is

me with

iniustice in this point or

any

other (as your letters seeme to implye), I shall looke to be righted

by

him

also.

Straunge

to

me

that you are pestred thus with plarnctiffs

See ante,

p.

165.

This cup has disappeared.

222
as

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

:

(only)

you speake of traely the grounds could not be fetched from mine two monethes time, but it may be ther was uoe other cause at all,

saue their

own

willfull malice, or

fond credulitie.

The

shyp, indeed,

that went out from us the last yeare, I find (by some priuate informations) to be as fouly fraughted with falsse reportes as rotten tobacco;

power to cure the one, as you may It is performed on your part, if you be but pleased to practise a suspension of beleife and censure, remembring that I am your publick seruant, and three thousand and some hundreds of miles distant from mine accusers. " The crop of tobacco sent vnto you by this shypinge, hath a very generall hope settled vpon it of restoreing you to some contents what the courses haue bin, that I haue held to that end may appeare by a lawe ennacted to that purpose in our generall assembly, and it hath had its due execution. If we fayle nowe (which God forbidd) I shall find
but I would
it

wer as well within

my

the other, so should ther be noe discontent.

reason to encline to the

commone

voice that

all

our tobacco

is

absolutely

spoyled at the sea, and this

as certainely
it

may

did the last

be by takeing in of salt-water, yeare, or (which I rather thinck) by being

either

ouersone packt into the hott hould of the shyp, and so being newe and

and not haueinge had its due worckinge abroad, it becomes ouer and so worcks out the very heart of it and the rather I am induced to this beleife, vpon an experiment in mine owne case the last yeare when haueinge bought a smale parcell of tobacco vpon the choycest iudgements here to present my freinds with all when it came into England, it proued as badd as the worst when yet a rowle of the very same lumpe reserued, remains to this daye, exceedeinge well coloured, and very strong and good. If you will haue, therfore, perfect tobacco from hence, I am perswaded, you must be contented to lett it rest with us one winter before it be exported, and so fetch it awaye in the spring neither should I one iott mistrust this our present crop, wer
greene,
heate,
; :
: :

it

not for being ouer hastely shypt.

it

This I

am

full sure of,

that at

its

partinge from us,

mens vewe as fayre, likely, and well conditioned as need be. Well knowen it is that the Spanish tobacco remaines for the most part a whole yeare before it be shypt awaye you may doe well (especially if you find yourselues still ogrieued) to make a triall with us, by sendinge one bark (as hitherto) about September for the moyetye of our crop, and to leaue the other halfe vntill the spring, and then send out a second bark for that part, and so accordinge as you shall find cause and proofe to proceede or relinquishe. The charge of
appeared to
all
:

this course (the vessells

being but smale) will be

all

one with the former,

:

and besides one maine encouragement may be added herevnto that as the season of the springe will be lesse dangerous, and more agreeable for your fresh-water soldiers and passengers, so the returne of your shypinge vnto you more ccrtaine and opportune, and their staye and attendance

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
here in harbour farr shorter, and so lease chargeable.
you, and so serue fayre to bring your shyps hether

223
The winds
like-

wise in the moueths of the springe are, for the most part, easterly with

and being here they seldome fayle of findinge of them fauorable homewards. For mine owne part I protest vnto you I haue taken all the care that I posssble could
:

to give

you content in
one of

this perticuler.

If I fayle for all this, I will ac-

count

it

my
it is

misfortunes, and yet will not dispayre of a fauorable

censure, since

not within the power of any one

all

man

in the world,

nor of

all of

them to preuent

accidentall

ills.

"The

smale credence I find giuen in pointes of the highest nature,

of,

together with some captious apprehensions that I heare

teach

stand vpon
rantize

my

garde in the meanest.

I pray, therefore, giue

me to me war:

done concerneinge your ouer many bulls here we This yeare you haue fiue calues, and three of them bulls it is apparent that they not only hazard a spoyle and miscarriage in the cowes, but by their continuall fights endanger one another. If I shall cause the old bulls to be

what

shallbe

haue of them almost as many of the one sex as the other.

;

gelt, it is ten to

one but they die with

all

but

if

not,

and that they

should scape, yet hereby will they sone

make

the only ground that

we

haue to breede them on (which is the only ground you allott me to make tobacco on), too straight and narrowe to sustaine them. In truth
I

must confesse

am

not able to apprehend what benefitt

may

arrise to

this plantation (in the peaceable condition it breathes in)

steeres, or
j)ossesse

by

noui'ishinge

barren cattle here. Some ther are (they saye) that would you with the excellencyes of makeinge them draught beastes for the plough it may well be that they haue had more experience in that occujiation, and are truer bred to it than myselfe, yet reason tells me that neither the vneuen surface and posture of our Islands, nor the exceedinge lightnesse of the soj^Ie can either allowe or require them. To your absolute iniunctions in this, as in all other the like, I submitt mine executions here (for I would be loath to be found guilty e of the least contempt). Since, therefore, you haue me thus at your command, it foUoweth that you become the more aduised and wary in your commands and soe we are on both sides likely to doe well, neither is ther lesse danger on the contrary. "And thus (as I take it) I haue giuen you the full account of my submission and obedience to your general letters and orders of Court, as also of the general employments of myselfe in your seruice this last past Many other occasions, both for your publick and mine owne yeare. priuate, vrge me to enlarge myselfe vnto you as an humble suter, but I haue spedd but ill hetherto, and loath I am either to disquictt or discontent you in being solicited, or myselfe with being denied, and therefore with a resolute patience I forbeare, and attendinge all opportunities to
; ;

224
expresse

THE HISTORYE OF THE RERMUDAES

mine
affectionate seruice, rest
abilities,

my

vttermost

most ready to be commanded to Nath. Butler."^

But before the ensealinge or writeinge of thes letters, within some fourteene days after the magazine shyps arrithe uall, the Gouernour made a passage through the tribes
;

which he

did, partly to take order for the generall plante-

inge of sugar canes, to acquaint the people with

iniunction,

that

and to take a uewe of what quantitie of ground

for

might be found proper

them, and partly to see the

choyce of the triers of tobacco, and accordinge to the newe

statute in that case prouided, to giue

them

their oathes,

which being done, he returned

to the

towne; and presently

triers fell generally

vpon
after)

it,

the

first

crop of tobacco (which he only looked

being finished and made up, the

so that

to their taske,

much

falsse

and badd ware was

burned

at the

owners dores, notwithstandeinge findeinge

both by heare saye and eye-sight, that the afFayre and

execution hereof was not so throughly and stricktly carried,
as he entended
it

should be, and expected from them as

sworne men, he caused newe quickeninge warrants for ye

redresse of this couniuence to be directed
baylies

downe

to

all

the

the

second time, the which once more sett the

bussinesse on foote, so that fresh bonfires ensued, and some

that had escaped the
first
tlie

brunt payed for

it

at the second.

Within a while after,

people generally (being genei'ally

hasted and vrged by the Gouernour) brought up their to-

bacco to the shyppinge, the which being done, and about

some

sixtie

thousand waight therof laded vpon her,

for England, the

after

seuen weekes staye, she cleared herselfe of the harbour, and

made her waye

which was the shortest

time for staye, and sonest time in the yeare, that euer

magazin shyp yet made

"^

in thes

Hands since the plantation.

letter, or of

There

is

no trace of this vigorous of Bermuda.

the one to which

it

it

is

a reply, in the Colonial Records,

now

extant

hence,

has no place

in the Memorials

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

225

Ther went passengers

minister.

in her for

England the quondam

Gouemour, Captaine Kendall, and Mr. Lewes [Hughes], the About fourteene dayes before her, the smale of the west country of England (formerly mentioned) barck
had taken her
leaue,

and vpon her had bin laden to the

fi'ovn

quantitye of about ten thousand weight of tobacco more.

Noe

soner wer thes shyps departed and of

is

the coast

but a new sayle

discouered, and pi^oueth the same of

which intelligence had bin giuen by the magazin shyp.

She was
ditioned

called the George,

supplies.

and came fraughted only with

in generally well con-

newe men and

;

She came

only in the action of fallinge vpon the shore she

was
east

in danger, for haueinge not carefully

ynough lookt out

stiff

for the
all

Hands, and the wind bloweing a

gale at south-

the night, she found her selfe by breake of day so

nere to the rocks, which was her lee-shore, as justly made

her affrayed

so that the Castle giueinge the alarme

by

peepe of day, the Gouernour,

cluded that
if it

at the heareinge therof, conit,

wer a shyp that occasioned

she must
in person

needs be in

perrill,
j

and therupon presently went

up

to the

mount

by which

time, the daye beginninge to

breake and

cleare, she

was discerned close under the land,

called the Breakers.

and within a cables length of the rocks

Whervpon she

shott of a peece of ordinance for a pilote,

but by reason that the sea went so exceedinge high, and

the wind blewe fiercely in at the harbours mouthe, noe bote
could gett out to her, though diners essayes wer made, and

the Gouernour himselfe at the fortes to vrge them vnto

it.

She was putt

to

it,

therfore, to trust to her

owne

skill

and

fortune, the which proued so well, as within

after she safely

two houres

moored

herselfe in the

Kings Castle harbour.

By

her the Gouernour receiued his second generall letters

from the Company, the most part wherof consisted of reinforcements of the contents of the former
that
j

and

in perticuler

point was vehemently vrged that concerned the ex-

226
elusion of

THE HISTORYE OF THE BEKMUDAES

all

straunge shyps, the feruencye wherof gaue

occasion to the Gouernour to apprehend that

secrett

some other

causes and motions

masked vnder the colour of

thoes published reasons

were the life-giuers to that so

elaborate and diligent a prohibition, in so

much

as to

some

of his most entrusted freinds he sticked not to saye that he

perceiued well ynough that by such courses as thes the

aduenturers aimed and entended to hold the like

tie

vpon

the inhabitants of thes Hands that the Spaniarde doth vpon

his

West

Indies
in

and that they determined and ment to

keepe them

a continuall necessary need of them,

and
also

affected not to

haue them ouer-riche.

He wondered
him

at that clause in the letters that enioyned

to send all

Powells debts due vnto him from the people here vnto them
into England^

and was not sory that he had apparently noe

meanes to

effect it^ at least, that yeare.

By

this

shyp also

the certaine

knowledge of such as wer vndertakers of the

proiect for suger-canes

was brought, and a certaine

refiner

of suger was sent ouer to

make an

essay e, who, although he

had (by

his

owne

confession) neuer scene a suger-cane in

his life (so little care is ther generally taken for a

through

expe-rim entail

knowledge in thes kindes), yet being pre-

sently sett on worck,

and by the Gouernour assisted with

quantitie

canes and men, some smale

of

browne suger,

which they
ragement.

call

panele (and which with refineinge they saye

is

proues very good)

produced, and sent ouer for an incou-

This shyp had not long bin in harbour before (by the
well-nosed drunckerds of the Hands) she was discouered to

be well

stufift

with liqueurs, for the master of her (who was

a true water-ratt), with his mates, and the rest of his com-

pagnions, vnderstandinge the quick and nimble vent of that

commoditie, had aboundantly prouided for themselues that

waye and, indeed, it is incredibly straunge to report what a huge quaatitie of thes hott composed waters are (mis)
;

OR SUMMEE ISLANDS.
spent yearely in these smale Hands.
lieued (in

227
it

Will

euer be be-

England
in this;

it selfe^

which

is

yet too neere akinne to

it

Germany

in

Spaine and Italy certainely

can

neuer) that twelue hundred persons (wherof the one halfe

almost are

women and

children,

and so noe drinckers

this

in

this nature) should in three

moneths space only consume

hartburneinge
vaste
into
their

and emptye two thousand gallons of

geare,

by powreinge
is

it

downe
is

mawes

And

yet this

the least that (truely) can be sayd of

it

it.

Howsoeuer, certaine
of the people that

that the Gouernour, apprehend-

inge that by this meanes, through the extreame greedinesse

waye

(all

the tobacco being already exit

ported that was worthe any thinge for which

portations was gotten in amongst

was wont to

be bartred) that that smale store of coine which by diners im-

them would be exhausted

and canyed awaye which was nowe (by reason of the nondiuident order) the only meanes left them of entercourse and

commerce one with another, he caused a prohibition to be sett vp vpon the maine mast of the shyp, that noe marriner whatsoeuer should sell any thinge for mony, but that all
sales should only

be made by waye of exchaunge and bar-

tringe for such commodities as the

seines, or

Hands

afforded of them-

vpon

creditt

and

this

vpon the penal tye of the

forfeiture of all such

goodes and mony as (contrary to the

;

sayd iniunction) should be found so to be bought and sold

all

which notwithstandinge, ye contrary and breach hereof

being aduentured vpon by some that hoped in a conceale-

ment, discoueries wer made vpon them and the penaltie

inflicted, to the

example of others.

This shyp made staye here of eight or nine weekes, vpon

idle pretences

and vaine excuses of her master, who, serue-

inge by the moneth, cared not

his voiage in a harbour.

how long he lengthened

at last
in

out

But

(haueinge receiued

some harsh speeches from the Gouernour

negligence) vpon the
first

check of his

day of the newe yeare, he weyed

q2

228

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

anchor, and cleared himselfe of the Hands, makeinge his

voiage homewards by Spaine (being so enioyned by his

owners), to the

much wonder

of

many who

held

it

a dan-

gerous improuidence.

And

thus, also,

ended the

first

yeare

of Captaine Butler his gouerment.

With

the very

first

of his second yeare he held his third

;

generall assize at St. Georges

and

(as

at the former)

grand iury was empannelled, and two petye jurys.

The

Gouernour himselfe
iudge.

also

gaue the charge, and satt as cheife

At

this session

fewe criminall delinquents wer found

(as it

at the barre, the

which

seemed by his open profession)

cheife act of note

gaue him good content.

cerneinge the
bayliflfs

The

was conof them,

of the tribes,

who wer

all

endicted vpon a neglect and breach of the newe statute in

that case

made and prouided,

in

in not giueinge a beginninge

and entrance

due time to the worck and buildinge of the

publick bridges, to which, they pleadinge guiltye, wer fined

by the Court

in ten

poundes of tobacco a man, to be be;

stowed towardes the erection of the sayd bridges

occasion was the rather layed hold on that by of example) others might take heed the like kind
;

and
(by

this

it

waye

how

they offended in

for, since

the bayliffs could not be spared,

it.

how wer

others to expect

Dureing

this assize, it
it

was

also

ordred, at the counsell table, that, wheras

had formerly
feare

bin a frequent practice to carry about in the night time

palmitoe leaues,
fii-ed

and flameinge,

to the

much
ill

and

danger of honest
groundes
;

ciuill

people, iu fireiuge their houses and

that from thence forward tLe sayd

left of,

custome

should be absolutely

and that vpon the penaltye of

and that

one hundred pounds of tobacco, to be inflicted vpon euery master or a famely or haluer so offendinge
;

all

hired seruants, apprentices, and boyes in the like case should

be carryed to the constable of the tribe and wipt.

likewise concluded that
all

It

was

handy-craftsmen, as smithes,

carpenters, and the like, were to take such paye as the pre-

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
sent condition of the place could afford, that
tobacco, corne, potatoes, etc.^
is

229
to

saye,

and wer not to stand vpon

tearmes of refusall to worck unlesse they had payment in

ready mony, which was rarely to be had, as formerly they

had used to doe.

was proportioned and sett downe for the paye and alloweance for the ferry at Burnt Point, which was as that euery person from sixteene yeares
rate also

old and upwards should paye one

pound of tobacco by the

yeare to the ferry-man, or whosoeuer els did vndertake to

keepe

it

and discharge

iniunction

it sufficiently. At the same time an was layd vpon the churchwardens of all the tribes

that they should meete together, at two generall preiixt

dayes in the yeare

and so

to giue information of all abuses

concerneinge breaches of the Sabaoth, drunckennesse, incontinencye, and the like crimes, vnto some one

man

desti-

nated and appointed by the Gouernour for that seruice

that therby their presentments

might be the better preassize.

pared and fashioned against the time of

other controuersies wer

Diners

nowe

also

heard and discussed, being

;

matters of plea betweene partie and partie

and

so, after

two dayes expence, the sayd

solued.

assize

was finished and

dis-

The daye

after

was bestowed

in a generall traine-

inge,

all

the bayliffs and prime

men

of the whole plantation

being commanded to be in armes.

fieilde

They wer leade

into the
in

by the Gouernour himselfe, wher he likewise

(for

person
pikes,

encouragement sake) exercised the

his liuetenant to doe as

battell of

and commanded

much with
and to be

the shott, which, being done, he caused the whole company

to be equallye deuided into

two smale
;

battalions,

opposed one against another

shott to be

and then caused the wings of

drawne out

in single files to a skirmage, after

the Irish fight, the which he openly mainteyned to be most

proper for the Hands, both in regard of the uneuennesse of

the ground as the generall thick couerts
j

and, thus hauefive

inge held them in the

feild

about foure or

houres, they

230

THE HISTOEYE OF THE BERMUDAES

witli

wer

commendations

(as in truth

many

of

them

well

deserued, being for the most part very readye men) dis-

charged and dismissed, euerye

man

to his

owne home with

good content.

The towne being thus cleared of people, the Gouernour presently began to pursue some other affayres ; and with the first (vpon notice giuen of the abuse and spoyle which ensued by sufieringe of hogges to goe lose, especially to
the corne, suger-canes, and potatoes), he set out a proclamation of restrainct,

wherby

libertie

was graunted (by waye of

to kill

peualtie

vpon the ofiendor)

for

any man

and carry

awaye

all

such hogges as (after the date of the said pro-

clamation) should be found runneinge lose abroad; but yet

with this prouisoe, th^t within foure and twentye houres

after,

the partie so killinge of any of them should giue

notice thereof to the bayliff of the tribe,

of due occasion.

and produce profe

He

at the

same time made three newe

in cleareing of

carriages for the ordinance in the lower plattforme of the

Kings

Castle,

and spent two dayes ther

one

of the best peeces which

had layne cloyed oner euer since

Captaine Tuckers time, the which, with

after

much

difficultie

and

many

trialls,

was

at last effected, the shott being

much

rusted in the concauitie of the peece, and her touch-hole

fouly cloyed with peeces of yron.

He

then also caused

diners peeces of

newe ground

at St.

Georges to be planted
a newe

with suger-canes and vines.

He

built, likewise,

large storehouse of framed caeder in a sraale Hand, lieing

nere vnto the townes-warfe, and fitted

all

it

for the receipt of

newe supplies from England by euery shypinge, the which was made with two dores for the easier conuayence of goods in and out by the former want wherof the
generall
;

people had sustayned

prouisions, which

much

spoyle and

dammage

in their

lack of staires, windes to carry

open

to all

scarcetie of botes and them awaye, forced to lie weathers, a moneth or two before they could be

wer sometimes, by

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
carried into the maine.

231

Great store of lime was also comfort

manded to be burnt^ and the called Warwick Castle^ began

the which being
left

commanding the towne,

to

be repayred and perfected,

this Grouernour as
its

vnfinished by Mr. Moore, and neglected

by Captaine Tucker, was conceiued by

sea

a necessary accomplishment, both in regard to

being a

marck

as also that therin the

women and

children might

be bestowed, and preserued from any soudaine fury of an enemye (it being a strength not hastely to be surmounted,
but
all

will require the

it

mountance of some ordinance, and with

might appeare, so much the more worthy of the noble appellation it was distinguished by. This done, he
that

made five newe carriages for the ordinance of Smithes-Fort and mounted the peeces upon them, the old English carriages (which wer of elme) being rotten and unseruiceable.

From

thence he went to Pagetts Fort, where he layd a newe

plattforme vpon the topp of the redoubt, and beateinge out a large and hansome porthole he mounted a good peece of

ordinance vpon a newe carriage in the same place

and

this

was done by reason of the vnseruiceablenesse of the old

plattforme lieing vnder
afforded not any due
it
;

the which, by being ouer-streight,

mannagement of the ordinance, and

by

its lieinge

ouer lowe, and too nere the sea, was so annoyed

with the billowe, that euery fresh gale at east and northeast (which are the only proper windes to bring in shyps
into that harbour,
halfe full of water,

and so most require the vse of

it), fills it

and so altogether disableth the ordinance

effect.

from woi'ckinge any good

leaued, the

This forte being thus re-

Gouernour begins to erect a newe fayre house of

at the towne, the

hewen stone

which he makes with a

flatt

roofe, after the fashion

which he had scene in other coun-

tryes in paralell with this,

and he

built it of that substance

and forme also, by waye of example and envitement of others

to doe the like, as

most proper

for the nature of the place

and

climate, in respect of titenesse against the violent dashes

232

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

of raine, of strength against the mightie windes and soudaine

hun-icanoes, and for coolenesse,

walls

by the thicknesse of the

;

and the forme of the roofe

;

and^ besides, most necesfor the saueinge

(if

sary in regard of the substance

and pre-

seruation of timber, which in a short time

heretofore^

wasted as

must needs

fall

out very short arid geason^; and

all

yet, in all prouidence

above

other thinges to be

made
is

much

of,

both for the vse of carriages for the ordinance

an
This

and ye makeinge of the botes, wheras of stone ther unexhaustable store, and lime most easily burned.
house (when
seruice,
it

was

finished)

he destinated to the publick

and thence
(of

called

it

the

Towne House, wherein was

contriued (and fitted for the purpose) one very fayre and
large

roome

32 foote in length, and 22 in breadth)

for the holdinge of the Generall

Assembly.
St.

Whilst thes thinges wer thus on foote in

heard, wer enioyned
baylifFs

Georges

Island and at the fortes, the bridges (which, as you haue

by an Act of Parliament, and the

shent" for their neglect therin) are

ammersed and

now

throughly sett forwarde and in action in the maine,

diuers carpenters being,

to the purpose,

by the Gouernours warrant, pressed

tribes, in order,

and the

brought up to the
fol-

worck, so that, after some moneths of being closely

erected and finished, three

lowed, foure very substantial! and conuenient bridges are

of which

wer so large and

and foureand part of
safely

stroung that, although they wer of

score foote in length,

fortie, fiftie,

and had

their foundations,

their arches in the sea, yet a well laden horse

might

passe ouer them.

At

the same instant, also, the generall

out,

high-wayes (enioined likewise by a statute) are cutt

'

and

Geason.
:

very

uncommon word, which Johnson found

only in

Spenser

" It to Leeches seemed strange and geason."

pret. of the verb to s?ie7ul,

Hubbard's Tale.

The
2

sense here seems to be " inferior".

Shent

now

obsolete.

" Such dream I had of dire portent,

And

see Hamlet,

That much I fear Act iii, scene

my body will
2,

be shent."

Dryden.

ad Jin.

OR sum;.ibs islands.
in
all

233

places
for

pursued and perfected, by which time the

entrance into the

season

about corne and tobacco comeinge upon them, euery

dismissed

about the

common employments man is Much afFayres. priuate and home his to pursue same time, the Gouernour commanded all the
the

towne and the fortes to be broken vp and Such wherof as he found required it, he caused to vewed. be layed abroad in the sonne and dried, the which was done as well for the preparation, preseruation, and strength of

powder

at the

the powder, as to be surely enformed both of

its

qualitie

and

quantitie, least otherwise halfe filled barrells

and dust

should be receiued and relyed vpon in lieu of good seruiceable and

good

store.

proclamation came then abroad

also for the preseruation of wilde foule,

and

in particuler

for the white hearnes, for their breedinge time draweinge

nere,

it

was doubted

that,

by the encrease of newe commers,

of their egges

and especially boyes, a great waste might be practised upon

them by the takeing awaye

their nests.

and spoyleinge of

In the moneth uf

May

1621 upon Whiteson Twoesday

(being the prefixt and firmed

day by the

statute),

the

Sommer
whei"-at

Assize began at

St.

Georges, and lasted two dayes,

wer impleaded and tried by juries of 12 men, about some twenty severall actions in ciuill causes. Diuers indictments also vpon diuers of the newe statutes being made,
found, and presented by the grand inquest, wer sentenced
accordingly.

Some matters

likewise in the nature of con-

tempts wer censured by the Gouernour and counsell, sittinge

openly on the bench, and about ten criminall persons wer

arrayned vpon seuerall felonies, and petit larceny es, fine

whereof (who had bin house-breakers in the daye-time), being

found guiltye and condemned, wer saued by their bookes

and burned

in the

hand

the rest openly whypt.

Lastly, at

the breakiuge up of the assize, two orders (which had been

debated and concluded at the counsell table) wer openly

}'ublished

by the Gouernour himselfe, the one of them about


234
THE HISTORTE OF THE BEEMUDAES

tobacco^ as that ther should not be suJBfred to

growe nor

be made vp, vpon any one

of

stalk,

aboue the number of ten

leaues at the most; and that in the cureinge and makeinge

it

up, a distinction should be diligently practised of two

kindes, a better and a worse, or a prime and a latter sort,

and so not

to

mingle and confound one with another, as

;

it

had formerly bin

triers,

but yet so that the worst part was to be

allowed for merchantable tobacco, by the censure of the

or els to passe to the
fire.

The other order was

occa-

sioned by an abuse ordinarily practised by some contentious

and branglinge

speritts,

who
that,

continually troubled the

court with friuolous slight and malicious idle actions and

sutes
;

and by

it

was decreed

from thence forward, in

all ciuill

causes between partie and partie, which came to

their triall

by twelue men, the side cast should allowe vnto

the jury to the value of foure pence for euery person.

And

thus ended the Assize

aud presently vpon

it,

as well for

the divulginge and strengtheninge of the fore-mentioned

order about tobacco, a proclamation was

sett forth, the

which also
that

have thought

fitt

to deliuer vnto

you verbatim,
others ther

by

this

one the manner and forme of

all

vsed
this

may be knov/en and censured

:

as being first in vse in

it

Gouernours time, and by him introduced ; and

was

as followeth

By

the Goiiernour.

" It being apparent that by the negligence and abuses heretofore vsed and practised in thes Hands in the cureinge and makeinge up of tobacco,
the creditt and estimation therof
is

brought into contempt, and well

nigh vtterly

lost,

to the

much dammage and

the vndertakers and planter.

And

discouragement, both of although (for the redresse and re-

couerye therof) ther hath lately bin ennacted in our generall Assembly, an Act and Statute Lawe especially framed aud contriued to that end and purpose, yet it being considered that noethinge can be done too
for the cure of so infectious aud dangerous a disease, after due and mature consideration aud aduise, both with the couusell and other discreet and experienced persons in this affayre, it is concluded and commanded by the vertue hereof, and for the entent aforesayd that from

much

hence forward (begiuuinge at the date of this present) uoe person nor

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

235

persons inhabitinge or being within any of this Hands doe presume or

practise in

the dressinge, primeinge, and shreddinge awaye of the

of ten leaues at the

suckers from their tobacco plants, to nourish or suffer to growe aboue

the

number

most vpon any one

stalk, as also that in

and carefully oband seuer it into two sortes and kindes, that is to saye, into a prime sort and a latter, or a better and a worse and yet so as that that latter and worst sort be found also, and allowed by the triers, for merchandable ware, accordinge to the entent and meaneiuge of the statute, in that case made and prouided, or otherwise to be burned at the owners dores. "And wheras, vpon the performance exacted by this proclamation in the perticuler of the makeinge up of two sortes of tobacco, thus distinguished, and by occasion therof, some vucouscionable and peruerse people may be found who being to paye their debts will doe it in the worst sort of tobacco only, and reserue all the best for themselues, wherby it is conceiued that much discontent, discouragement and discommoditie may ensue, especially to manuall trades-inen who are by all good vsage to be cherished and enuited to come amongst us. Thes are in this respect also to ordaine and appoint that all such debts and payments as aforesayd be equally made and performed, the one halfe of them out of the best and prime kind of tobacco, the other halfe out of the latter and worst sort. And thes premises, and euery seuerall and perticuler clause of them to be carefully and respectfully obserued and followed, vpon the penaltye of one hundred waight of tobacco, for euery breache and transgression therof, of which sayd penaltye the one halfe therof to be giueu to the informer, the other halfe to be employed and also farther corporall punishment to be inflicted in publick worcks as shall in justice and discretion be thought fitt, and as the nature of so high a contempt deserueth. " Straightly chargeinge and commaudinge all counsellours, bayliffs, constables, and all other inferior officers, as also all triers of tobacco that shall at any tune hereafter haue an oath administered vnto them to that purpose, that they doe diligently and heedf ully examine and looke after all such offences and offeudors as shall any waye violate and transgresse the contents and meaneiuge of this present proclamation, and vpon the discouery of them to bring them out to justice. As they will answer their neglect and contempt of this so necessaiye a seruice at their vttermost " Giuen at St. Georges, Maii 29, 1621. perill. " (Signed) Nath. Butler."
therof, they stricktly

the cureinge and makeinge

up

serue to distinguish

'

'

And

thes

wer the contents of

this proclamation, the

which

I the rather insert, in respect that

some of the young and

rash heads,

who

fondly esteemed themselues riche rather in

236

THE HISTOEYE OP THE BERMUDAE3

a great quantitie of tobacco than a good, secretly grudged

and grumbled

at this limitation of ten leaues

vpon a

stalke

but not dareing to aduenture vpon a breach therof, they

wer

left in their

discontent vntill not long after by expe-

rience they found an ample recompence in the largenesse

of their

leaues_,

goodnesse and strength of their tobacco.

it

Much

about this time

was that a soudaine alarme was

taken at the towne of St. Georges, and from thence speedily

deliuered vp to
all

the fortes, a peece of ordinance being

shott of to that purpose.

For one eueninge, about eight of

to bedd, the

the clock at night, the

watch being vpon settinge, and the

mount-keeper (who

Gouernour ready to goe

hath an oath giuen him to keepe his due houres of lookeinge

out to sea from the mount, and an entertainement of an

hundred pounds of tobacco by the yeare

for that seruice)

came hastely in vnto the Gouernour, and informed him that he had made a discouerye of certaine botes and vessells
lieing a hull (as he take
it)

to the

northwards of

St.

Kathe-

raines Point, as far out to sea as he could possibly kenne

whervpon the Gouernour,

as well in regard of the time of

the night (so that ther could noe farther

vewe be taken

of

them from the mount), the

at northeast, as that in his

fittnesse of a light

moone, and

the fayrenesse of the winde, which then blewe an easie gale

owne

opinion, he euer held that

place and that course the most likely to breed danger and
offence (being withall not vnwillinge vpon any

meet and

due occasion to

trie

the readinesse and speritt of his men)

secretly callinge for the

drumme

of his

owne Company, he
and
all

commanded
watch,
to

hira,

in

steed of his wonted settinge of the

beate an alarme,

the which being well

speedely answered by the garrison at the towne, and

of

them quickly brought together and

in

armes vpon the warfe,

they were deuided into three equall partes, wherof one

part of them being deliuered to Captaine Felgate, he was

commanded

presently to carry

them by bote

to the

man-

OE SUMMER ISLANDS.

237

ninge of Pagetts Fort, and in his waye to giue warneinge

to tlioes of Smiths Fort to stand also \rpon their garde

another part was appointed to Liuetenant Buckly to lead

ouer by land to St. Katherains Fort
;

and the

last third part

the Gouernour kept with himselfe at the towne^ wher he

held them in armes

all

the whole night, himselfe in person

Sentinells also

being very often with them vpon the garde.

wer euery way

sett out,

and Warwick Fort (which com-

mands the towne) manned.

And

in this

manner being held

together vntill the nexte morneinge, at the ordinary time of

dischargeinge the watch (after he had caused a through

vewe
it

to

be taken

all

about from of the mount) they were

dismissed vnto their seuerall employements.

Neither was

knowen

for the present

vntill

what

vessells thes

wer that caused

tbey

this alarme

within a

day or two after

layne out

wer

found to be certaine botes of the inhabitants of Hambleton

and Pembroke

tribes,

who had
;

all

night at sea to

make oyle, to lammps and this was then their arrant. Sommer being nowe well come on, and the weather calme, the Gouernour made newe trialls for the recouerye of more goods and ordinance out of the wrackt Warwich ; but by reason her timbers wer not yet throughly rotten, nor her hold broke up, litle or noethinge could be gotten up at
fish for sharks, of

whose

liners they vse to

serue them in their

the essaye.
halfe pikes,

Only certaine yron

and the
like,

potts, kettles, croes of yron,

and one peece of ordinance (being

the fourth that had bin fetched from her) wer weyed, the

which peece was afterward mounted at the dore of the

Corps du Garde in the Kings Castle, and serueth opportunely to playe vpon the landinge place ther.

Toward the end

giuen to
all

of this

moneth (warneing haueinge bin

Gouernour made a passage
tribe,
;

the tribes) the

through the maine, beginninge at Sands his

he came by bote from the towne of
places as he went, he tooke a
St.

whether
in all
to-

Georges

and

vewe of

their corne

and

238

THE HISTORYE OP THE BEEMUDAES

bacco, and gaue a very strickt cliarge concerneinge the

well cureinge and makeinge up of the one, and for the care

the triers of tobacco

and preseruation of the other. By the waye, he also swore and wheras formerly ther had bin but
;

two of euery

tribe,

he nowe encreased them to the number In the

of three, that so ther might be a castinge voice.

beginninge of July, he caused the port-holes of the ordi-

nance in the lower plattforme in the Kings Castle to be

repayred and enlarged, that thoes great peeces might the
better and with

more

facilitie

be trauersed, and the battle-

ments

lesse damnified,

which had formerly bin much shaken

by being ouer streight. Then and ther also he began to rayse and contriue a stroung and conuenient house of hewen stone for the receipt of the Captain e of the castle and his famely, who formerly had bin very meanely lodged and
pestred in a poore smale frame, which was nowe turned

and

fitted to serue for a

Corps du Garde.

He

caused like-

wise a corne house, for the receipt of the prouision for the
garrison, to

be sett up vpon that smale iland, wherin

;

standeth Charles his Fort

and

at the

same time he made

such another at the towne, and repayred the shalope-house

ther,

which was much ruined.

the
first

Vpon

of

August next ensueinge, two

all

sayles

being discouered from the westerne partes of the Hands,

the Serieant Maior in
hast sent vp

word therof

to the

Gouernour

at the towne,

and about noone the same day

they wer discried from the Kings-Castle, wher the Captaine (accordinge to the Gouernours direction in such cases)

gaue warneinge with two peeces of ordinance, and was

answered with one from the foote of the mount.
night they came

Towards

both of

them

to an anchor,

and rode two

miles out in the open sea, vnder the shore, ouer against the

harbours mouthe of St. Georges

and presently the admirall

sent of a small bote, the which arriuinge before the fortes

that

command

that chanell, and being haled

by the com-

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

239

mandors
Powell,

ther, made answer that she came from Captaine who was abord the admirall (and this was the same
oft

Powell so

mentioned here-tofore), and from him had

to the Gouernour,

brought

letters

whervpon she

is

com-

manded

to putt in at Smithes Fort, ther to staye vntill the

Gouernours pleasure was farther knowen.

And

not long

it

was but the Gouernour (who had bin

castle,

in his shalope at the

and made

his returne

that waje)

was arriued

at

Pagetts Fort, the which being so nere vnto Smithes, the

wer quickly brought oner thether vnto him, and presently their letters, which wer to this effect, that being
straungei's

of Zealand, and commissioned

bin at the
into

West

Indies, and

distresse of water,

by Prince Maurice, he had nowe vpon returne, being falne by reason of calms, he humbly

desired admittance to refresh himselfe in that kind, for

which he would giue

all

content and satisfaction.

To which

the Gouernour (instantly retumeinge the bote) sent this

answer with her in wrightinge, that he was not ignorant

that Powell was not ignorant that (since his being here the
last

sommer,) not only the Company of Aduenturers, but

the

King

himselfe also, had giuen him absolute

command

for a generall exclusion of all

such as he, and in perticuler

of himselfe by name.

In which regard he much wondered

to find soe little vnderstandinge of himselfe,

and respect
offer

vnto him, as either to hope for any such matter, or to

it.

It

was noe meruaile,

therfore, that Powell

was nowe
;

to

find the vanitie of his presumption

by the

effect

for

he was

to seeke his refreshments els wher, and that without farther

delaye, vnlesse

he ment to staye vpon the tearmes of an

done improuidently and rashly ynough

enemye.

He had

manner ; and had it not bin that some remnants of his former freindshyp, mixt with pitty, wrought vpon him, he would assuredly haue stayed her, and
to send in his bote in that

sent back his reason by the mouthes of his ordinance.

And

with this resolution the bote

is

dispatched, so that within

240 two houres

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

after the barcks

both of them waye anchor and

depart, and, being seeue cleare of the coast

by the Gouer-

nour himselfe (who rested at the

of
it),

fort to

be an eye-wittnesse

he then returned to the towne, wher already he found

diuers of the

and

supplies, of

maine-men posted up with the hopes of newes which they are in continuall neede. But
they

being thus frustrated of both,

heades, and

hang downe

their

stormed at the merchands, stickinge not to

saye (as publickly as they darst, for feare of ye Gouernoui')

that the most part of their vndertakers would neither doe

them good themseluos, nor

suffer

any body

els.

And
thus to

to

speake freely

it

seemeth a course of much

strickt-

nesse in the company

tie

of aduenturers (not to saye oppression)

the colony, not yet ten yeares old, and soe re-

mote from all neighbours and to make it destitute of all hopes and supplies, saue such only as they themselues send
only once a yeare from England

when they

fetch

away the

tobacco
ther,

and then too so lamely and

niggardl}^, as should
fall

but at any one time (which God forbidd)

out a mis-

carriage

by the waye (and that waye

is

of three thousand

miles in length), the most part of the poore people must

needes vndergoe

many and
ill

great distresses

and numbers

of them (which wer an

and misbecomeinge sight among and barberous naked-

Christians) be found in a shamefull

nesse.

True

it is

indeed (and an obseruation not without

wonder with
hetherto
(in

all

thauckfullnesse to be acknowledged) that

it

a good houi'e be

spoken) such hath bin God's

great mercye to this his

owne worck, ther hath not any one

shyp miscarried either in her goeing or comeinge vnto thes

Hands but certainely we shall be founde to make but very unworthy and base use hereof, if it make us presumptuous, since neither colony nor company doe or can deserue that God should worck miracles for them. As for thoes common
;

and thred-bare allegations as that by a more generall admission, a dangerous discovery might be made vpon our weake-

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
nesses,

241

and the

secretts of our clianells, harbours,

it is

and fortes
other

ouer-largely diuulged

well

ynough knowen that neither

such a knowledge

is

nor can be wantinge by

to be preuented
;

many
(if

meanes and occasions not

nor we in any
the fault

such case or condition as we shall neede to feare

be not only in themselues) whatsoeuer this waye can either be knowen or discouered.

The

true cause therfore of this so

enforced and terrible a prohibition springeth from some

other groundes and motions, the which because they are

ynough vnderstoode and perceiued, for all their seuerall maskings and disguises, by the most of thoes, they are so
well

sought to be putt vpon; and being also in part (though

very succinctly) touched and pointed at heretofore, shall not

need a second time to be mentioned farther

omittinge therfore
all

in this place,

farther disputes

upon so odious an

argument, we

will returne

whence we haue digressed.

Towards the end of this moneth of August the Gouernour. began to sinck two newe plattformes in Penistones Hand
one of them vnder the redoubt of Pagetts Fort (vpon the
top whereof he had a
litle

before

made

a small plattforme,

and planted vpon

it

an excellent saker) which was to succour

that old one ther which had bin spoyled by Capt. Tucker,

and was uery unceruiceable

sakers
:

vpon which he mounted two

the other was layed out vpon a point of that

;

Hand

lieinge out to the northwards

called the pigeon-house,

and vnder a smale redoubt

Capt.

which being erected by Mr. Moore

and

left
it

forsaken and in ruins by

Tucker who
it

robbed

also of a peece of ordinance to

bestowe

els-

wher, was at this time renewed and the peece restored, as

findinge

good and requisite vse for the command of shalopes, which by a smale and narrow chanell might otherit

of

Avise

passe up vntouched into the towne harbour, and very

it selfe,

towne

and

for thes peeces,

he made three new cardescried

riages of caeder.

Noe soner

is this

done, but the magazin shyp

is

242

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDARS

from the mount, and the shalope manned out vnto her from
the towne
;

but the wind at the instant scantinge vpon her,

and with

all

groweinge

to a storme, she
Ilaiids
;

was forced

to

make

her waye round about the

bin abord her with very

but the bote haueinge

gott in againe the next

much adoe

daye after in the eueninge, bringinge newes of the losse of

many
of a

of her people, and in perticuler of her master, as also

minister,

newe

and the prime man

a straunge

for the

suger appre-

hensions, and with

in

all

rumour of much complainct

England against the Gouernour, with an expectance of Tuckers returne by the next shyp to succeede him within
:

eight dayes after the shyp her

Castle

selfe getts in at the

Kings

Harbour (great fiers haue bin continually kept in the night by the Gouernours strickt command, to direct and shew her the coast) and then the Gouernour receiues letters
from the company, in which although he found not any thinge that could confirme the former reports brought in by
the bote
;

yet by some priuate letters from diners of his

noble and sure freindes, he was giuen to vnderstand the

cours and certainety of thoes proceedeinges, the which being

straunge and altogether vnexpected could not chuse but, as

they did, giue him

much

discontent, thegroundes and origi-

nalls whereof, together with the practices

and

seuerall encite-

ments moueinge thervnto we

vnto you.

shall

nowe

succinctly deliuer

Captaine Kendall with his crue, being (as you for-

merly heard) shypped away for England the yeare before,

noe soner
Sir

is

gotten thether but hieth him selfe to his cosen

(a

Edwin Sands,

man as

well in the Virginia as

Bermuda

Courts very loqueut, and by

eloquent), to

many and

himselfe thought

him Kendall makes a pittifull complainct of being depriued by the Gouernour in the Sommer Hands of fourteene negroes giuen him by the pyrate Kirbye; enterlacing withall some other most false and scaundelous grieuSir Edwin, greedy to embrace any bold occasion of ances.
wrangle against the noble Earle of Warwick, vpon some
for-

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

243

mer disgusts betwixt them (whose negroes they wer adiudged to be) encourageth Kendall and shewes him the way to frame
and present a petition into the Court about
it;

Kendall,

proude of being thus backt, shewes himselfe at the very next

Court, with his petition, and presents it, the contents wherof war that wheras diuers Moores had been giuen him by one

Kirby, they wer, contrary to reason and equitie, deteyned,

and taken from him by the then present Gouernour of the

Sommer Hands,

Captaine

Nathaniell Butler,

for

which

wroung and hard vsage he humbly craued the

redresse of that Honourable Court.
Sir

justice

and
That
in

And in seconding hereof,

to this effect,

Edwin Sands standes up and speakes

it

true

was that his cosen Kendall had receiued much iniury

this perticuler, but that the

to be cleared herein, for

Gouernour of the Bermudoes was (quoth he and he sayd truly) " whatto that order,

soeuer he did herein, was by order from England, and that

ther wer some
to iustifie

what they had done."

knowen that Alderman Johnson, with whom he had not held any good quartei'. Vpon this speach
Sir Nathaniell Riche (a nere

who would be loathe Wherin it was well ynough he apparently aimed at Sir Thomas Smithe and
mens hands
for a

long time

of Sir Edwins,

kinsman

to the Earle of

wick, and a very temperate and honest gentleman)

of Kendall what Mooi'es thes

Wardemanded

wer he thus layde claime vnto,

and whether they wer not of the number adiudged as due vnto the said Earle if they wer, that then it was a bold and
:

sawcye fashion of him to deliuer that petition in that Lordes

absence.

Hervpon much dispute and contestation

the minister

ariseth

betweene Sir Nathaniell and Sir Edwin, so that Mr. Lewes

Hughes

(who

had

departed

for

England

together with Kendall), being present at thes broyles, and

conceiueinge that some abuse and wrong might hereby be wrought against the Gouernour of the Sommer Hands

dureinge his absence, he enformed the Gouernours brother,

called Mr.

James Butler (who was

also at the

same Court), of
E 2

244

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

a certaine note giuen liim by the Gouernour at his departure

from

hiiD,

wherby was manifested how

irregulai-ly

and dan-

gerously Kendall had demeaned himselfe during* his smale

time of his deputy-gouerment in thoes Hands, and howe

vnworthy

to receiue

any reward from the Company.

:

The

contents of the note were

"

That the said Kendall had

sold munitions to the pirate

Kirbyj had disfurnished the

fortes of their allowance of corne to furnish

him

withall

had deliuered a bote vnto him belonging

colony
;

to in

one of the

and had

let

him haue some

sa;yles

recompence

wherof he had receiued diners negroes, certaine chests,

one ebony bedsteed, and a gold ring, with some other
thinges not

knowen

in

it

was

also

mentioned how the sayd

departure of Cap-

Kendall had caused himselfe

taine Tucker,

(after the

him Deputy Gouernour), to be tumultuously chosen Gouernour by the people and that he had bragged that he relied more by far vpon that election than vpon Tuckers commission/^ This note being shewed by the Gouernours brother vnto Sir Nathaniell Riche, it was
left
;

who had

thought

fitt

that

it

should presently be giuen into the Court,

although Mr. Butler was not very williuge withall, alledgeinge (with good reason) that his brother the Gouernours

name was not

fessed
it

subscribed vnto

it,

and that although he conto

to be written with his

it

owne hand, yet knew he not

haue
it

whether
wherin

was

his brothers

meaneinge

published;

cei-tainely

he very well vnderstoode himselfe, and

was
it

in a true

aime at the Gouernours intention, who writte

in that nature

only for a note of remembrance for Mr. Lewes, and the

;

which he was only to vse

but, the opinion

and importunitie of the rest preuayleinge, the note was

thervpon publickly produced, and reade in open court, wher-

vpon most of the auditors

(as

they had iust cause) wer very

much nioued,and the matters

end
it

therin obiected against Kendall

:

held very foule and worthy to be well looked into

to

which

was demanded why the Gouernours hand was not

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
subscribed viito
it^

245
well done^ that

sayeinge that

it

had bin

thoes informations had been taken by commission ther, and

so from thence sent vnto
his brother

them by the Gouernour. To which

for thoes

answered (very truly and discreetly) that the

Court ready to

minister,

Mr. Lewes, beinge one of the counsell

in
iustifie

Hands, was

whatsoeuer was therin

written; and which was the cause (as he conceiued)

why

his

brother the Gouernour had not subscribed vnto

for the punishinge of the sayd

it

and, as

Kendall ther (which some

it

wished had bin done), he told them

it

was very

likely that

was foreborne,

in respect that he,

haueing personally and

basely wrounged the Gouernour not long before by false and

scandalous reportes,

it

might hapely haue been

sinisterly

taken by some of his passionate freindes, and blazed abroad

as

an occasion layd hold of to

;

make good

priuate

reuenge

in

which respect

it

might well be that

this refer-

ence in this case had rather bin to the

And,

in truthe, ther could not

Company in England. have bin made a more true

this affayre

and exact interpretation of the carriage of

this was,

than

howsoeuer

at that time guest at only

by the Gouer-

nours brother, the Gouernour haueinge bin heard to saye,

diners times after Kendalls departure, that he looked to be

taxed of the

Company
;

for not

questioninge of him about

the pirate Kirby

and that

for his part

:

he had only to

alledge for himselfe thes two reasons

the one in respect

silly,

that he euer found the sayd Kendall exceedinge

and

easyly led any way, especially to the worser part

thei-fore, it

and

that,

might well be that he was abused by some of

his knaueish counsellours,

who noethinge cared how

far

they

engaged him
selues.

in

any action so they might pillage for them-

received from

The other was the case. Vnworthy and base iniuries him in his owne person, in regard wherof he
it

esteemed

a course, freer from scandall and misinterpreta-

tion, to referre

him

to the

Company

in

England than to

deale with

him

himselfe, especially because he well

ynough

24()

THE HISTOKYE OP THE BERMUDAES

his

was acquainted with the humours of some of

freindes in

cheife

England (popular men

lesse affectionate

in the

Bermudo

Courts),

who wer not

and passionate in defendinge

and palliateinge the errors and offences of such as they

embraced^ and wer in faction withall, than in exclaimeinge

and plottinge against

after,

others.

And,

in truthe, this last ap-

prehension of the Gouernours was fully confirmed, not long

by a

letter,

which came by chaunce into his hands,

v,'ritten

to Captaine Kendall from Sir

shyp the George, an.

the hearesaje
of

Edwin Sands, by the 1620, wherin he signified vnto him of

Kendalls traffique with the pirate

all

Kirby, as of his sellinge vnto him ordinance, corne, botes,

sayles,

and the like; wishinge him,

in

any case, to deale

let

plainely

and confidently with him, and to

him knowe, as

sone as he could,

how

far

he had proceeded in thes courses,

and that

in soe

doing he should be sure to find him a fast

and sure kinsman and freind

any course of
iustice

and that if in the meane time wer taken against him in the Sommer
;

Hands, that he should appeale from

it

vnto the Company in

a good partie for

England, and then

his securitie.

let

him alone

to

make

The which aduice and

a

direction

seemed

alto-

gether dissonant from his open courses in that kind, and

very

much misbecominge
wealthe

man

so eagerly afi'ectinge

and

professeinge the reputation of an vpright and

excellent

common

man

as Sir

cially in this particuler,

wherin

Edwin doth in all places, espeit is well knoweu how fiercely

he hath expressed himselfe against straungers, and though

nowe he is found not only a forbearour but a supportour when the case toucheth vpon one of his owne. But thes informations of Kendall against the Gouernour
rested in quiett, and seemed to be vtterly quayled vntill the

great Quarter Court next

succeedeinge

at

what time

it

was agaiue discouered that much

secret plottinges

and close

sideinge practices had bin contriued against him vnderhand,

and that many associates had bin drawen into a conspiracye

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

247

aud factiou against

liira

in the

meane time: among the which

;

the prime ones wer Capt. Tucker

one Smithe, a grocer

and one Melin/ who being but a meane seruant to one of

the vndertakeinge merchants^ was yet as proude an one and
of as

many
of

wordes, and as sawcely peremptory as any

all
;

master of them

and

in that regard cheifly cockered

and

made vse

by Sir Edwin Sands, who certainely was the

and principall backer of
all

cheife mouer,

thes impudent

back-biters.

At

this

Quarter Court (wherin contrary to his owne know-

ledge and meaneinge, the Earle of Southampton was chosen

Gouernour of the Company, and Sir Thomas Smithe

re-

moued) the Gouernours brother began

to

make a motion

to

haue certaine promises performed which had bin made vnto

him by the whole Company.

3

But he was (somewhat im-

Elsewhere called "Meddling Mellinge".

a somewhat prominent
ber 1622, Dr. J.

Mr. Thomas Mellinge was member of the Virginia Company. In NovemDonne, Dean of St. Paul's, preached before the Com-

pany

thought

which sermon ended, it is also and agreed the custome they begun the last yeare shalbe continued, namely, to supp together, and for that cause have entreated Mr. Caswell and Mr. Mellinge (who last time so well performed it to all the Companies content) being assigned with Mr. Bennett and Mr. Rider to be stewards this yeare also, for prouidinge and orderinge of the supper, and buissines thereunto belonging, and of the place where it shalbe kept, and accordingly to giue notice thereof unto all the Companie by sending the officer with ticketts that are to be printed for this purpose, notifyinge the time and place, and what each man is to paye, which is now agreed shall be iijs. a peece, as finding by last yeares experience it cannot be lesse to beare of the full charge and for that at such great feasts venizon is esteemed to be a most necessary complement,
at St. Michael's, Cornhill, "after
fitt
;

the court hath thought

fitt

that letters be addressed, in the

name

of the

Company, vnto such noblemen and gentlemen

supper."

as are of this Society, to

request the favour at their hands and withall their presence at the said

E.

The Feast was

one
does,

D. Neile, History of the Virginia Company, p. 361. held in Merchant Taylors' Hall, " whither many of

the nobility and council were invited, but few came.

They spent twenty

a

and were between 300 and 400

at 3s.

man."

Id.

see

Nichols, iv, 781.

248
prudentl}'^

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

and

irregulerly)

sodainely interrupted

by

Sir

Edwin Sands, who made an earnest request vnto the Court,

that his cosen Kendall might haue admittance to reade his

answer to thoes former accusations inserted against him in

the Gouernours note, the which he thought could not other-

wise be esteemed of them as a meere lybell, in which respect the Gouernour deserued to be sent for home, and to

haue a

bill

preferred against

him

in the Star-chamber

to

when I heard him, being treasorour of the Virginia Company for one only yeare, to tearme the whole Company vniust, and
which heady speeche (being noe
lesse passionate than

after glad to

expound himselfe fauorably, the which by

his

good freinds was admitted him), the Gouernours brother

calmely and pertinently replied and manifested vnto the
Court, that that note was only giuen by

way

of

remem-

brance to Mr. Lewes, who being a sworne counsellour of

estate in the Hands was ther ready to had bin written in it, and that therefore
iustifie
it

whatsoeuer

could neither be
to rise ther

a lybell nor a lye.

But the Court being ready

at that sittinge.

was noe farther dispute thereof

But

this cluster of confederates, not

meaneinge

to let it

passe so, but being

uernour,

mad

in their malice against the

Go-

who was

three thousand and three hundred miles

litle

from them, and

Avith all to

proiects, and owne perticuler and diuers ends, wherof euery one of them had one by himselfe, as Sir

dreamed of any such

to their

make way

Sands to thwarte the Earle of Warwick, who he knew truely

loued and respected the Gouernour, as also to helpe out and
cleare his cosen Kendall,

and so by sending him back againe

for feare of a farther burthen:

quickly to be ridd of

him ther

Tucker likewise

for his part, that therby

he might make
reuenge him-

good

his

maine ambition and longinge desire to be returned

also, to

once more Gouernour thether: Smithe,

selfe for

being noted vnto the Company by the Gouernour

for his

for his

want of due respect, and

clamorous behauiour

oil

SUMMER

ISLANDS.

249
:

against him without

ling,

all

cause or occasion

Medlinge Meland, lastly, Mr.

hill

because the Gouernour had snibed bim to the quick,

in an

answer to one of his sawcye

letters

Kendall, as being a
all

man mainely marchinge downe

respects
;

to

dunghill actions, sencelesse of reputation, and vtterly

all

vncapable of

noble

the associateinge vnto

them, besides, one Carter, a very simple fellowe, but a perfect

drunckarde
easily

one Williams, a mutinous hare-brayne,

;

and one
also

wonne any way with a meales meate

;

as

one Hind, who, at the same time, had three wiues

liueinge in

London

one Groue, a ballad-singer, sent ouer

into the

by Sir Edwin Sands

Sommer Hands, and made

marshall ther by Kendalls wise choice and discretion dure-

inge the miserable yeare of his deputy gouerment-shyp, and

then displaced by Captaine Butler for his insufficiencye and

knauerie
;

and, lastly, one Danby, a most especiall

young

minion of Kendalls, and a beloued bedfellowe of

his,

God

knowes wherfore.
and alehouses,

This crue

(I saye)

stroungly combined
at tauernes
deli-

themselues together, and after

at last forged

many meeteinges
and

and hatched up certaine

of one
thirtie, the

cate articles to the

number

which,

within two Courtes after, wer dressed up and launced out

into the Court against the absent

Gouernour of the Sommer

Hands

in this forme.

The

title

of

them thus

Catalogue of diners wroungs

and

iniuries committed

and done hy Captaine Nathaniell Butler, Oouernour of the Sommer Hands vnto the Company in general!, and
,

to

diners planters, as also of diners extortions

and

ex-

actions of vnlawfall fees, talien or receined hy

him

or his

ministers in the sayd Hands.

The sappy pithe

1.

as followetb

He

hath made noe Act of Parlament or Lawe in his Assembly,

either for the seruice of God, or for the obseruation of the Sabaoth,

which ought to haue bin done before all thinges.

250

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

2. He hath confirmed noe lawe made here in England at our Quarter Courts for the gouernment of the people ther in Christian peace and amitie neither confirmed any former lawe made in the Somnier Hands, either for the obseruation of the Sabaoth, for the seruice of God, or for
;

the execution of justice in the Hands betweene the planters and the

owners of the Hands.

3.

He

sold this yeare the caske belouginge to the whale fishinge at

;

vnreasonable rates for tobacco, fane to his owue vse

as also the colonic

botes, likewise one barge, to one Llewellin for 140 lbs. of tobacco,

which he tooke to his owne vse, 4. He keepeth a Dutch carpenter that was cast away in a Dutch pinnace to make botes vpon the publique, and sells them away for his

owne vse
5.

at unreasonable rates.

caused this yeare, by vertue of an Act of Parlament made in the sommer, 1000 lbs. of tobacco or more to be taken from the planters

He

and owners of the best tobacco, before any diuision was made towards the payment of the men that built the mount which sayd mount did neuer cost him 250 lbs. in all, and formerly noethinge. 6. He caused this yeare, by his warrants, collections towards watch and ward to be made through out all the tribes, a thinge neuer heard
;

of before.

ferry

Mr. John Yates for the tobacco, and one John Dutton sent home and entred this yeare about 1700 lb., being but a bayliff, and carryinge ouer with him but one boy.
7.

He
;

caused a collection to be

made

for

the said Yates returned about 900

lbs. of

8.

He

sold cordage belonginge to the whale-fishinge this yeare for

tobacco, and sayles, and other implements, belonginge to the treasorour

and
9.

frigate that

was

cast

away

in Captaine Kendalls time,

and yet

layeth the same vpon the sayd Capt. Kendall.

He

sent in the beginninge of this haruest into all the tribes the

Prouost Ottwell and Woodward to collect his debts before any diuision was made, some of which sayd debts were oweinge for tobacco lost at dice.
10.

He

tooke extraordinary fines of some offenders this yeare, as of

;

one Nash 50 lbs. of tobacco, who stoode also upon the pillory likewise one Robert Tap and one Legge and sequestred dead mens goods into his own hands as due to him, without giueinge any accompt of the
;

same.
11.

He
Efe

hyred out the poore Dutch men formerly cast away and tooke

the proflitt to himselfe, as also the Treasorours

12.

men

this yeare.

maketh such

as

haue warrants to goe for England vsually to

pay

1 lb. of tobacco for his warrant.

He causeth the Marshall to erect extraordinary fees, vpon all men committed, the fees being written in capital letters in the Marshalls house ; if the offeudor be a counsellor or captaine he pays 20 lbs. of
13.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
tobacco fee and
15
lbs.
1

251
;

lb. of

tobacco a day for his diet

;

if

a liuetenant

fee

and

1 lb.
;

of tobacco for diet

if

1 lb. for his diet

for a

common man

lbs.

an ensigne 10 lbs. fee and of tobacco fee and 1 lb. of

tobacco for his diett.

14.

He

concealed theft committed by one Crowther his man, for

goods stolen from one Woodall, for which he was neuer punished nor
questioned.
15. He furnished Captaine Scouten, a Dutch man, with some men and gaue him a bote of Captaine Hindes, and payed uoethinge for it, and at his returne from the West Indies victualled him home for

Holland.
16.

He gaue

to one Captaine Baker, a pyrate or

Dutch man of warre,

this yeare againe

a warrant vnder his hand to haue a free trade with a magazin in the

for the
17.

Sommer Hands from the Lowe Sommer Hands.

Countries,

who

is

gone

tooke of John Powell, another English captaine, one chaine of wedge of gould, two siluer candle sticks, one silver ewer, one rapier and dagger, the hilts one of silver, which some Spanish rialls, with some veluett silck grogram, and silck stockinges, with diuers other
gold, one thinges, in consideration whereof Powell sold his other commodities at

He

excessive rates in the Islands, watered

18.

and

victualled.

He

hath reported in the

liuetenant,

that he was his Maiesties and not the Companyes Gouernour, and that he scorned to

Sommer Hands
is.

serue so base a
19.

Company

as this

He made

out seuerall warrants to the salters to gather in old

debts before any diuision was made, and so seazed the best tobacco for
the debt for his
20.

owne

vse.

owne

men seruants from their masters lands for his and some he hath sent home without order from the owners, contrary to his first Act of Parlament. 21. He setteth publick men vpon the overplus and other mens lands
hath taken some
vse,

He

takeinge the benetitt of their labours to him and them, neglectinge the
plantinge of the publique land, the absence of which people doth dayly

indanger the whole Islands

if

any enemie should approach, ther beinge

fewe or none
soeuer.

left to

plye the ordinance, or tend any other seruice what-

22. He letteth out botes to hyre to bring downe tobacco from the maine to the shyp at extraordinary rates, refused 20 lbs. of tobacco of Mr. Gores man this yeare to bring downe but a tunne of cask, which is one p. cent., and noe botes are left for lesse than ten pounds of

tobacco.
23. He freed such men from publique worck as would giue him ten pounds of tobacco a man, but such as did not made the great fort, and did other worcks, wherof he boasteth.

252

THE HISTORYE OF TUB BERMUDAES

24. He hath killed two of the oxen in the Sommer Hands, and sliott some of the goates with his peece, and eate them, without order from

hence,
25.

He

is

common

dicer,

and giues entertainement to any that

or tobacco, either in his

will

play in his company for

els

money

owne house or

wher.

He beate Old Needham, and drew his sword v^Don him at the Gouernours owne house. He beate likewise one Batt Payne, when he was a prissonner, and one Robert Williams, whom, when he had beaten downe, he trode v^jon his neck till he was like to be straungled, because he would not kneele and aske for forgiuenesse.
26. 27.

He

suffred

Otwell,

1,000 lbs. of tobacco, and also a

by exactinge of fees this man and a boy to be

;

yeare, to gaine
his bond-slaues,

because they were not able to paye their fees

the one

was Mr.

Scotts

boye
28.

the other, Mr. Delawries man.

He

suffred at the comeinge in of the Joseph noe

man

to goe abord

but Otwell, the marshall, to buy up the aqua-vitse, and oyle, etc., who keepeth a tap-house, and sells thes thinges againe for mony at extraordinary rates.
29.
his

He
He

seazed vpon

all

Mr. Ferrars prouision, and sold them awaye for

Captaine Hind lOO
lbs.

owne

at extraordinary rates.

30.

tooke this present yeare from

of

tobacco towards payment for scoureinge and keepinge the armes, and
also for

powder spent in exercizeinge the men, a thinge neuer knowen

tooke this present yeare of one Allen, a planter, on the pub-

before.
31.

He

lique land, for a warrant for his passage for

England 50

lbs. of

tobacco,

and this man came without any warrant. ham, who had a warrant likewise, 50 lbs.

He

tooke also of one

Down-

of tobacco.*

Thes libelous
hands

articles

wer handed into the Court by that

Smithe, the grocer, formerly mentioned, yet without any

at all subscribed vnto

them

so that being

vewed by

the deputy and some others of the assistants, sitting aboue

it was by them demanded of Smithe how he came by them, and who they wer that Avould take vpon them to be the authors who answei-ed, that he knewe noethinge, and that he only found them lieing in his shop; whervpon it being thought altogether vnfitt to haue them

the half pace,

The reader

will find these articles,

but without the replies of Cap-

tain Butler, printed from a defective copy found

among

the Colonial

Records, in the Memorials^

etc., vol.

i,

p.

272.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

253

read in publick, a committe was selected to examine them,

the which, after diuers sittinges about
of profe, nor any thinge to
it,

findinge noethinge
of,

make any matter

the heate

of the businesse and noice of the clamour became husht and

smothered up

only the Gouernours brother haueinge proarticles, sent

cured a copy of the sayd

them

into the

Som-

mer Hands

to the Gouernour,

who, by the returne of the

same shypiuge, returned them vnto him, thus answered.

The arrant
"

Articles ansivered hy

Nathaniell Butler.
it is

To the
if

first article

of the one and thirtie,

answei-ed,

that

the wordes seruice of God, here vsed, be

meant

re-

stinctiue to a

forme of churche seruice

that
all ciuill

(for

otherwise

who

knowes not but

God)
;

lawes tend to the seruice of

then behold the only article

;

grosse falssification

for

it is

true that

among them all without we made noe lawe in

noe more did we
for

our generall Assembly against the breach of the Sabaoth,

nor for a forme of churche seruice

felonies, murthers,

nor treasons.

And
it

our reason was that

the lawes of England haueing, with so great iudgement and

iustice,

prouided in thes cases

had bin

(as

we tooke

it)

an highe presumption in vs to haue meddled with any of

them, and therefore applied our selues wholy to such perticttlers as

touched vpon our selues, and which the lawes of

of,

England could not take notice

hath somewhat to
I
it selfe

because euery climate

in peculier.

And

yet,

howsoeuer,

see

not with what integritie or discretion this article

was preferred against myselfe in perticuler, since, for my owne part, I had only one single voice as all other men in
this our free generall

Assembly, the which also I practised

spareingely as haueing bin informed that they are seldome

the best parlamentall

"

men

that are allwaies in orations.

To

the second

it is

replied that indeed

we confirmed not

in

our generall Assembly (for alone and single I neuer

tooke vpon

me

to

be a lawe-maker) any of your Quarter

254

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

Court orders, because we held them allwayes sufficient of themselues without our approbation^ and so approued of

them by our submission. As for a certaine sort of articles, formerly hung up in the churches by Captaine Tucker, and wholy deuised of his owne braine, I confesse I neuer could find in my heart, nor durst call them lawes, much lesse confirme them to be soe, since in many perticulers they wer
both dissonant from the lawes of England and all equall distribution of justice, euery petit-larceny and two peny pilfery
being equally rated with the highest felonies, and censured
with death.
"

To the
in

third

it is

sayd, that true

it is

that

vpon a generall

and

pittifull

complainct of the want of tubbs and cask to

in,

wash

and pack up tobacco

findinge in a certaine iland

a heape of cask staues that had layne ther three or foure

yeares, I caused a cooper to

make some
to

of

them

into tubbs

and cask, the which I caused

be sold vnto the people at

a reasonable rate, the one halfe therof being to pay the

cooper for his worck, the other for publick seruice

to the

so that

much

ease and content of the people, about 200 lbs.

all

of tobacco in

was recouered

this waye,

and which,

if it

had not bin done, the people had bin

vtterly rotten

much
for

distressed in

thoes prouisions, and by this time thes cask-staues had bin

and nought worthe

As

my bote-sellinge,

I deny not but that I sold that only one rotten barge to
that one Flwellin mentioned in this third article for 120 lbs.

of tobacco, yet not before I

had made another

in her roome,

worthe 250
"

lbs.
it is

To

the fourth

confessed that I hired a Dutch car-

penter to staye with

thes Hands, and

me

dureinge

my

gouerment here

in

that

to

the exceedinge benefitt of the

plantation, as the effect shewes, for he hath multiplied their

botes (of which ther

is

noethinge more needfull nor im-

portant) into fine times the

is it

number

that I found them.

I

Yet
the

most

false that

by his meanes

made botes vpon

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.
publick to
sell

255

them againe
this,

at vni'easonable rates, since all

the world here can wittnesse for

refused to doe

me

that I euer constantly

although

much

sollicited
all

by the country

in generally because I
this
;

would auoid

colour of scaundall
all

waye but nowe I perceiue it was impudent malice dare saye any thinge.
"

in vaine, because

To

the

fifth it is

answered

that,

haueing built the mount,

raysed Southampton Fort, cutt out Deuonshire plattforme,

made
rail

fifteene

newe carriages
iust

for

your ordinance, our gene-

Assembly (assembled by your iniunctions and instrucfound

it

tions)

and equall

to present

me

with 1,000

lbs.

of tobacco towards the 1,500 lbs. which

it

cost me, the

which was afterwards respectfully leuied by the baylies of

the tribes without any warrant of mine at
all.

As

for the

worcks done in Mr. Moore's time, you selues may wittnesse

for me.

in thes kindes

and how

they wer done, that they cannot be done so at the present,

"To the 6th, although

gatiue
lie,

I could sufficiently

answer

this article

and most of the ensueinge, with glueing them a plaine neand makeing
it
it

good too when

ill

haue done

yet,

because I euer held

a word of an

sound, I haue rather

chosen

(for

reuerence sake) to saye that in good truthe, ther

;

was neuer any suche matter

was
it

for that the

watch and ward

here mentioned was euer payed by mine owne purse, yet

kept for a generall preseruation, and therfore

will in

time noe doubt (accordinge to reason) be made a generall

charge.
"

To

the 7th

it is

protested that ther was neuer any such

collection made as the article talks of, nor did the said Mr. John Yates (beinge one of the counsell) euer receiue anj-

thinge of the people, for his keepeing of the ferry (for

which he dwells most opportunely of

all

others) saue a wil-

linge beneuolence of whatsoeuer euery famely pleased to

giue him, the which (as he protesteth) neuer

halfe the value here articled.

As

for

ammounted to Mr. John Button (one

256

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

is

of the counsell likewise) he

ready to

iustifie

vpon oathe

that for the yeare here mentioned, in steade of the 1,700 lbs.

of tobacco, sayd by him to be sent home, and entred, ther

was not so much as one pound, and yet he brought ouer with him three boyes, over and aboue that only one instanced by the informers.
"

To

the 8th

it is

affirmed that ther

was neuer sold

to

my

knowledge of the whale-fisheinge coi^dage, beyond the value of fine pounds sterlinge ; and that was done vpon the extreame want and
planters,
pittifull

importunitie of certaine poore

in

whose botes wer

as
for

continuall danger for

want

therof;

sayles

or implements

belonginge to the

Treasoruur or Dutch frigate, I neuer sawe any dureinge

my

time worth the sellinge, and therefore could

that
if

sell

none, so

any such thinge was done,

it

was done by thoes that

had the first fingringe of them. " To the 9th it is answered and avowed, that I neuer sent any officer in my life to collect any debts of mine or any
other

mans
I

before the generall diuision

tickett,

nor did I euervse

I cared not

to playe

vpon the

beyond that which

whether
"

wonne

or lost.

To the 10th

it is

auouched that ther wer neuer any

fines

imposed vpon any one, but by the publick censure of the

whole body of the counsell in open assize
sequester any deade
;

nor did I euer

mans goods,
of.

farther than the duty of

my

place required, the goods being orderly prized, and as

iustly

giuen account
the 11th
it

answered that thes Dutchmen here mentioned wer most of them hired out before I came here and thoes of the Treasorours people wer euery way as well vsed, and went vpon as good tearmes as any of mine owue
is

"To

people.
"

To

the 12th

it

is

sayd, that ther

was neuer taken more

for

any warrant to

my knowledge

than I found presideuted

vnto

me by my

predecessors.

OB SUMMER ISLANDS.

2o

"To

the lotlij that the fees allowed vnto the marshall

wer held bothe by myselfe and the Counsell to be very reasonablcj and it was thought a good discretion, to make

men
many
"

answerable for their faults this waye

that therby
;

they might learne to keepe themselues faultlesse

esteerae their purse
els.
it is

since

more than

either creditt or

any

thinge

To the 14th

replied, that the

quoted Woodall lend-

ing certaine tobacco to Crowder, the said Crowder (vpon

present occasion) in the absence of Woodall, presumed to

take

it

of himselfe.
is

This being taken in snuff by Woodall,

the controuersie
as

brought before

me

and being found

you haue heard, was ordered accordingly, noe felloneous

all

entent at

appeai-einge in Crowder, nor Woodall

making

any such accusation. " To the 15th it

is

aflSrmed, that

importunities of one of mine

vpon owne seruants

the

extrearae

called
:

William

Warman
him

being at the same time very sickly

I suffered

to passe for

England with Scouten Cbehold how he was

:

him also, but to his cost, for euery child here can saye I had by far the better bargayne as for any victuallinge he had from hence, it is so groundlesse and false a tale, as it very well and truely resembleth the Fathers.
furnished with men)
I chaunged a bite with
:

"To
in the

the 16th

it is

answered, that this baker who came

in Kendalls yeare,

Dutch pinnace
all

had neuer any

and surely,

warrant at

vnder

my

hand, nor euer the least prouiise

;

of trade, without the Compau3'es addmittance

if it

be true

(as this Article talks of) that last

he made out for

his waye,
for

thes

Hands the

yeare, he hath

lost

hetherto

we neuer

sett eye

on him.
it

"To

the 17th, concerneinge Powell

is

sayd,

and not
certaine

denied, but that Powell, at his being here,

made

presents vnto me, as Gouernour (a custome not straunge

any wher in the

like case) as a rapier

and dagger with yron

s

258

THE HISTORYE 0? THE BBRMUDAES

siluerd hilts in steed of the Articles siluer ones,

and

also

certaine

silck

stockinges,
;

which

it

is

well

knowen wer

giuen to the bringei'

in requitall

wherof I returned vnto

him by the same hand, an excellent sword and two fayre

equinoctiall dyalls.

As

for the

one chaine of gold, the one

smale wedge of gold, the one siluer candlestick, which these fine informers haue made two, and the one siluer

ewer
fiftie

bought them of the sayd Powell, at the prize of pounds sterlinge, as appeareth by a bill signed by
I

myne hand,

the which

my

brother and others haue seene in

England, and payed him part of the sayd mony, the whole
not being to be payed vntill
ther fore,
is

my

returne
;

how impudent,
vpon concomdis-

the sequall of this article

as that,

sideration hereof, he

was

to

haue

libertie to sell his

is

modities at excessiue rates, since ther

noe gi^eater

content

among

the people than that the

Company hath

prohibited them any more such good bargaines.

" To the 18th, it is confessed that I haue deliuered publickly, that by vertue of his Maiesties gracious letters patents, graunted to the Honorable Company, and their graunts to me, I was, as his Maiesties Deputy Lieutenant
here, and so to be obeyed
;

as for denyeinge
lesse puttinge the
;

my

seruice to

the sayd Company,

much

tearme base

vpon so honorable a

Societie

I trust

I shall neuer be
it
;

found so foolishly base, as once to thinck

hetherto, I

am

sure I haue neuer spoke

it,

nor

is

ther an honest

man

in the world that will affirme the contrary against

me.

"The 19th Article being about giueing out warrants before the diuision of tobacco, hath had its full payment in my
former Answer to the 9th.
"

To the

20th,

it

is

graunted that at the

arriuall,

first

returne of

shypinge after mine

entrusteinge
it

myselfe vpon

Capt. Kendall (who of purpose

vnfitt),

may

be, sorted the

most
but

ther was an errour committed in giueing a libertie

;

of returne to some that ought to haue bin deteyned

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
this, since

259

my

better experience, hath bin carefully auoided

yet did

neuer take any mans seruants from his masters

all

land for mine owne vse; but, as

kno\^e here, by

all

meanes eudeauoured " To the 21st, it

I sawe

to doe all right in this kinde.

is

answered that thes malicious enit

formers knowe well (though myselfe could not doe

it)

before

that, that only part of publick land allotted

vnto

me
is

as Gouernour, to place

my men vpon
all

and plant tobacco,

is

the very same that pastoreth

our cattel; neither

ther (as yet) any other place, through want of water and

grasse that can doe

it

besides.

Thes

cattle,

both

by

former and late

orders from you of the Company, are

by

all

meanes

to be preserued.

So that being hereby of

necessitie to forbeare

course lead

my land, I was forced to followe the me by my predecessors, and to suffer thoes

me by
the Order of the Court, to bestowe
it

few of the Coloney men, that I could find at the 32 pro-

mised vnto

themselues abroad wher they best liked, prouided that

wer done without endammageinge of any

yet for
fortes
all this (as all

others.

And

honest will beare record for me) the

wer neuer so

stricktly looked vnto as at the present,

nor the ordinance in half so good plight.

"All the

22tli Article
all

is

whole-lie inuented

by the

in-

formers, without

coulour or shewe of ground.

" The 23th,

also, is

very

fittly
;

coupled with the former,

for I

being iust of the same

stufFe
life

neuer tooke one

pound of tobacco
only to
suffer

in

my

for

the release of any one,

it,

from any publique worck, nor neuer came neerer

lazie

than
hire

and vnseruiceable fellowes

to

seconds to worck in their roome; but

how they agreed

with their seconds, and what they payed, I neuer looked

after.

of

"To my

the 21th

it is

answered, wher ther

is

mention made
haue

killinge of

two oxen, that ther was neuer two of

I

them

in the

Hands before

came;

since, indeed, ther

s2

260
bin

THE HISTORYE OE THE BERMUDAES

made

diuevs

yet deny I not, but that upon certaine

assurance of tbe miscarriage of the cowes^ by being oaerharried with ouer-many bulls^ I killed two very old ones^

wherof one had bin gelded not long before, and truely wer
thes cattle

myne owne,

I should sone sett foure or fiue

;

more of them on goeing the same way, for the same cause and yet well ynough knowen it is, that T am noethinge so
greedy of bulls beefe as thes Plaintives are of aqua-vitse.
It is true also that I killed an old he-goate,

and shott him

through the heart with

taken otherwise.

my
it

peece, because he

would not be
per-

But

was done vpon a beliefe that he

;

occasioned the rest to miscarry

though since

it

is

ceiued that the poore beast had great wroung,

because

most of the
it is

rest of
to

thought

them haue died without my helpe, and be with takeing ouermuch tobacco.
it

"As
first

for the 25th, I

need not be denied but that at

at

my

comeinge

vsed to play at dice, sometimes in mine

owne howse, and sometimes money and tobacco yet not

;

my

liuetenants,

both for

so

commonly, nor with any

;

such

common

fellowes as most of thes articles

it
;

and when-

soeuer I did this,

of gaineinge

was done fayrely, and with a contempt

neither did 1 conceiue
it

by

it

vtterly vnne-

cessary for a time, to practice this familiaritie

officers
;

among mine

because,

by

it

they might find that I could be both

sociable

and honestly merry among them, the which since

:

they haue found to be true

of,

I also

haue almost utterly

left

this course of lettinge of

them

to

knowe
old

it.

ation of

"Touchinge the 26th, much wroung,

in the nik,

it is

confessed that vpon an inform-

offered
I

me by

Needham, he

comeinge
not with

and

being angry, strooke him, yet

I

my

sword (which

scorne to vse vpon an old

since,

man), but with

I

my

hand; but
false tale, I

haueing found that

satisfied

was abused by a

haue

him, by ac-

knowledginge myne errour, which

honest man.

I hold the part of

an

As

for

Payne, I bestowed

my

truncheon vpon

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

2G1

him indeed, but duely,

of certaine vessells

for his

sawcey couuayeinge away

for

of wiue,
it

reserued

the

ministers,

and entendinge
laugh at them
J

to tiple

with his'compagnionSj and then

it is

yet was he not a prisonnour then, as

impudently affirmed, for I only found him

house.

in the marshalls

Robert Williams, also a pereratory fellowe of very

insolent behauiour,
speritt, for his

and of a scuruye kind of mutinous

takeinge vpon himselfe in a brauery the

yet neither beate him downe nor

foule fact of another, I strooke once or twise with a reede

had

in

myne hand

trode vpon his neck, but only clapt him by the heeles vntill
I

had taught him to find his errour.

It

may, perhaps, be

censured by some of an irregular course for a magistrate

to vse blowes with his

that the most temperate

owne hand yet well knowen it is commanders that euer wer haue
; ;

sometimes bin putt to the vse of their truncheons

truthe should
first arriuall
all

and in

men

that vsed to deserue

it

here, at

mye
and

haue bin clapt in prison, I should hardly haue

;

found prison-roome ynough to haue conueyed them

besides,

bothe mine owne worck,

;

and

the vndertakers

would haue bin much hindred

for so

accustomed they had

it

bin to the cudgell by Captaine Tucker, as a good while

was before they could be brought

it;

into any order without

but nowe, haueing generally learned a better lesson, I

also

haue quite quitted that kind of

the 27th
it

discipline.

"To
by

is

answered, that Ottwell,

my

Prouost

Marshall, hath oSered to take his oathe that he gained not

his place, or fees, in

any other yeare, yet aboue 1001. of

Tobacco, which thes informers haue made a thousande.

for Scotts Boye,

As

they wer only

left

and Delawnes man (who wer both felons) vnto the Marshall, vntill they had earned
;

out their due and equall fees

the which they haue done

long since, and are restored

in their

and thes diligent informers

againe.

13th Article, rubbed vpon this very point once

before; and

nowe they have here about with

it

262

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

it

But
and

may
is

easily

be guesst at why such kinde of creatures

as they are so full of inuectiues against this kind of officer;

it

wonder they rayle not against ray causeinge to

be erected a newe payre of gallowes, a cage for drunckards,

a pillory, and a whyppinge post.

" Touchinge the 28th, I confesse I held

it

not

fitt

that

suche kind of people as thes Articlers should be suffred

to neglect their tobacco bussinesse at

home

to

gadd abord
if

euery newe come shyp

to

be drunck, and therfore caused

;

the Marshall continually to keepe good rule ther

being
it is

ther he bought any aqua vitae, wine, or oyle, I protest

more than
very sure

I
of,

knewe

or euer heard before

only, this I

am
men
an
all

that he dares not keepe any tappinge dis-

orders in his house, whatsoeuer thes wide-mouthed

dare affirme in England, since he and

sufficiently

all

others here are

giuen to vnderstand that I

all

am

as

fierce

enemie to
^^

such practices, both in mine

officers

and

others, as euer

was any Gouernour here

yet.

The 29th is a most cunning and insinuateinge trick. For not only Mr. Ferrars owne people, but all the world
here will beare

me

wittnesse that I neuer touched any part

or parcell of any of his prouisions in

my

life,

otherwise

than by a carefull layeinge of them vp for him in our

publick store, neither did I
of meale to any one,
all

sell

so

much

as one

penyworth

that whole deare yeare.

" To the 30th

world than
reports: for
this
all

it is

sayd,

and willbe mainteyned that ther

cannot be a more worthlesse nor vngratefull

man

in the

Hinde,

if

he affirme what this Article

here, that whatsoeuer he gott
it

men knowe

and carrid with him honestly, he had

I

by

my
;

fauour and

pitty of him, being otherwise wreachedly poore

and surely

haue euer yet bin fauoured with a better condition than

to have

need

to

robb the spittlehouse.

ycelded vnto, as an answerable

"As
the

for the last Article of this bunch, the 31th beinge

game on

the head,

it is

OK SUMMEE ISLANDS.
conclusion to the vest of the buildinge.

263

For

this Allen

articled for was a colony man, who, preteudinge newes of his father^s death, and much dammage to be sustained by

absence, cryed vnto

of him, gaue

me

to
;

goe home againe.

I pittyinge

him leaue yet neuer tooke a pounde tobacco more of him than fiftie pounds, which was for
yeares worck, as euery one kuowes.

of
his

And
;

thus I have sent

you answered as impudent and groundlesse Articles as

(as I thinck)

the world euer yet had

wherby not only my

selfe

(dureinge mine absence) haue receiued most vnde;

serued cowardly wroungs

but the Honorable Company

ill

and their Court

example/^

also, a

notorious affront, and of very

And

vnto the
all

sinceritie,

and

in

verification

of

thes

answers,

the counsell and officers of the

their

Hands sub-

scribed, protestinge

readinesse to affirme as

much

vpon

their oathes

whensoeuer they should be called ther

pressinge to giue in his testimonye, for

unto, euerye

man

the disprofe of thoes impudent and malicious articles, which

generally wer

much

detested

so that the Gouernour rather

wanted paper than handes

to expresse his iustification.

But the ale-hantinge articlers in England, pei'ceiueinge they could not by their scriblinge produce the reuenge that they desired; not restinge so, they fell vpon newe tricks and proiects, to make good their malice and spleene against the Gouernour, and of these, Tucker was indeed a stoute
leader and a braue captaine.
First of
all

therfore

(con-

ceiueinge himselfe a very gracious

man

with the Company),

he sued into the Court for a patente, wherby he would be

made

sole

Gouernour of the common land, as

;

also

Gouernour

of the fortes

but this was sylently and with a scorne

reiected, euerye

man knoweinge him

to be a better gardiuer

than a Gouernour,

That fayleinge, he gaue out by himselfe

and

his twang that it was certainely knowen that the Gouernour (vpon disgusts receiued from the Company)

264

THE HISTORYE OF THE BEEMUDAES

resolued to forsake the Hands and his charge ther by that

yeares shypinge.
to

In which regard,
left

it

being very dangerous

it

haue the Hands

at six

and seuens,

was very
elected

requesite that either a

newe Gouernonr should be

and sent by that shypinge, publickly

select

profes'sed, or that a

committe of

six

men

should cliuse a

man

secretly,

whose name should be

closely sealed

up

in a boxe, haueing

a large commission giuen vnto him, which he should vse

accordinge as he found occasion

when he came

ther,

and

not to be knowen

who he was

untill

then, the which fine

man he ment
much many
as he

should be himselfe.
also,

But the Company sone

and larght
at
it,

smelt out this his rare deuice

in so

was generally

stiled

vpon the Exchange, and

in

other places, the Jack in the Box.

Being thus growne

man, but freed

poore and bare, his third shyft was, that he might goe ouer
to line

upon

his

owne

land, ther, as a priuate

ther,
;

and priuilidged from the Gouernment

answerable to the justice of the place

and not any way

the which also being

held altogether irreguler and without example, as rather

being a request
of from
pajn^e
;

fitt

for

knaues and outlawes than honest

frustrate

and worthy men, he became absolutely

all

and putt
dis-

his

deepe deuises, and grewe altogether in

yet had he so confidently relied vpon them, and so

certainefcie of their takeinge, as
first

promised vpon himselfe a

he not only wrote vnto his planters by the he would assuredly come vnto them,

shyp, that

in spite of all enemies,

by the second shyp (haueinge shypped some barrells of beere vnto them also, to entertaiue him at his arriuall, which wer
afterwards merrily drunck up by such as rather wished
their

company than

his),

but also had bin abord the sayd

second shyp himselfe, and ther pointed and sett out his

owne cabbin, together with

up
all

his

wiues and his maydes,

to dresse

which he determined to take very speedely, and

for the voiage.

But being thus generally frustrated of

he remained behind
at

his delicate hopes,

home

to plott

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
aucl deuise

2G5

returne.

newe lies and practices against the next yearea The cheife and almost only discontent that the
all

Gouernour receiued by
found to be in
charitably

his

packiuge being from the

readynesse and procliuitie that he therby perceiued and

many

of the

Company

to

apprehend vuwheras

and

rashly of

him and

his proceedinges,

he expected (accordinge to reason and common vse in such cases) to haue found them his patrones and protectors ; but
in this also

he was much releiued and comforted by being

the
halfe

assured that they wer generally and almost only of the

sitters

beneath

pace, being shop

keepers and

pedlers,

who

still

fawne vpon and cocker their Gouernours

when they are newe, and sodainely after endeauour as much to disgrace and canuas them. But we will nowe returne to the magazin shyp, who (as we have sayd) was
gotten in in a very sickly estate into
harbour.

the King-castle

The very next dayes night

after

whose

arriuall,

the Gouernour, about the middle of the night, receiued

hastie

newes by a dismayed messenger from Sands

his

tribe, that

one hundred Spaniards wer landed vpon that

dis-

part,

and that diuers other botes and some shyps wer

lie

Whervpon (haueing fii'st well couered to of at sea. manned all the fortes) he instantly made thether in pei'son, with some twenty men in their armes, determineinge as he found cause to drawe together more men by the way out of
the maine, and gett thether by the breake of the next day,

when, insteede of an enemy which he expected, he mett

only with
a

company

of poore

delected Portugalls and

Spaniards, who, in their passage from Cartagena in the

Indies for Spaine, in company of the Spanish fleete, by the very same storme that had endangered our owne shyp (as you have heard) had lost theirs vpon our terrible rocks. They wer to the number, men, women, and children,
of seuenty, and had saued themselues partly in their shyp-

West

bote and partly vpon a raft;

soe that (by

Gods

gi-eat

266

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

mercy) not any one of tliem perished^ although they had

forsaken their broken and tattered shyp at least ten miles

Rome of thes wer found people of fashion, and some women ther wer much to be pitted, wherof one of the cheifest was within three dayes after brought in bedd of a
of at sea.

boye.

The Gouernour

receiued

them with
all

all

the comfort and

releife that Avas possible,

causeinge

such goodes of theirs

sort of

as had bin pillaged from

his people

them by some of the baser

(who had begun to be fingring with them) to be

restored

and in

perticuler,

haueing vnderstoode by the

captaine and pylote

that
first

the meaner sort of their

owne
left

marrinours, vpon the

apprehension of their danger,

had stolne from them

in the shyp-bote,

and not only

them them

to the
also
all

mercye of the

seaes, but carryed

away with

such monyes as could hastely be gotten, so

that the better sort,

vtterly destituted.

who had most right vnto it, wer therby Vpon justice by them, herein discretly

demanded, the Gouernour caused a soudaine search to be

made among all the sayd marrinours, and recouered from among them all to the quantitie of one hundred and fortie
pounds
sterlinge, or ther abouts (the

which before witt-

nesse) he deliuered into the captaines hands, to be

em-

ployed in a generall purse towards a generall keepeinge of

them dureinge

their

abode here

and so

billeted

them
by

abroad among the people of that part, wherou they wer fast
cast, at the rate of a doller, or foure shillinges English,

the weeke for a heade.

Only the captaine,

pilote,

and

some others
most of them

of the cheifest, both of the

men and women,

weeks,
vntill

he caused to be conueyed to the towne, wher they lined the

at his

owne table

for nine or ten

he

shypped them away

haueinge giuen

for England, as

we

shall
all

heare hereafter,
the fortes as by

command and

direction to

the waye they came any thinge neere them, that they should

speakc loude vnto them with their ordinance, the which.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
thougli they perhaps might enterprete as a biddinge of

267

wellcome, yet he entended

that he was able to giue

it

as a lettinge of

them them kuowe

in

it^

both them and their shyps,

all

what fashion he
their

listed^

nourishinge them with

in

all

the

ignorance he could concerneinge such perticulers wheriu

knowledge might be any way

preiudiciall,

and on the

contrary, puttinge on the best face he

was possibly able

vpon

all

thoes thinges that might any waye speake the

strength and reputation of the Hands.

The Gouernour haueinge thus

caused
all

settled this affayre, turned

;

himselfe to the occasions of the shyp

and

first

of

all

he

her sick passengers (which wer very many) to be

had on shore, where they wer releiued and looked vnto then the magazin goods (of which ther wer reasonable
store,

though the most of them none of the

fittest),

and the

two Cape merchands (being more by one man euer ther

vsed to be one shypinge) wer appointed their residence in
a newe store-house, built of purpose by the Gouernour this
yeare to that end.

This done, precepts are sent downe into

all

the maine to vrge the people to their worck, and with

conuenient speede to bring up their tobacco to the shypinge,

wherof not

lesse than

twenty thousand waight had bin In

torne and spoyled in the feildes by the former storme.

this shyp, ther

wer

also sent

by the Company ten boyes

and ouer-

apprentices, to

be placed on the generall land, and by

also to the custody

the

Company wer appointed

sight of the gunner of Smithes-Fort, in regard wherof, he

was allowed the one

dition, that the

halfe of their labour,

and

for the other

this con-

to stand answerable to the

Company; but with

whole yeares crop should be sent home vnto

them euery yeare in lumpe, a course the which, as being newe and straunge, bothe caused a loathnesse and difficultie in the gunner to receiue them upon thoes tearmes (which
certainely he

had not done but

for the importunitie

and

vrgeiuge of the Gouernour), and also gaue an apparent

268

THE HISTOKYE OF THE BEKMUDAES

euidence to the Gouernoui* himselfe that the

Compauy

litle

make good their promises, by order of him in the supply of his men (wher of he allwayes wanted twenty of his due number), since they thus tooke up a newe deuice and course to frustrate and auoid him, not doubtiuge but that this addle egge had bin hatched and brought up by the plottinge aud suggestions of some
ment
or cntended to

Court, vnto

of his talkatiue opposites in their Courts,

who endeuored

noethinge more than how to discontent and discourage him.

With

this

shyp ther arriued likewise about one hundred

newe
at the

planters,

and very well supplied and prouided.

some wherof were people of good fashion, The Gouernour also

fifteene barrells of

same time receiued

gunpowder

from the Company, and some great shott; but expectinge

farther (accordinge to an intimation of such perticulers in

the generall letters) to haue found some store of rozin, tarr,

fishinge lines, course oyle for the armes,

and some other

;

necessaryes, he found himselfe vterly deceiued

tarr and rozin

only the

came (veiy

ill

conditioned) by the next shyp,

wherby he perceiued a bold negligence (not to say worse) in the husband of tlie Company, who, being by them entrusted to see such thinges prouided and shypt oner, either

regarded not the charge imposed vpon him, or mis-applied

it

to his

owne

pei'ticuler, to the

great danger and hinderance

of the plantation.

In the moneth ensueiuge, the second shyp of this yeare,

called the James,

was

di scried

from the Mount, who that

also,

day came

in into the

townes harbour; and she

by the

heates of the season, had by the waye lost her master, and
diuers of her passengers.

In her ther returned into the Hands Mr. Lewes [Hughes],

the

ancient

minister (who

had bin here from the very

this time, contrary

beginninge of the plantation, and taken great paines and

done much good, and yet at

both to

all

reason and expectation, found himselfe very harshly and


OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
vngratefully vsed euery
also (to all wise

269

waye by many of the Company), as mens wonder) Mr. Kendall, the captaine of the foreraentioned informers, who (as being euery waye conscious of his owne miscarriage) had procured by meanes
of his cosen Sands a certains note of recommendation or

protection to be inserted in his behalfe vnto the Gouernour

in the generall letters in thes

wordes

recommended Captaine Kendall vnto you, and very earnestly you (as he hatli faytlif uUy promised us) to sett apart all discontent and euill will for former unkindoesses past either here or ther, betweene you, which we cannot tbinck on without greife soe that priuate discontents may not be any hindrance to the aduaucement of ye publick affayres and in perticuler we must require you, that you doe
desire
;

"We

not vse the authoritie of your place to the recentment of your priuate
iniuries
;

a thinge very vnworthye of a Gouernour

;

and such

as

noethinge could be more odious vnto us

especially in the case of Caj)t.

Kendalls, who comes vpon the publick securitie of our Court, which we haue giuen him, not as a thinge needfull, for we are assured, your good disposition is such as would not haue proceeded otherwise than iustly,

and

as a

worthy

man ought

but for his owne and friends satisfaction

we

could doe uoe lesse."

Vpon

the presentment of which by Kendall, and before

the Gouernour either

knewe

it,

or sawe
''
:

it,

lookinge vpon

Kendall he used thes wordes vnto him

Howsoeuer, Cap-

taine Kendall, I confesse I did not looke to see

this time,

you here

at

by reason of some straunge thinges

that I haue

heard of you, since your departure, practised against

me

in

England, and which you knowe also I cannot be ignorant

of; yet since

you

shall line

you are come, you may assure yourselfe that vnder a moderate and iust Gouerment and

vnder a Commandour that doth

his authoritie to serue

much

scorne to

make vse

of

(how iustly soeuer) his priuate and

perticuler ends."

Afterward, haueing vewed the note, and well considered

of
it,

turneinge vnto Kendall,

I

"

You

see,

Captaine (sayth he),

dash, that this,

by the assurance

gaue you at the

first

your pi'otectinge note, might haue bin spared." To which purpose also, in his answer to the Companys general! letters

270

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

to this point,

comeiDge

he told them that ho was to thaiick

for

the Honorable

Company

remembringe of him that he

;

held not his place here to serue his owne turnes

this a lesson that

yet was

he had both learned and practised before

it

then as holdeinge
as

vttei'ly

vnbecomeinge him, not only

he was a Gouernour and a Christian, but as he was a

in

man,
in

such cases as thoes to deale vpon such aduantages

which regai'd he vowed unto them that their Courts pub-

like securitie

might haue bin spared and forborne ; and that

yet the aduenturess of some other of that confederacye, by

a returne
into the

Hands without

it

dureinge his time,

might suflSciently proclaime vnto the world that they knewe him otherwise than they spake him." But, howsoever, Kendall and his consorts escaped thus
freely

from the touch of the Gouernour, yet could they not

Kendall, as being the most notorious) keepe

(especially

themselues so cleare from the tounges and talke of the

people,

some sayeinge that he came

;

like a theife,
if

with his

pardon about his neck

case, they

others, that

they had bin in his

sellinge

would rather haue gotten a liueinge with

of stinckinge fish than, after haueinge proued himselfe a

base and false informer and slandourour of his commandour,

behind his back, to sue

protection

pittifully,

and make freinds

for a

when he had

done.

Thes, and such as thes, wer

the

common

censures of the very

common

sort against him.

As

for thoes of better fashion,

he was altogether and gene-

by them and despiced of all, euen of such as had formerly bin his very great and affectinge freindes, so that noe man enuiteinge him to house, nor scarce receiueinge
rally neglected

him when he came vnbidden, it became his owne report that he was almost starued whilst he stayed at towne. Yet had the Gouernour wished him not to forbeare his table
:

owne guilty conscience forced him (as it should but seeme) to make noe vse of that enuitement, for seldome went he thether, nor to the very churche it selfe, but makes
his

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

271
at

awaye
sick

as sone as he could to his

is

home
falls

Sommerseate,
as a dead

wher he
;

noe soner arriued but

all

most desperately

so that being in
it

mens iudgments held

to comfort him,
if

uian^

coraeinge to the Gouernours eare, he of purpose

sent the minister vnto

him

and

for quiett of

his conscience^ to assure

him that

any act done against

his

him

in perticuler did
it
it,

any way trouble

be),

minde

(as

he con-

ceiued

might well

that for his part he did fully

remitt

and absolutely forgiue him.

For which message,

(for

although for that present with a hollow voice

scarce speake), he

he could

seemed

to

giue the Gouernour

litle

much
hol-

thancks

yet noe soner became he a

recouered, but (to

let all the

world knowe that

it

it

was done with a more

lowe heart) he gaue

Sir

out amongst some of his rabble of

Edwin Sands,

his planters, that the sayd minister

;

had

bin sent vnto him to grope him in his weaknesse

for his part

and that

he had neuer done the Gouernour any wroung,

it,

nor would acknowledge

mettaile
is

though he had

of such a base

the

man made

of.

In this shyp came oner likewise diuers newe planters,

and among them certaine young maydes

single

(or, at

the least,

women), sent ouer

(as

at the cost

and by the pious

intention

the generall letters sayd) of some

Aduen-

turours of the

Company

to

make wiues

for

such single

men
two
sea)

of the country as would paye

one hundred poundes of

tobacco apeece for euery one of them.

Ther wer

also at

Virginian virgins (one wherof died by the

way

shypped by the Virginia Company, and very well supplied

by them, who wer by that Company recommended vnto the

Gouernour,as being not only one of the Conipany,but asworne
counsellor in that plantation, that

by

his care

and authoritie

honest English husbands might ther be prouided for them

(a

harder task in this place than they wer aware

of),

who

together, after some stays in the Hands, might be trans-

ported

home

to their

sauvage parents in Virginia (who wer


272
tlier

THE inSTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

no lesse than petie kinges), and so be laappely a

nieanes of their conuersion.^

Towards the end of this moueth of October appeareth vpon the coast a smale shyp of Barstable^ in the west
countiy of England, belonging to one Mr. DelbridgCj a
brother of the

Sommer Hands Company, and wholy

sett out

by himselfe.

She came into the townes harbour, and was

or, rather,

very well conditioned, and with her a conuenient and well

chosen magazin and a Cape-merchant,

of the barck (for so he

captaine

was

stiled

by a commission procured
(although

from the Company), being an allyance of the sayd Delbridge

arriued
:

the which magazin, the most part of

it

it

somewhat

at the latest,

and by that meanes gott

none of the best tobacco), was sold to the inhabitants out of a boothe, almost a mile from the towne, the remaindour
1

maidens,
Virginia

Pocahontas was accompanied to England by three young Indian who remained after her death a considerable charge to the

Company

for four or five years.

One

of

them died

of

con-

sumption in 1620, the other two remained until Jiine 1621, when we have the following entry in the Records of the Virginia Company
:

a great and general Quarter Court, held the 13 June, Itt being referred to this Courte to dyrect some course for the disposing of two

"At

Indian maydes havinge byne a longe time verie chargeable to ye Company, itt is now ordered that they shall be furnished and sent to
willing to go with our servants towards their preferm't in with such as shall accept of them with that meanes with especiall dyrection to the Gouv'nor and Councell there for the carefull bestoweing of them.' " E. D. Neill,

the
.

Summer Hands, whyther they were

.

Hist, of the Virginia Company., 1869, p. 104.

By an

original clerical error

in

some transcript from the parish

register at Gravesend, the death of

1616 instead of 1617.

March
p.

21, 1616, or

Pocahontas is. commonly placed in The date of burial is given in the Register March 21, 1617, as we now divide the year. This
21, 1616
(see

has been read

123.

May

Nates and Queries, 3rd

the

series, vol. v,

E. D. Neill, Historij of

Virginia Company.^ 1869, p. 98,

and the same author's English

I

Colonization in America 1871, p. 83.)

am

indebted to the Rev. R. Joynes, Rector of Gravesend, for verify-

ing this correction, which reconciles her death with the well-known fact
that she was present at a masque performed before the Court in January 1617, Domestic Corresp., Jac. 1., vol. xc.

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.

273

therof being afterwards to be carried for Virginia, as you

shall lieare.

By

her also ther returned two or three more of

the Kendall crue, and

among

the rest that Carter, before

first

mentioned, who, being one of tlioes three that at the

of the discouery of thes

keepe possession

(as

here behind to you haue heard), and then findeiuge a

left

Hands wer

great quantitie of amber-greece, to the value of fiue hun-

dred pounds sterling, which was taken from him by the

Compan}^, he at his time by infinite importunitie in recom-

pence therof, receiued of the Company in

lines

gift for

three

(who found that he began to vndertake some dangerous courses, by the counsell of some wiser than himselfe) a
smale Hand called Coopers
ditions,
;

but with such cuninge con-

one whereof was to keepe continually a certaine

of resident

number

at the seruice of

men vpon it, to be vpon all occasions Pembroke Fort, which stands ther (the
the world kuowe, bothe

forte with the appui'tenances being neuerthelesse excepted

from him) as

let

how

well they

could laye about for themselues, and with what a foole they

had then

to deale withall.

By

this barck, also, are

brought

some fewe more new inhabitants as likewise single women to sell for wines, and young boyes for apprentices, the
which to such as would and could giue most.

day of Nouember followeinge (being the day of that damnable gunne-powder treasons discouerie) was this

The

fifth

yeare (that the Spaniards might take notice of

it)

obserued

here with a kind of solemnitie

the Gouernor, goeinge to a

sermon

in the churche that moruinge, with an extraordinai-y

;

garde of halberds and "musketts

fashion, bothe
all

all

the straungers of

men and women,

dineinge with him, as also

the officers, and the cheife of the towne at what time, a

health being begun by the Gouernour, to the Kings

iestie,

Mawas

and the prosperitie of

all

his dominions, ther

vpon

it

deliuered a very good and quick volly of smale shott,

the which was answered from the fortes with great ordiT

274

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

nance^ and tlien againe concluded by a second volley of

smale

was the afternooue of that day without musick and danceinge, and at night many huge bonfires of
sliott
:

neither

sweet wood.

By this time, the most

part of the tobacco being shypped,

is

the Magazin shyp, the Josej^h,

ready to be gone

at

what

time also the Governour entendinge that bothe shipps

should goe together (as a good meanes of safety and pro-

uidence for them bothe (vrged the shyp, the James, to a

dispatch
;

and

to encourage her the more, promiseth her

all

the fraught of the most, and

the better sort of the

straungers;

for,

findinge their generall purse and stock

all

almost vtterly exhausted, and that of necessitie they wer

of

them

to be furnished with
;

some warme cloathes

it

for a

winter voiage

and besides, holdinge

vtterly vnfitt, that

by a longer

staye,

either they should

become

farther ac;

quainted with the place or the people with them

solued to shyp awaye, either
all,

he re-

or the

most part

of them,

But the master of the James, being very and due pay of his fraught by thes straungers when they arriued in England ; and the sayd straungers not being able by any meanes to make present payment of it hei'e, the Gouernour was constrayned (rather than to be any longer troubled with them) to engage himselfe for it vnto the master, by leaueinge a good part of
by
this shypinge.

fearefull of the discharge,

his yeares crop of tobacco in his hands,

vntill the

sayd

fraught wer by them discharged

the which, although the

straungers protested honestly and speedely to performe

after their arriuall at
it

London

yet the Gouernour thought

to the
it

not amisse to intimate as

;

much

Company

in his

generall letters

prayeinge them, since

was

for a generall

good, that
well with

if it

should proue that they delt otherwise than

him

in that perticuler,

they would be pleased to

interpose their assistance to the Spanish Embassador resident in London, for his preseruation
;

to

whom

also, at

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

27o

the earnest entreaty of the straungers, he wrote letters in

Spanish in their behalfe and fauour; the which, notwithstandinge he enclosed (vnsealed in his perticuler letters to
the Earle of Southampton, the Gouernour of the Company),

not knoweing whether otherwise

it

might be

sinisterly inthis place

terpreted by his enemies for a Gouernour in

especially, to write to the

Embassador of aforrainge Prince,

and

cheifly of that Prince, without acquaintinge thoes that

had employed and entrusted him thether.

And

thus are these accidentall guests packed away,

haueinge bin very curtuously entertained by the Gouernour

(though not without some grudginge of the

common

sort,

who sayd openly

also they

that they would not haue vsed

them

in

the like case) dureinge their whole abode here, the which

seemed themselues
all

to be so senceable of as that

their departure, they presented the

Gouernour with an act

in writeinge, signed with

the prime

mens hands
gift

by

which, as towards and by way of an expression of their

thancks, they

made a

full

and absolute deed of

behind them

vnto

him, of what so euer, either was or should be recouered

out of their lost shyp
left
;

and

this they

manifested to be and rest in their power to doe, in regard

that bothe

by

their

owne

safe arriuall

on the shore, and

their leaueinge of diners

Hue creatures, as hogges and

all

dogges abord behind, the shyp could not be taken nor held
as a wrack.

Fine persons only of

this

number wer
though many

deteyned
of

vntill the

yeare followinge, and vnder a pretence

for

want of roome
it

them

in the shyps

conceiued that

was rather done

to find out in the

meane

time whether any discoueries might by their meanes be

made

of any Spanish intentions

els

vpon thes Hands from the

I'ather

West-Indies or
causelessly), it

wher;

and the

(perhaps not

was guest so by reason that these fiue men wer saylours, and had long bin conuersant in thoes partes
likely to attaine to the

and soe most

knowledge of

it if

any

such thiuQ-e wer in talke.

t 2

276

THE HISTORYE OF THE BEEMUDAES

About the fourteenth of November, both the shyps, the Joseph and the James, beinge in two seuerall harbours, gatt out and mett at sea; yet neither of them without some danger for although the weather was at the same time so calms, as they wer forced to towe them out with botes and strength of men, yet the chanells being very narrow and
;

the cun-ant great, the Joseph found her selfe to be falne

ouerneere a rock, and so was putt to

anchor, and so shyjffted for her selfe.

it

to let slipp

an

But the James (wherin

willfullnesse of her

most of the Spaniards wer), by the

his

Master, who regarded not the Iland-Pylotes aduise, caused

shyp to be towed vpon a rock which laye hid a fathome under water, wher she strooke seuen or eight times, to a generall dismaye, but especially with the poore straungers,

some of the women lamentinge, and cryeinge out

rather die in the

to be

gotten on shore againe, and sweareinge that they would

Hands than aduenture awaye with such But the seas (by good hap) being extraordinaiy perill. still and quiett (otherwise she had certainly bin lost without
all

redemption), she was at last towed

of,

with very

much

adoe, and that without the least

:

harme and dammage

that could be discerned

which caused the Gouernour to

it)

saye (when he was told of

that he was noethinge sory

''for",

for the aduenture, since the

shyp escaped so well:

quoth he, "

it letts

the Spaniard knowe, that besides our

oi'dinance,

good

fortes

and store of

we haue

secrett

and

stroung walls vnder water, on all sides to giue

them a rude

Wellcome

if

they come vnbidden, vnlesse they looke well

:

about them

the which thes their countrymen haue found

true to their cost

by loseing their owne shyp and goodes

on the end of the Hands, and beinge putt into a second

feai'e

of loseinge of their Hues in one of our

owne shyps

at

the other end/'

In the moneth next followeinge the barck of Barnstable

also takes her leaue of us, but leaues her Captaine or

Cape-

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

277
infection) dieth in

merchant

behincl,

who (from some former

the Hands.
(as

She made her course for Virginia^ whether

you haue heard), after her dispatch here she was bound. By her the Gouernour sent two large c^eder chests,
wherin wer
fitted all

such kindes and sortes of the country

plants and fruicts, as Virginia at that time and vntill then

had

not, as figgs, pomegranates, oranges, lemans, plantanes,

suger canes, potatoe, and cassada rootes, papaes, i-ed-pepper,

the pritle peare, and the like
:

one of which sayd chests he

directed to the then present Gouernour, with letters of this

tenor followinge.
"

To my worthy
Sir,

Friend, Sir Frauncis Wiatt, Gouernor of Virginia.

"

If

your name deceiue

me

not,

soeuer your neighbour-hoode and aflBnitie of

we kuowe one another. Howcommand inuite me to

all happinesse, in this your onerous Honnour. " Our plantation commenceth a commerce vnto you, for by this shyp I haue sent you suche of our prime fruicts as (I heare) you haue not, but assure my selfe you would haue nor is ther ought els with vs, but (dureinge my tearme here) you shall, as brethren command it. And (although your owne climate giues a beleife you can haue noe badd aire) I cannot chuse but wish you the temperature and salubritie of ours, the which I dare pronounce to be equall with the best of the world and with it also communicated our bothe naturall and artificiall strengthes. I doubt not but that you haue your good wishes for vs likewise, as a participation with you of a spatious continent, goodly pasture, fayre riuers, necessary yron mines, and (perhaps) some other secret hopes We are glad and thanck you for it, and let vs still iointly goe on to wish one anothers good, and to act it, and God second our
; ; :

wellcome you, and to wish you

honest endeauours.

And

thus (noble

sir)

you haue hastely and heartely

recommended the true and

faythfull affection of

" Yoiir assured freind,

"St. Georges, in the Somnier Bands, " Decemb. 2, 1621."

" Nath. Butler.

The other chest being

alike fitted

and ordered as the

this yeare,

former, he sent vnto Sir George Tardly, whose time being

newly expired. Sir Frauncis Wiatt arriued ther

Sir

being chosen by the Virginia Company to succeede him.

George

retii-eiuge himselfe, as

a priuate man, to liue

278

THE HISTORYE OF THE BEBMUDAES

vpon certaine land of his owne in a hansome house which he had built dureinge the time of his Gouerment. The contents of which letters
"

wer as followeth

To my worthy
Sir,

freind, Sir

George Yardly, in Virginia giue

thes.

" \Vortby

This

bearer (who loves you well) assureth

me

that

you ment vs well the last yeare, and that you sent out a shyp of purpose to let vs know it, of which howso euer we wer depriued by the ignorance of the jiylote, yet your noble ententiou ought to be and esteemed as an act done to encresse my thancks. I haue nowe sent you some of our country fruicts, and I wish they may multiplie with you they are of our choice ones, and such as giue vs much content here wher, and euery wher els, I shall by all meanes expresse my selfe,
; ;

" St. Georges, in the

" Your Sommer Hands,

1621."

affectionate freind,

"

Nath. Butler.

"Decemb.

2,

The Hands being thus the Gouei-nour at some

into the maine,

cleared and voide of shypinge, and

litle

leysure, he presently goeth

and so out

to sea to the lost Spanish shyp.

first

He had
mine
tion)
;

bin once there before, within two dayes of her

but even then findinge her (contrary to

all

all

expecta-

shyuered

to pieces (for neuer

had shyp a more

soudaine death), and most of her goodes either under water,

or floted away, he found noe possibilitie of recoueringe any

thinge of value, saue one anchor, one cable, and two very

good sakers
for the

Nor spedd he any thinge

to

better at this time,

least gale

wind beginning
all

blowe loud, and the

disablinge

attempts that waye, by reason of the great

its

swellinge of the billowes in that part, and

beinge so far

out to sea, he was constreyned to returne without any great

effect:

only three murthering peeces wer weyed and bi'ought

to the towne, the

which afterwarde wer knowen to be the

fiue

very same that Kendall had sold to Kirby

Gouernour, demandinge of the

whervpon the Spaniards that wer left

:

behind how their shyp came by them,

of the

it

was answered that

and

the sayd Kir bio, being long on roueingc vpon the Islands

West

Indies,

was

at last discouered iu his hant,

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

279
;

two good shyps sent out from Cartagena to entrappe him wherein their Pilote had bin cheifly employed so that at
:

lastj

being taken on the soudaine, most of his

men wer

slayne and hanged, his frigate horded and carried awaye,

and

himselfe, being shott through the neck with a muskett

shott, forced to

runne into the woods, wher he sone

:

after
for-

died of his hurts

by which meanes whatsoeuer he had

to the conquerours
:

merly pillaged was made a praye

thes

murtherours fallinge to the share of their Pilote, who thus

brought them to his shyp, and his shyp to

us.

The Gouernour
St.

is

noe soner returned out of the maine to

Georges, butt he setts twenty

men

of his

owne people

on worck at Southampton Forte, the which after six weekes

of hard labour
is

absolutely perfected, and the whole worck

shutt

in,

and ordinance secured, by three smale bullwarcks,

:

two curtaines, and two ravelins

with

the which not only (being

thus putt together) maketh a very fayre shewe out to sea, but
is,
all

(the naturall site of rock exceedinglie well concur-

ringe) very stroung

truth) the
Ilands.^
fixt

and defensible

beiug

(to

saye the
the whole

only true peece

this time

of fortification in

By

Christmas being come, and the prefifth

day of the Assizes, the

Gouernours time)

generall gayle deliuery

St.

(since this

is

held at

Georges, wherin

diuers

ciuill

causes betweene partie and partie, in the nature

of
are

nisi-pi-ius,

being heard and decided, some delinquents

:

condemned and sentenced to the whypinge post others to be burned in the hand accordinge to the natures and severall qualities of their offences. Three young boyes
only, for sundry felonies, as stealeinge of pigges, meale,

potatoes,

and breakeinge open some cabbins to that end,

are sentenced to be

hanged

but being carried ouer to the

to

place of execution and

made

goe up the ladder, and their

eyes banded, lookeinge verely to die and being exceedingly

1

This Fort

still

exists,

abandoned, but in

fair preservation,

among the most

interesting of the historic

monmneuts

of

and is Bermuda. Ed.

280

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

terrified, their reprive is

shown

to the Marshall, to

who

ther

vpon returneth them, the Gouernour sayeinge

some that

wer about him, that he could not

such young
it

find in his heart to

hang

knaues for stealeinge only for their bellyes, since

might well be, that either the cruelty, pouertie, or at least want of fitt gouernment in their masters, wer chiefe occasions

and motiues of
and with
all

this ther pilfei'inge

an apprehension iustly

reason grounded vpon the carelessnesse and

indiscretion of diuers vndertakers in England,

who appoint
But the

boyes to be commandoui's and ouorseers of boyes.

Crowther, about
heai'd)

only matter of note at this Assizes, was, that the same

whome it was suggested (as you haue by the Articlers of England, that the Gouernour

should conceale his felonye, haueinge at the sittinge of the

Court entred an action of slander against one of thoes informers, for giveinge out some such thinge of him, here
since his returne, the

Gouernour caused the sayd action to

ther wer
diuers wittnesses

be so withdrawen

(although

ready in the Court to depose for the cleareinge of the sayd

Crowther), sayeinge that himselfe being interested in the
cause,
it

was not

fitt

nor proper for him, being the Judge

of the Court, to haue the heareinge of it; and that therfore

he must, together with himselfe, haue patience

vntill their

returne into England, wher he might assure himselfe to

find

good and

sufiicieut justice in

good time

to right

them

bothe.

The Assizes being broken up, the Gouernour, with the the first of the newe yeare, sends downe his Liuetenant into
the maine, to distribute the armes to able people, and such
as

wer

fitt,

and

affected to be soldiers.

And

to that pur-

pose, giuetli certaine orders for the rendeuous, and answer-

inge to
in the

all

alarmes, which

wer hanged up
:

in all the churches

fiue

maine and wer to

this efiect

" That

of the tribes,

vpon the discouery of an enemye, should

plus

resort to the ouer-

house with their armes, ther to be furnished with

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
powder,
bulletts,

281

and match

the charge wherof was com:

mitted to the neerest Counsellour dwellinge ther-abouts

and from thence they wer to be conducted by

accordinsre to direction from the Gouernour,
sions required.

their leaders,

and as occabe pro-

The

rest of the tribes

wer

to repayre either

to the Kings-Castle or the

towne of

St. Georges^ to

uided ther in the like manner^ and accordingly commanded.

And

euery

man

to

whom armes wer committed wer

fixt

at all

times to keepe them

and

in point,

vpon the penaltie of

one moneths imprisonment, and to be withall disgracefully

cassired
:

and were
all

also

vpon the

like penalty to

make

their

appearance at

exerciseinge dayes and places.^'

it

About

this

time

was (though by meere chaunce and

ill

husbandry, too), that an experiment and inuention of much

importance and benefitt for the whole Hands for the keepin ge

and preseruation of their corne (which

flie

is

the Indian maiz)

from the

and weauell which infinitely spoyled it,andiiither-

to vnauoidably,

was found out and discouered.

For the

Gouernour haueing giuen out a proclamation the yeare

before, that
all

corne should be housed and gathered in by

a certain day,

vpon the penaltie of the

forfeiture therof

which was done vpon due information and certaine knowledge, that very

much

corne,

by the

lazinesse of diners idle

persons (who more diligently looked after Aqua-vitse than

Panem-vitse), had by that meanes bin lost and spoyled eueiy

yeare in the

feilds,

and, with

all,

proued a great nourish-

ment and maintenance of the increase of ratts, a vermin euer dangerous, and to be carefully looked after in thes Hands ; at this sommer haruest (ther being generally great
store of corne

vpon the ground, and a goodly crop) very

many

of the inhabitants (none of the best husbands),

in their corne before the

who

had hastely gathered

ture, for feare of
it

day of

forfei-

vndergoeinge the penalty, haueing so gott

it

in,

did as hastely cast

into out houses,

it

vpon heapes,
feild, so lett-

and altogether vu-husked, as

came from the

282
inge
all

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

it

be vnheeded foure or

fiue

monethes, by which time

the good husbands through out the whole Hands,

who

had dihgently and painefully husked and hung up all their crop, began euery wher to complaine and lament the mine

and spoyle of
lowes,

it

by the

flie

and weauell

only thes good

fel-

who neuer cared but from hand

their heads,

to mouthe,

wer

iolly,

and held up

makeing

their boasts that not a

:

graine of theirs had bin touched or hurt

allbeleife) being/indeed,

the which (beyond

found visiblye true, some fewe (who

looked into the causes of actions) apparently perceiued that

the former

common

vse of huskinge and hanginge up of the

corne (which both tooke up

much

time, asked

many

handes,

and hindred other bussinesse about tobacco) had bin the only meane to prostitute it to the flie, who, by bloweinge
into
it

generated the weauell

the which weauell, after

it

had deuoured the inward substance of the graine

viper, eates out its way,

like a
all

and became a

flie it

selfe

from

which the corne was

sufficiently

preserued by being

left

lieinge in its naturall coate-armour, the husk.

this ill-bestowed vnproffitable labour of

Herevpon
(for

huskeinge and hang-

inge of

it

up becomes

totally left

and giuen ouer

you

may be

sure that euery

man would

greedely followe a lazzie

all),
ill

trick, especially

being gainefull with

and therby the

keepeinge of
it

former wonted plauge of the decaye and

excellently avoided
:

an experiment among many others,

which

lets the

world to vnderstand that mis Fortune hath

euer had, and will haue, a greater strooke and hand in inuentions than either witt or industry.

Much about

the

same time, also, excellent both in Cooper Hand and

ants ther, but of
all

fresh water
St.

is

luckely found out

Dauis, to the great ease and

benefitt not only of the places themselues

and the inhabit-

the neighbouring fortes, which haueing

bin long and often searched after in former times could

neuer be mett with

all vntill

novve.

In the moncth of February followeinge, certaine iniunc-

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
tious

283
all

wer

directed

from the Gouernour to

this

churche

wardens and sidemen to

purpose

" That wheras the sayd church-wardens and sidemen wer to

ministers in lookeinge to the lines

assist

the

and conuersations of the people, being a principall meanes for the snppressinge of prophanenesse and vngodlynesse, that therfore the sayd officers wer carefully to take to their charge, and to goe vnto, or send for all suche person or persons as should be found to absent themselues from the churche, or refuse to receiue the communion, or wer an open prophanour of the Sabaoth, or an obstinate swearer, notorious drunckard, disorderly and riotous
gamster, enraylour, slaundert)us or idle busie-body, a make-bate, one
liueinge

vehemently and vpon iust grounds suspected of an incontinent life, or any waye offensiuely, the which sayd delinquents, they wer first in mild and loueinge sort to admonish and exhorte in the feare of

God

to refraine

from such vnchristian behauiour, and in case they

amended not, but still continued in their former disorders, to present them at the generall Assizes, ther to receiue such open punishment as
the qualitie of their offences should be found to deserue.

And

farther,

the foresayd officers wer to present

all

such readers as regarded not to

keepe a true register of

all

marriages, christenings, and burialls, as

wer

made

in ther generall parishes, or did not euery

Sabaoth day teache and

catechise such youthes

and people

of the

younger sort as wer most

ignorant in the principall of Christian religion, and to saye the Lord's

Prayer, the articles of the Christian fayth, and the ten

commandements

prime men of famelies as did either refuse or neglect to send their people and seruants at the time appointed for the sayd readers to teach and instruct them."

by

heart, as also all such

In the same moneth,

also, the

Gouernour augmented the

number
and

of his garde from twelve to twenty, and gaue

them

one Mr. Seymour Woodarde for their captaine, a very honest

ciuill

gentleman, and a rare

the
first

man

(in

that regard) in thoes

partes,

who was

captaine of the garde in the

Somwas
the

mer Hands. In the moneth

which the day
sent
oyle,

of

Marche

followeinge, a small barck

;

discouered vpon the south-west side of the Hands

after gatt in at the

townes harbour, being

from Virginia.

Her

ladeinge was aqua-vitge, sack,

and bricks

in

exchaunge wherof she desired plants

potatoes, ducks,

and herbes of

all

sortes,

turkeyes, and

284
lime-stone
:

THE HISTORTE ,0P THE BERMUDAES

she brought with her also letters from the
to the

Goueruour and some of the Counsell ther

here, in her behalfe

Gouernour

and fauour, wherin mention was made

of the receipt of the former supplies

(with

muche thancks)

sent (as you liaue heard) by the Barstable shyp, exceedingly

crauinge a second and an enlarged quantitie in the like

kindes.

In the interim of this shyps abode hero, the marriage of

the Virginian mayde, the Virginian
before,

recommended vnto the Gouernour by resident in London the sbypeinge was consummated she being then man-ied to as fitt

Company

and agreeable an husband as the place would

weddinge
feast

afford,

and the

kept at the towne, in the Gouernours newe

house, and at his charge, wherto not only the Master of the

newe come shyp, and some other straungers wer inuited, but not fewer than one hundred persons wer made guests, and dined with all sortes of prouisions that the Hands could
afford in very plentifull manner.

And

it

was thought

to be

done

in

more fasionable and

full

manner, that the

straungers at their returne to Virginia might find reason to

carry a

good testimony with them of the

:

wellfare

and plenty

of this plantation

as also that the kindred and fi^eindes of

the Virginian bride,

lesse

who wer prime commandours, and not than Viceroyes among the neerest neighbouringe In-

dians to the English colony ther, might receiue a certaine

knowledge of the well being of their kinds woman, and by

the good respect and kind vsage shewed vnto her the English, be encouraged both to continue and
ther former freindshyp, and to
selues
:

among

augment

become Christians them-

to which ende

also, the Gouernour wrote letters of

aduice to the Gouernour in Virginia, and caused the raayde

herselfe likewise to doe as

much

to her brother, who,

by her
and
aa

fathers late death,

had succeeeded
(this

in all his royalties

commando.

At

the same time

nu})tiall

feast being ouer)

OK SUMMER ISLANDS.

285

essaye was putt in action by the Gouernour for the killinge

of wales, who (dureinge the moiiethes of Marche, Aprill, and May) are in huge numbers found vpon the coast and it was attempted at this time, vpon the Master of the shyps report of his owne sufficiency and his mates that waye who war both of them employed in it but noethinge effected, as
:

well

by reason of the misse of due meanes,

it

as due skill

otherwise
sable,

being in

all

likelyhoode a bussinesse very fay-

and of fayre hope ; and that as well in regard of the

extraordinary

number

of the whales as of the richnesse of

them, haueing (noe question) for the most

part store of

sperma

coeti.

After fine weekes staye here this Virginian barcke cleared

herselfe of the harbour to

make

a returne into Virginia,

being deeply laden with the natiue commodities of the

Hands, for the
releife of that plantation
:

for she

was

bal-

lasted with lime-stone, the best in the world for that pur-

pose; and had besides twenty thousand waight of potatoes

at the least, great store of

ducks and turkeys, some fewe

conyes,

all

kindes of plantes in great varietie and quantitie,

as likewise store of the

Cassada roote, and a good pro-

portion of cornej and of which also she might haue had

much

more.

For the Gouernour, haueinge receiued secret

and sure
tresse

intelligence,

by some priuate

letters,

written from
in

thence, that the people ther in generall

wer

much

dis-

by want of breade, freely offered vnto the Master of the shyp to spare him twenty thousand eares of corne out of his owne store, and one hundred thousand from the country;
but the Master (being as
it

should seeme scooled to a con-

cealement) would by noe meanes confesse nor acknowledge

any want at
ances of

all

in that kinde,

and so went awaye worse

prouided than (perhaps) sorted with the wishes and expect-

many of the inhabitants, especially of such as being but newe commers thether might well find a smarte sence
of this dissimulation,

and wish that ther had bin

lesse out-

286

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

faceinge of a want in that nature, especially with their neigh-

bours being Englishmen.

The monethes
fully

of April and

May

followeinge wer spent in

accomplishinge and perfectinge the newe stone house

at St.

Georges ; in buildinge of a strounge and large prison

of framed ceeder; in digginge of a

newe

well,

and empale-

inge of

it

and

in scowreinge of the fresh water

also, at

The Gouernour

the same time, sent

pond ther. downe his Liue-

tenant and the Captaine of his garde to attempt the weyeinge

of the rest of the great pieces at the ruined Spanish shyp,

wher, after fourteene dayes expence of twenty mens labour,

foure very good sakers

wer recouered, and gotten

to the

towne.

Sone

after this

began the generall Assize

fiftie

at St. Georges,
ciuill
:

wherin wer decided not fewer than

vnciuill) actions

(or rather

betweene partie and partie

and twenty

criminall prisonners brought to the bai're, to the great dis-

content (as well as trouble) of the Gouernour,

who

plainely

found by thes vnexpected

ill

fruicts of the

misvse of his
stiff-

former wonted clemencye, that a wraunglinge and

necked people, as the most of thes proued themselues (being,

to

say truth for

the greatest part, improuidently and

wreatchedly raked up out of the London kennells,^ wer not

to be

mannaged with

so smoothe and gentle a snaffle as

he

(out of his naturall disposition)

2

had thetherto only employed,

dications of

See Calendar of State Papers, Colonial Series, pp. 12, 19-23, for intlie reckless measures employed to obtain labour for Virginia
at this j)eriod, to

and the Sommers Island

appointments were traced.

which many

of their dis-

Among

others, the king ordered one

hundred

men to be

pressed,

"notwithstanding the

many iuconvenyances which Mr.

Ther (Treasurer) alleadged would thereby accrew unto the Company,

that they could not goe in lesse than fouer shipps for feare they beinge

many

together

away the

ships,

pounds" Maior of the Citty of London, 17 Nov. 1G19, applying for a further grant of one hundred children. E. D. Neill's Virginia Company, p. 160.

them, and so mutiny and carry which would stand the Company in foure thousand Memorial to the Rt. Hon. Sr Wm. Cockaine, Knt., Lord

may drawe more vnto

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

287

and, therefore^ openly professed himselfe happy, and a glad

man

that he was so shortly to leaue them.

fully assured hereof,

And

the rather

he became

by the cryeinge and out-

rageous crimes, that three of these foresayd prisoners war

nowe in hold for

jury,

wherof the one was endicted and arrainged

afford) for the

(and as straungely, to say truth, acquitted by a sencelesse

though one of the best the place could

rape of a married

woman

the second and the third, after a

triall,

large heareinge, and due and fauourable

wer acord-

inge to their desertes hanged

and vpon

iust caue

And

as an addition to

all

this,

much about

the same time

likewise,

two chickings wer hatched, the one wherof had two heades, and the other crowed very loude and lustely
within twelue houres after
shell.3
it

was

first

gotten out of the

A litle before

this Assize also

it

was that a certaine descould not haue cost

it

perate fellowe, bound ouer thether to answer for his steal-

inge only of a Turkye

(a fact that

him

more than a burneinge in the hand, whether

meere madd
steale
folly,

wer out of

or of being conscious to himselfe of

some

other guilt), aduentured, rather then to

come

to his triall, to to his

away a hansome newe bote belonging (who was his surety for his appearance), and
and
all

Master

in her (being
:

single

alone) to

committ himselfe to sea

the which

he did, but to what part he intended, and with what forecast,

could neuer be yet discouered, for hetherto he was neuer

heard

of,

nor without an exceedinge wonder

litle

short of a

miracle
It

is

he euer like to
this

be.

was much about

time (accordinge to an Order of

of the bay lies was putt

Court sent from England, and receiued by the Gouernour

the shyppinge before) that the
3

office

I here follow the judicious

example of the Richmond reprint of

Smith's GeneraU Historic of Virginia, Ed. I8l9, in omitting the details of abominable crimes and incredible prodigies, which are given in that

work

in terms identical with the present narrative.

etc., vol.
i,

See Memorials of

Bermuda,

p. 159.

288

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

downe, who being remoued from their sayed places, in their

roomes, and steade wer chosen, by plurah'tie of voices, two

men

in euery tribe,

who wer

after the

same fashion

to be

newly chosen euery yeare, and wer tearmed ouerseers, being

especially (nay only) to looke to the diuident of all suche

commodities as wer to be yearely shared betwixt the owner

and

planter.
at

And
by
all

it

was found very sti-aunge and much

litle,

wondered

suche who, neuer so

looked into

the generall carriage of affayres in thes Hands, that the ad-

uenturers in Euglande, who, for the maine part of them,

are well

for their

ynough kuowen to be very ententiue and open-eyed owne aduauntage and gaine, and hereof some what

vncharitably suspitious, and therfore extreamely iealous of

being iuiuried in thes kindes by their tenants here, should

thus on a soudaine decline, and forsake the care and conscience of the former baylies who, for the greatest part,
elected and appointed

wer

by themselues, and the

rest

by the

Gouernour (being certainely not only the most

thus and their confidence vpon such

sufficient,

but the most honest here to be found), to throwe themselues

men who wer

is

only to

be culled out by a generall choice (which

they wer thus to trye and ouersee.

generally the

worst) taken from the mouthes of thoes very people

whom
forth,

How

could

it

be but

apprehended but that

this their election, thus

brought

must of

necessitie produce all the effects quite contrary to

their aimes

and desires

neither could

it

be imagined by
dis-

what meanes and fortune

gested, vntill at last
it

this galeraafry

became thus
being
els

was remembred that the most part of

the able iudgement of the

Company by

their

wher

tooken up and bestowed by the actiue times and high

"affayres at that

time on foote in England, this bussinesse

fell

and contriuement
of

necessarily

vpon the refuse and

rest

them

who, for their creditt sake, thinckinge to doe

some what, at length, after much sweateingo, lighted vpon and hatched vp this broode of new orders about thes fresh

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
ouerseers, the

289

which

in all probabilitie is

most

likely (if

it

hold out but a yeare or two) to stinge and vexe thoes that
sate so close

vpon

it,

euen in thoes very perticuler partes,

wherof they are most tender and so most chary.

The

office of

the baylies thus ceaseinge, that part of their

(for

former charge which belonged to publick justice

they

had formerly

in their peculier tribes, serued in the nature of

Justices of the Peace)

was by the Gouernours iniunction

who, within their
limitts,

layde vpon the sworne Counsellours and a perticuler Counsellour appointed for euery tribe,

wer to doe

justice in petie

matters, and so to saue the

people from the labour of runneinge vp to the towne vpon

euery slight occasion.

And

this course

he was forced to
ouer-seers, in
all

take, as findinge that the

newe annuall

likly-hoode.

would be allwaies vtterly

vnfitt for this seruice,

and that bothe by reason of

therfore thought noe waies

their choice, as
fitt

chaunge

and

(although the vndertakers

had entrusted them with their tobacco) at which uotwithstandinge he much wondred) for him selfe to doe the like
by them,
in pointe of justice.

In this moneth of lune, the botes are once againe sent

downe from the towne

ordinance
but,

to

the Spanish lost shyp (being

almost fortie miles of) for the recouery of the rest of her
;

the weather falleinge out very vnanswer-

able both in respect of

winde and

raine, after eight dayes

attendance of twentye-men,

one only saker, and another

murtherour are brought up to the towne.

Presently vpon this returne the Gouernour began to hewe
out of the maine rock a payre of large and handsome stayres,
for the conuenient landinge of

goods and passengers out of

fully finished, to the

botes, the

which after one weekes hard labour of halfe a

score of people of his owne,

wer

much

both beauty and benefite of the towne.

This done the Gouernour employed two of his botes,

manned with twenty

of his best men, with two excellent

290
diners,

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

and went

in

himselfe in person,

to attempt

the

recouery of moi'e ordinance out of the wreackt Warivich,

being the shyp that brought him

vnluckely lodged as
all

But she was found so the remaindour of them wer hurried

in.

vnder her

side,

and not one of them

to

be found

so that

one only small murtheringe peece was gotten vp at that

But not contented with this ill fortune, he, the same day, caused thes same botes and men to passe out to sea, and to make a discouerie vpon the rotten ribbs of a shyp
essa}^

called the Sea-Adventure,

which

(as

you formerly heard) had

bin wreacked about some thirteen yeares before.*

The which

beinge founde out, and his diners sent downe to the bottome
(which was three or foure fathome deepe) to see what was
to be done, at the very first profe, there was,

by great

chaunce, discouered a very fayre saker

and with very much

adoe (though not without some danger of mens liues (euen

of the Gouernours,

who

stoode nere vnto the gunn) by the

is

breakeinge of a rope, such

in such

the miserable want of respect

of the

Company,

as,

by the Lordes and others are

prouideinge of

improuidently entrusted with the

necessaries) the sayd peece
at the

suche

was

safely recouered

and landed

towne

haueinge notwithstandinge her long lieinge

litle

vnder water, receiued

or noe harme.

At the same time

;

and place
leade

also, a great shete

anchor of hers was weyed

steele,

as

also diners barres of

;

yron and

with some pigges of

to the great benefite

and vse of the poore Plantation

whereof at that pi-esent it was in great and gripeinge want, by reason that for diners shypinges before, scarce any at all of soe vsefull and important a comin that perticuler,

moditie had bin imported, through the carelesse wreatchlessnesse of the greedy vndertakei's,
litle

who neuer regard how

it

of such necessaryes they send vnlesse

;

returne an

vnconscionable gaine into their vast cofers

*

nor how much

Singular that the writer does not think

it

worth mentioning that

this

was

Sir

George Sommer's

vessel.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
of vnnecessaries, nay preiudicialls, so
it

201

pay them accordinge

to their pedlinge phrase^ with cent, per cent., at the yeares

end, as

it

commonly

doeth.

This yeare, towards the latter end of July, the Gouernour

with diuers botes in his company sayled downe vnto Sands
his tribe
;

from whence he caused diuers searches to be

into the sea at the

made out

Westerne End of the Hands,

for the carkase

of a certaine shyp, the which

by sundry

inhabitants of thoes partes had bin seene, and was reported

to lie with her hull

sunck vuder water, vnbroken up, and

;

her hatches spiked downe

but by noe meanes could she be

found out.

Only three fayre sakers more wer weyed out of

all in

Spanish wreack, which laye

pieces not far of from thoes

quarters; the which done the Gouernour returned to the

towne, takeinge his waye through the Tribes, at what time

he tooke a vewe of a certaine newe Ingenio prelected by some of the vndertakers in England, vpon their vaine hopes
of suger canes
All this
;

the which he found more than halfe finished.

also the

sommer

Gouernour employed two of

his

people to look out for bedds of oysters, and to

for the findinge of perle
;

make

triall

whereof a certaine quantitie of

seede was presented him (and which was very straunge out
of one only smale shell, about six score smale seede) besides

some other perles of a reasonable

size

and roundnesse, only

cheifly giues

they wer found somewhat defectiue in their couloui% and

wanted that orient lustre and shyne which

their prize
It

them

and value.
this

was much about

time that certaine

letters,

signed

by the whole body of the Counsell, wer presented by the Minister, Mr. Lewes [Hughes] unto the Gouernour at St.
Georges, being (verbatim) of this tenor.
" Right

Worthy

Sir.

This poore plantation, haueinge nowe almost for

hoode and being from your noble and iudicious Gouerment, wee assure ourselues that your wisdome hatha long since taken due knowledge of thoes griueances wherwith this litle common
its liuely

three yeares had

U2

292
wealthe
is

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

most oppressed, for which
(as

we by our

place present the

body

of the plantation)

we

stande bound in a generall behalfe to seeke

petitioners, requestinge

all lawfull redresse.

To

that end thes are presented vnto your vewe,

and our

selues in generall

become

your lawfull

fauour (although

we must

confesse that in respect of your selfe, your

care, trouble, and gouerment, might iustly end all at once), that so you would be pleased to take into your consideration our poore condition and estate, so that when you shall leaue and surcease to be any longer our noble Gouernour, you would vouchsafe to remaine our most worthy freinde, in presentinge our discontents to the Right Honorable the Lordes of the Company, and so, vpon occasion, to proceede by waye of humble petition to the Kings Most Excellent Maiestie (the releife of the oppressed), by whose gracious fauour we hope (through your assistSo shall not our ance) to be made happy by a true setled government. selues only rest obliged vnto you in all thanckfullnesse (as the only meane of our deliuerance), but the generall inhabitants also of thes Ilandes be for euer bound to eternize the remembrance of so good and beneficiall a deede and most noble an action; and thus, worthy Sir, presumeinge on your fauourable graunt herein, we cease from farther troublinge of you by heapes of wordes, and rest with remembrance of our seruice. At your noble commande."

And tlies wer the contents of thes letters,, of which the Gouernour haueinge considerately aduised, he returned an
answer by the same hand that brought them, that the Counsell

(from

whom

they came) should determine of a generall

meetinge in some place in the maine, wher he himselfe

would not
lution

fayle to

be present, and so to giue them

after), after

his reso-

by

his

owne mouthe.

At which assembly (being

he had made mention of the
therof,

about eight dayes

message receiued from them and the perticulers

told

he

them that findinge the

m'otiues very forceable

and

vrgeinge, and their manner in deliuery of themselues fayre

and honest, he could not (haueinge vowed himselfe to the

good of the plantation) but yeeld

sollicitation j only in

to their so generall a

regard of important priuate distractions

which might
requesite

befall

him

in England,

wherby he might be
it

forced to a lesse attendance vpon the bussinesse than was

and he

desired,

he thought

very behoufefull
to be ioyned

that they would select two of their

company


OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
with him to helpe to beare out that burthen
all,
;

293

and

that,

with

letters of credence
all

and intimation should be

iointlj

written from them

to the

Lordes of the Company, which

might expresse

their

meaneinges and desires in some breife

and generall tearmes.

letters

The which aduise being receiued

of,

and followed, the men wer presently made choice

and the

drawne to that purpose as followeth

" May it please your Honnours. We shall be humbly bold to expresse and make knowen vnto the noble Lordes of the Company thoes heauie lodes and weightie pressures which, by the disrespects arid impositions of the generallitie of the Company, doe dayly fall vpon vs and make vs to grone. And since this expression of our selues proceedes from most loyall and quiett mindes, and is to be offered to most noble and true iudgments, we cannot but assure our selues not only of a favourable construction but gracious acceptance and the rather in regard that (being sworne councellours for this poore plantation) we act (as we conceive) noe improper part. Yet not to be tedious to your Lo., but takeinge due notice of your highe affayres, we haue chosen in thes our suppUant letters to fall only vpon generall tearmes as to lament vnto you our being defrauded of the foodes of our soules, neglected in the
-

safety of our lines,

censured by orders of Court,

contrary to

his

Maiesties lawes,

frustrated in

our important and neerely toucbinge

made naked by being forced to buy our most vnreasonable rates, and lastly that our children, when any of us die, are left here behind vs in a condition but litle better
couenantes, impouerished and
necessaries at

than slauery. " The perticuler euidences and profes of which generallities shyps whensoeuer you shall be pleased to require them,
ioint

we

leaue

to Captaine Butler, our late Gouernour,i to single out vnto your

whom

Lordby our

and earnest intreaty we haue soUicited and wonne to this charitable office, and haue also ioyned with him the Captaine of the Kings-Castle and the Captaine of Southampton Fort, being bothe of them om- fellowe counsellours, most hiunbly beseechinge your noble Lo. to vouchsafe them your beninge audience and full credence, that so, vpon due examination, we may (by your gracious fauour and protection) find our redresses (accordinge to our hopes and prayers) from your honorable Lo., or at least (if vpon necessitie) your Lo. (who we well knowe are noe
5

This expression

is

used in anticipation.

Butler's time

was nearly

expired,
arrival

and
of

he, in fact, left the Island about a fortnight before the

his

successor

Captain Barnard, which occurred early in

November

1622.


294
way

THE fliSTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

conscious of our wrounges and sufferings) shall admitt and direct

us to proceede farther, by waye of humble petition to his sacred Maiestie

in that behalfe, that then your Honnours will vouchsafe to be so far from being parties against us as not so much as to rest neuters, but to be pleased to compassionate our greiuances, and to receiue vs and this

whole plantation as most oppressed but most respectfull clients vnder your aidefull patronage and protection, towards whom in all humble duty wee shallbe allwaies ready, by all possible meanes to be expressed.
"

Your Honnours most

affectionate seruants."

And

thus wer thes letters of credence, wherin to giue a

fuller satisfaction to the

Lordes concerneinge the grieuances

letters.

noted vnder generall heades in the foresaj^d

Some

choyce perticulers wer instanced and proued vnto them by

a second writeinge, signed likewise by the whole body of

the Counsell, which I haue thought good also to deliuer

vnto you, and wer as followeth

"1.

We

are defrauded of the foode of our soules, for being not fewer

than fifteene hundred soules, dispersed into a lengthe of twenty miles,

at the present but one only minister, neuer had but two and thoes two, alwayes so shortened in their promised entertainements, as but for meere pitty, they would certainely haue forsaken vs, and so haue left vs desolate. " 21y. We are neglected in the safety and preseruation of our lines. ." By want of all sortes of munition, for we are not allowed so muche powder as can maintaine all our ordinance in three houres fight. We haue nine fortes and two plattformes, and fiftie three great peeces seruiceably mounted, and but one only gunner in the Companyes pay to plie them all, yet hathe ther bin not lesse than two or three thousande pouudes raysed by impositions vpon our tobacco within thes three last

we haue

together,

past yeares vnder the pretence of supplyeinge vs with thes necessaries,

*'

Sly.

We

are censured contrary to His Maiesties lawes, as

it

may

appeare by thes instances foUoweinge in steede of

stealeinge of a peece of cheese valued

many

others.

" One Paul Deane, being indicted, arrainged, and condemned for the and prized (with all stricktnesse) at
six pence, pleadeinge the benefite of his cleargie

about two shillinges

is rigourously denyed it, and so hanged vntill he was dead in Captaine Tuckers time. " One J^icholas Gabriell, endicted, arrainged, and condemned (in Captaine Tuckers time of Gouerment also) vpon certaine mutinous wordcs, as was pretended, being repriucd from the execution of the sentence, was in lieu ther of censured by the (^louernour in direct tearmes

accordinge to the lawes of England,

OB SUMMER ISLANDS.

295

to remaiue a slaue to the colony, contrary to the lawes of Englande, which alloweth noe slaues, nor any such censure. " One Steuen Painter, vpon an action of trespasse only, sayd to be

committed against
first

his

vndertaker in England, without so

much

as being

admitted to speake for himselfe, is by an Order of Court from the Company in Englande censured, not only to make a full payment and

reparation of the sayd pretended tresspasse, but also to be (ouer and

aboue) examplerly punished.

sent ouer

The coppy of the which sayd sentence is by the Company ther to the Gouernour here, to be by him
are frustrated in our important

putt in execution vjjon the sayd Painter.

"4ly.

Wee

and neerely touchinge

couenants.

" For one John Dutton, comeinge ouer hether, vpon hopes of a commission giuen him vnder the handes of the perticuler Aduenturers of

Warwick

tribe,

bayliefe of the sayd tribe,

wherby he was enabled for three ensueinge yeares to be and by waye of recompence for his paines in
office,

dischargeinge of the sayd

to receiue the thirtith part of all suche

parcells of tobacco as should yearely dureinge the sayd tearme be

made

up

in the

sayd

tribe,

the sayd John Dutton

is

notwithstandinge, by an

iniunction in the generall letters, sent ouer hether the very next shypinge

meddle with the and yet enioined to execute and performe the sayd office and charge without any one penny proffitt. It is also (as a farther vndeniable profe of this grieuance) a case generally knowen and felt in thes Hands, that many poore planters, haueiuge couenanted with their under-takers in England (and comeinge ouer hether vpon hopes therof) to deuide their yearely tobacco here, and only to be accountable vnto
after his arriuall, absolutely proliibited to receiue or

sayd

thirties,

the raoyetie, are neverthelesse (contrary to the sayd perticuler couenants)

by newe generall Orders of Court, to send ouer their whole crop England vnto their undertakers vndeuided, from whom the most of them neuer receiued but very lame and wretched accounts,
forced,
of tobacco into

to the vtter vndoeiuge of the sayd poore planters.

" 51y.

Wee

are pinched

cloatheinge, houseold-stuffe,

and vndone by vnreasonable and other goodes.

rates of necessary

" For, notwithstandinge that our tobacco (ovir only mony) is by the Aduenturers valued at a meane rate here, vz., at two shillinges six pence the pound, yet their owne commodities sent ouer hether are by themselues pitched at
salt, six shillinges

what

prize themselues please,

;

and so sold

here, viz.,

the bushell

vinegre, at three poundes of tobacco the

;

gallon

oyle, eight shillinges the gallon

;

aqua-vitae, three

poundes of

tobacco the gallon

cloathes also,

and that without

all

allowance of leakage, weareiuge

and

all

other the like necessaries being answerably rated.

"

61y.

Our

children, the parents dieinge, are left

little

behind them, and

kept here, in

better condition than slaues.


296

THE HISTORYE OF THE BERMUDxVES

" For poore planters, comeinge ouer hether, and sometimes bringinge
ouer with them diuers children,
diuers haue done,
if any of the planters chaunce to die (as and allwaies will doe), their surviueinge children are for many yeares employed and helde as slaues or drudges at best to their

landlords for the only discharge of their dead fathers debts, beinge in

the meane time instructed in noe trade, scarce so

much

as to the

make-

inge up of tobacco, but

of alloweinge of

left in

the handes of rude and mercilesse young

fellowes, vtterly vnfitt for the least charge in that nature,

who, insteade
suffrance

them necessary cloatheinge

to
fill

to couer their nakednesse,

and due foode

consider them."

their bellies, teache

them only

patience, to the great ruthe

and pitty

of all honest eyes that behold

and and

After the profe and manifestation of which greiuances,

ther was last of
all

(by a thirde writeinge signed as before)

offered vnto the considerations of the sayde Lordes of the

Company

a course and waye of redresse and ease of the

foresayd wroungs, expressed in the wordes followeinge:

^'Au Humble Proposition, submitted with the true iudgements of your Ilonnours
of thes suffrances.
all

due respects vnto

for the true redresse

" "NVherin

we

are far

from that

insolent arrogance as to prescribe

any

course in this kinde to your Lo. wisdomes, only in confidence of your

gracious goodnesse,

we

are bold to present our

meane apprehension
its

yet in the nature of a rude chaos to receiue

but forme and perfection

;

from your Lo. direction and approbation. " In regard therfore (as it is most apparent) that all thes ills and neglects proceede from the carriage and conclusion of all affayres, by multiplicitie of voices in the Sommer Hands Courts in Englande, wherby not only all holsome and necessary motions (especially if they succour of ueuer so litle charge and expence) are cried downe by number rather than waight, but also that this course, as being in its selfe full of confusion and error, is directly contrary and opposite to the noble Government of a Monarchy, vnder which we haue bin borne and bred, and desire alwayes to Hue it is our dayly prayers (and we hope without all offence) that it might please His Sacred Maiestie, in steede of this anarchy of Gouerment nowe practised in the Sommer Hands Courts in England, to institute and appoynte the body of a Counsell, selected and composed of you the Honorable Lordes, the Gentlemen, and some of the worthy Merchants of the Company, who beinge thus His Maiesties Counsell for thes Hands, and haueinge their certaine and
;

kuowen dayes
planters,

of sittinge, all the rest, bothe of the Aduenturers

may

(vpon

all

occasions)

and haue their recourse thether (by

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.
petition) for iustice
;

297

iunctions concerneinge the

and that from thence all orders, lawes, and inGouerment and perticularities of thes Hands may haue either their beinge or aUoweauce. " And from hence (we find all reason to assure our selues) ther will vndoubtedly fluwe as from a piure and natui-all fountaine thes blessed

and holsome streames. " 1. That we, the poore inhabitants of thes Hands, shall be supplied with a meete sufficiencye of Ministers, and they sufficient men, and sufficiently payed and contented. " 2ly. That we shall allwaies haue a due quantitie of munition, some skillfull gunners, and an answerable number of generaU men to manne and attend the fortes. " Sly. That the pure and smoothe currant of His Maiesties lawes shall passe amongst vs without interruption either of ignorance or
tyranny.

"

41y.

That by a

free trade

and lawfuU admittance hether

all

of honest

men and
"

shypinge, the excessiue and gripeinge prizes of

necessaries

will of themselues fall to

And
to

this (as

we

wish, so

an honest abatement. we hope) may, without aU inconuenience be graciously graunted by His Most but please you, the honorable

or violence to His ^[aiesties gracious letters patents, or iniury or detri-

ment

any one

in perticuler,
;

Excellent Maiestie

and so

willbe, shall it

Company (to whom we are, in the name of the whole most humble suppliants in this behalf e) to vouchsafe it and vs your necessary assistance and opportune mediation. "For which high and pious fauour, the whole inhabitants of this poore plantation (at the present languishinge vnder thes vnsupportable burthens) shall continually offer up their earnest prayers to Almightie Godd (as they haue due cause) for your Honnours happynesse and prosperitie, bothe in this world and that which is to come."
Lordes of the
plantation,

And

in this

triued and fashioned for its carria^e^

manner and methode was this afiayre conmannagement, and

dispatch in England.

What

the issue was, and effect that

followed herevpon, must be looked for hereafter.

But

this bussinesse

was noe sonerouerbut the Gouernour

haueinge caused a certo

found himselfe intreagued in a second^ and that of noe lesse

consequence
taine fellowe
j

for not long before,

named Thomas Harriott

certaine
of the

be bound ouer to

the next assizes vpon

vttered to one

seditious

Counsell, and

wordes by him some others which

might tend

to a stirrings

vp of the people to disobedience


298
THE HISTORYE OP THE BEEMUDAES
at this time^

and mutinyGj he

that parte of the

by letters sent vnto him from Hands and the sanae counsellours^ found a soudaine and dangerous encrease of the same ill by the same delinquent, causeinge not only a boldnesse and irregularitie in the

common and worse

sort of speritts in that

quarter, but also a dishearteninge

and

feare in the best, the

contents of which letters (for the fuller expression of this

motion) I haue here also inserted, aud are as followeth

" Right Worshypfull. At your
last

being with

me

at

my

house, at

the binding ouer of Harriott, you gaue

me

charge to haue an eye vnto

he hath shewed himselfe, his great feasteinges and the like it is not vnknowen vnto you. But at the present he so exceedeth, and is growen to heighth of insolence, as he dares to question your worshyps gouerment, to interrupt the minister in the pulpitt, to disobey my commands, and hath angled the j)eople to that passe, as some haue bin heard others that they would be to saye they would they had more Harriots
carelesse
;

him and

in the point of his followers especially, since

which time how

lolly

True it is, Sir, that thes thinges I heard not myselfe in person, but Mr. Lewes can (I dare say) verefie as much to his greife, aud Captaine Yates also, vnto whom, as I haue heard, he spake straunge wordes before the whole tribe. I confesse, Sir, it had bin my part to haue seazed upon his person presently, and to haue sent him up prisonour vnto the towne but I conceiue with all that, if it shall please your worshyp to send your marshall to fetch him up by laud
of Harriotts side,
like.
;

and the

in yrons, all his confederates will

be much daunted

for to say truth,

they are

all so

out of order as they cry with loude voices after Mr.

Lewes that Capt. Tucker will come too morrowe, nor can I apprehend any other issue hereof than some violent sedition, vulesse your wisdome take a speedy course of preuention, for so many seemes to stand up with him, as it may be ynough to cost vs all our hues for ther are so many poore snakes (but desperate withall) that seeme ready to take his part, as if he should be suffred vntill your time should be expired, before the comeinge in of your successor, it is to be feared that euerye one would be a Gouernour, and all thinges come to confusion. I beseech your worshyp to examine all that Mr. Lewes and Capt. Yates can saye herein, and to consider of that and this, and what more may be founde in this compact, that so both he and they may be curbed in time, for otherwise I must needes saye our case will sone proue most miserable.
;

" Your Worshyps in

all

humblenesse,

"
"

S, P."^

Probably Stephen Paynter, one of the principal people at this time.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

299

The Gouernour being quickned witli thes letters, and findinge it necessarie to shew himselfe to be so, instantly sent downe the Liuetenant of his owne company, together with
the Prouost
Marshall,

who

sodainely apprehendinge

the

sayd Harriott in his house brought him to the towue, wher

he was made a close prissonour; wherupon an especiall

Commission being directed

cause, the whole

to

two Counsellours,

for the full

and perfect examination and takeinge knowledge of his

body of the Counsell was assembled, who,

together with the Gouernour, sittinge in open Court, the

sayd prisonnour was charged with these sixteene articles

followeinge, and

vpon the charge had

free libertie to

make

answer

for himself.
articles, tendinge to sedition and mutinie, obiected and proued against Thomas Harriott of Southampton tribe, tobacco-maker, being brought to the barre, before the Gouernour and Counsell, openly sittinge in Court, etc., vpon the 7th of September 1622.

" Certaine

"1. That the sayd Harriott did giue out that the Gouernour should
saye that he would call a Martiall Court, and hang him the sayd

Harriott

if he could. " The which sayd article was proued against the prisonnour by

the oathe of two witnesses, and found a mere slaunder of

the Gouernour.

"

2.

That he should report ther wer noe counsellours allowed

in thes

Hands, nor to be so held to be, saue only Capt. Felgate, Capt. Stoakes,

and Capt. Kendall, but that the rest wer of the Gouernours makeinge, and therfore durst not but yeeld to whatsoeuer the Gouernour liked, least he should take them by the arme and turne them of, and therfore they rather chose to saye as he sayth, and sitt with their hatts on their heades, than by displeaseinge his will to be made to stand bare. And in scorne he called them a company of wise men. " Proued by the deposition of two witnesses.
" 3.

He

hath sayd that the Counsell in generall stand but for ciphers,
in their places.

and doe more hurt than good

" Confessed by the prisonour.

"4.
tooke

He

affirmed that the Gouernoiu' sold corne out of the

store to the Spaniards that lost their

shyp vpon the coast

last yeare,

pubhck and

mony

for

it.

" Confessed by the prisonnour, but the contrary proued.

300
"
5.

THE HISTORYE OP THE BERMUDAES

That he adnised one Mris. Faucett, widowe, to redemande certhat her husband the yeare before had payed into the publick store, accordiuge to a leuye appointed by statute, saying vnto her to encite her thervnto, that it was as good mony as any in her purse.
taine

come

" Proued by the "

6.

oatlie of

two

wittnesses.

That he hath publickly reported in a disdainefull manner that

the Gouernour would haue enoughe to doe to answer for himselfe vnto
the people with payments.
to

such matters as ther would be obiected against him, viz., for loadeinge And that for his part he would make him

answer him for certaine corne that he was forced to pay the

last

yeare.

" Confessed concern einge the first part that the Gouernour would haue ynough to doe to answer for himselfe, and his owne reason was because (quoth he) I haue gone ouer with two Gouernours from hence, and they wer bothe of them troubled by the Company and so he beleaued would this be. As for the rest, that the Gouernour loded the people with payments, and that he would make him to answere for his but that he had notwithcorne, he denied them bothe standinge so reported was proued by the oathes of two
; ;

wittnesses.

"

7.

He

hath sayd that the Gouernour this yeare did demand 80,000
,200

42,000, which was

and the Counsell did taxe the country at more than the Gouernour required but that the sayd Counsell should be made to pay it back, and farther he hath ignorantly affirmed here vpon, that the whole body of the Counsell wer
eares of corne of the country,
1
;

in a premunire.

"

A sufficient cause
owne

being shewed for the leuy of the ouerplus of

corne, the pi'isonnour

confession.

was found

guiltie of

article

by

his

"

8.

He

affirmed that the Gouernour should saye that without him-

selfe his

Counsell could doe noethinge, but that he, without his Coun-

sel!, would doe any thinge, wher vpon he inferred that the Gouernour would make himselfe more absolute than the King.
''

Found

to be a meere falsehoode

and slaunder of the Gouernour,

inuented by the prisonnour.

"

9.

He

hath sayd that the Gouernour called the Ferry at Burntit

point a royaltie belonginge to the Company, and therfore he tooke

250lb. of tobacco this yeare for
of Captaine

Yates

but (sayth he) the

Gouernour dares not

" The

call it

a royaltie in England.

article confessed

wholy by the prisonnour.

OR SUMMER ISLANDS.

301

" 10. He hath sayd to Captaine Yates, by waye of acluise, that he should not paye one ounze of tobacco vuto the Gouernour for the
foresayd Ferry.

" Confessed to haue giueu him the sayd counsel!.

"11. He publickly gaue out that wheras the Gouernour told him that he had gotten his mony with tappinge he kept, himselfe kept a tap-house vnder his nose, and an extortinge fellowe to begger the country with payinge the extortinge host and that he prayed God that the Gouer;

nour proued not a kind of host himselfe, for he thought it would proue that he had a hand in the buyeinge and seUinge of the wine, which the
last yeare

was solde

so deare.
article

"

The whole

found a meere slauuder, inuented by the

prisonnour, of which he was found guiltie

confession.

by

his

owne

"

12.

He

boldly affirmed to the person of a Counsellour that for his

part he would paye none of the leuie appointed

yeare, vnlesse it

by the

statute for this

wer gotten from him by

force.

" Fully confessed by the prisonnour.

" 13. Being in company of diuers persons, the sayd Thomas Harriott,
in a seditious

people of the

and braueinge manner, deliuered these wordes, that if the Hands wer as they might be, they would not pay one iott

of the fore-sayd leuies, but

make the Company

to doe

it.

" Froued by oathe against the prisonnour. " 14.

He

minister,

openly and in plaine tearmes sayd that Mr. Lewes, the and a sworne counseUour besides, was a foole.

" Proued " 15.

by

oathe.

in Southampton Tribe Churche, the said Harriott openly and aloud interrupted him, being in the exerciseinge of his diuine function, and told him he was out of his
text.

The sayd Mr. Lewes, being publickly God vnto the people out of the pullpitt

preachinge the worde of

" Confessed

by the prisonnour.
was produced
(as effects

"

16. Lastly, ther

and motions caused by

these seditious speaches and rebellious behauiour of the sayd prisonnour)

the secondinge of him by some of the

auditors,

common people, who had bin his and nowe groweing to shewe themselues his disciples, wher of some of them sticked not to saye ojDenly that they would be of Harriotts side others wer heard to wish that they had more suche Harriotts and one Mallory, and Will Hardeinge, a black-smithe, with diuers others, went of purpose to a village called Port-royall to heare (as they
;


302
sayd)

THE EIISTORYE OF THE BERMUDAES

how Harriott would hold up the two Captain es Stokes and Yates, being bothe of them sworne counsellours for the plantation.
"

The

full of

oathe,

which article was proued against the prisonnour by and some of the sayd seditious delinquents punished

accordinge to their demerritts."

Herevpon, accordinge to these profes and confessions, a

censure passed vpon him by the Gouernour and Counsell,
sittinge publickly in Court, the

which with a very vnusuall

vnanimitie was as followeth

being accused and conuicted of

" That he, the sayd Thomas Harriott, their prisonner at the barre, all the turbulent behauiour and seditious

speeches conteyned in the articles aforesayd, should be conueyed

man-

nacled quite through the maine vuto Southampton Tribe (wher he had

acted the most part of his insolencyes and mutinys), ther to haue one of his eares nayled to a whippinge post (which was purposely to be erected and called Harriotts Post), soe to stande the space of halfe a houre, then to be brought back to the towne of St. Georges, and in the pillory ther to lose his other eare to paye a fine of one thousand poundes of tobacco to the vse of the Honorable Company, and to
;

remaine a prisonnour in the gayle of

St.

Georges dureinge the sayd

Companyes

pleasure."

The which sentence was

shortly after executed

vpon him,

only in pitty and commiseration the Gouernour spared him

one of his eares, vpon his future good behauiour, haueing bin
also very fauourably vsed in the takeing

away only of a peece

of the other.

A fauour notwithstandinge noe waye deserued

by the delinquent who euen in the instant of the triall of his cause, had in diuers perticulers carried liimselfe with much insolence, as amongst others an arrogant and impertinent
exception takeinge against diuers of the Counsell, as not to

be allowed

for his

competent judges, by reason (forsoothe)

that one of them, in his examinations of him should tell him that he had made a fayre step to the gallowes that another had sayd, vpon his demandinge to haue bayle, that
;

it

was not

safe to allow bayle to a

mutiner

that a third

(vz.)

Mr. Lewes the Minister, had in his prayer desired God to

OE SUMMER ISLANDS.

303

conuerte the mutinous and rebellious speritts of the Islands,

them of, and the like.^ Not long before this it was that the Gouernour made one Mr. John Yates (an ancient planter and a sworne Counsellour for thes Ilandes) the Captaine of Southampton Fort byCommission who thereby also became obliged and tied to an attendance vpon that fort, and to a sufficient manneinge of it, with his owne people vpon all soudaine occasions and
or to cutt
;

alarmes

as likewise to the entertainement of a resident

his

gunner ther vpon

owne

peculier charge, in consideration

whereof he had graunted out vnto him (with a prouisoe notwithstandinge and reference to the Companyes approbation)
the keepeinge of the ferry at Burnt-point
;

and

for

which

(it

being euery way to be sufficiently mainteyned by himselfe

also (he

was only

to receiue the beneuolence

and

free gift of
.

the people, the inhabitants of the Maine, and not otherwise,.

And
it,

here

it

urns the ivill of

God

to taJce

out of this ivorld

the v:riter of this History, hee intending e

a farther progresse in

I haite heard from the last mentioned Gouerners mouth the Company of Aduenturers in England, accordinge to theire wonted cauallinge manner %vith the precedinge Gouerners, jolayed fast and loose with hhn as with the rest, and though hee stayed his full tyme att the Somer Islands and tooke much care and paines not onlyin orderinge the strengthenhutt as

inge of the cheife forts, planteinge of necessary s and, doeinge

luhat possibly could be done in the infancy of this plantation,
hutt alsoe in establishing e honest

and conuenient lawes for

the

good of the place, yett he returned,

thancks more from that vngratefull

ivith verry little proffitt or

Company

then those which

were before him.

1 No record has been found of the assizes held between June 1620 and March 1626. The trial of Thomas Harriott seems to have occurred in 1622, at which date therefore this History breaks off.

FINIS.

A RELIC OF SIR

GEORGE SOMERS.

fS

the ///ass

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e/-

e/z/plei/eel^

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7d///i/'a/

dir

(rer/rj/e

Se//ie/^s

Se/7//?/e/-s, c/7^

^^.D. /606] /rr ///a/rr/etijz/i// //zs ce/rtpass /fee//Jes,

see J7d//:rs /i/vr/im^ efJ)er/n

"^'^^i
7^J4fr^lg^^i^i

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"-

tJ--eJSi<Z^.y

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Tyvfnfde

aT7g//n,t/ fh/jossfss/w, c/'JIJ/ss

BeJh/t/y P/jmout/i

/////

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'i/K/

APPENDIX.

I.

On the

Site op the Pla.ce op Interment op the

Heart of

Sir George Somers.

See

p. 175.

Governor Sir John Hope, by deed dated

gentleman,

14tli

July 1726^

grants unto Samuel Smith of the town of St. George's,

" All that

lott, piece,

or parcel of land, situate, lying,

and
to
it

being in the town of

St. George's, containing

from north

south-westward forty-one feet of assize or thereabouts (be

more or

less)

from north to south-eastward,

it

fifty-four feet
;

of assize or thereabouts (be

more or

less)

from east to

south-westward, sixty-four feet of assize or thereabouts (be

it

more or

less)

and from east

it

to northward, sixty-three

feet of assize or thereabouts (be

more or

less).

Bounding

on the west on the Governor's garden, south on the street

or path, east on the lott

now

in possession of Peter
.

Le
."

Conte, and on the north by the Governor's said garden

Grants, No.

9,

p. 208.
his last will, dated 25th

Samuel Smith, by
devises as follows
:

March 1729,

"

Item, I give, devise, and bequeath unto

all

my

granddaughter Susanna Smith^ aforesaid

1

that

my

lott of

Susanna Smith

(to

whom

the lot was devised in

tail)

married Wright

Westcott, and the lot descended to Wright Westcott

folk, Virginia,

(his son) of

Nor-

who

barred the entail and sold

it

to

Thomas Western


30G
APPENDIX.

land in St. George's aforesaid (to be passed after the decease

of

my

said wife, or sooner, if she

my

said wife pleases)

adjoyning to the comon pound, and opposite to the tomb of

Sir

George Sommers

(as in the

grant thereof
etc., etc."

is

set forth),

unto her the said Susanna Smith,

Wills, p. 234.

Hence,
the

it is

evident that in 1729 the traditionary site of

tomb

of Sir G.

Somers was well known, that

it

was

in

or near the Governor's garden, north of Mr. Smith's property, and near the

common pound.
day in what remains of the Govertomb bearing the inscription
:

Now we

find at this altar

nor's garden an

" Charlotte Hope

POSUIT

Johannes Hope

Pr^pectus
24 Decem. 1726."
It was, evidently,

thought unnecessary at the time to say

why

she placed

it

and

if,

as I presume, her object

was

only to

mark

in

a more worthy manner a spot already

is

notorious, the omission

suflSciently

accounted for thus.

Samuel Smith

refers to

it

in his will three years later as a

familiar object.

The same spot was

in 1819

still

the re-

puted burial place of the 'Hieart and entrails" of Sir George

Somers, and as such, was opened in search of them by Admiral Sir David Milne, who, however, found nothing
except fragments of a glass vessel or bottle, the character
of which
is

not recorded.

(Commander R.N.), afterwards Admiral Thomas ^Yestern, whose family now owns it. From a deed of 1805, I find that at that date what was formerly the " Pound Lot" was called " Peter Burchall's". This lot was next westward
of the premises nov/ occupied

by Lane

as stables, etc.

It

was the

lot leased

by Burchall

to

Western

in 1795.

APPENDIX.

307

In 1795, the

lot opposite this

by Peter Burchall
of
it

to

reputed tomb was leased Thomas Western, and probably a plot

drawn, which, however, has not been found.

lot

In 1831, the same

was surveyed and a plot drawn by

or opposite the north-west angle
is

Dan. R. Prudden, Surveyor-Gleneral, who inserted opposite

the north-east angle of
of the adjoining
lot,
it,

which

known

to

have been formerly

Colonel Samuel Smith's, a rectangle, with the woi'ds,

"Tomb

of Sir Geo. Summers^', agreeing very well with the indications in

Samuel Smith's

will

already quoted.

This original
it is

di-awing

is in

the secretary's

office,

but a copy of

in the

possession of Mr. Swainson, owner of the adjoining lot to

the west, and in the copy the

thirty feet to the west,

rectangle

is

moved about
''

and the words added,

Tomb

of Sir

G. Summers".
Latin
is

"Hie situs corpus G. S. The wrong and the date wrong, and on what authority
1600.^'
is

the place was changed, or the " Hie situs" inserted,

not

known.

It

may have been put

in from

memory

after the

copy was taken, and accidentally set at the wrong corner.

There are other slight deviations from the original

copy, especially in the notations
the
little
;

in this

and

it

is

significant of

attention paid to accuracy, that

in

York
is

Street

is

called

Kent Street
plot,

both.
:

The pound

inserted in

Prudden's

who adds

" See the lease from Burchall to

in''

Western, dated 28th Nov. 1795, when the pound was

cluded with the lot by Mr. Trott's survey.

There must have been many elderly men living in

George's in 1726

St.

who

could

remember Richard Norwood.

He was doubtless concerned in the erection of the original monument, and survived until 1675. It is hardly conceivable that tradition could err within one lifetime so far as to
fix

upon

wrong

site for

an object of so great local interest;

that the spot

and

I conceive, therefore,

now marked by
is

the

commemorative inscription

in the text (p. 175) is as well

It

authenticated as the case requires.

of the greater

x2

308

APPENDIX.
site

interest, because the precise

of the interment of his

actual remains at AVhitchurch, in Dorsetshire, cannot be

identified,

and his monumental inscription has disappeared

in restorations of the church.

II.

The

first generall assemblie, held att St.

Georges

in

THE SOMMEK IlANDES, BY INSTRDCTIONS PROM ENGLAND,

BEGUNN THE EIRST DAYE OP AuGUST, IN THE YEARE OP OUR Lord 1620, Captaine Nathanyell Butler being
GOVERNOUR, AND IN THE FIRST YEARE OP HIS GoVERMENT.

8ee

p.

192.
the Generall Assemblie.

The Forme and Gomposicion of

The Persons.

The Gouernour. The Counsell. The Bayliffes of the

tribes.

Two
by

sufficient

Burgesses out of euery tribe to be chosen

voices.

A A

Secretary, to

whome

all bills

are to be presented, and

he to read them in the Assemblie, and to be sworne.

Clercke to recorde the Actes
Tlie
;

to

be sworne.

Order appointed by the Governor.

The

first

day, after a sermon in the morning, the bur-

gesses, the secretarie,

and the clercke are

to

be sworne.

And
tarye,

the whole

company

to be called ouer

by the

secre-

and so to take theire places in the house, the Counsell sitting next the Gouernour, and the rest as they
This done, the Gouernour breiflie declareth the order,

come.

the scope} and benefittof the Assembly, glueing instructions

and Advise}
'

And
p.

soe the Assemblie riseth for that day, for

See

195.

The words

in the !MS. are lierc illegible.

APPENDIX.

309

they

sitt

only in the morniugs, the afternooues being be-

stowed either in consultation with the Gouei^nour in his

private house, or vpon

some

perticuler committees^ to frame

busines against the next morniuge.

Att the next meeting of the Assembly, the secretary

reads distinctlie suche bills as be propounded, which being

once read, whosoeuer wills riseth up, and speaketh either

with
it

or against

it.

In which accoropt this order

is

to

be observed.

He

that entendeth to speake

is

to stand
it is

vp (vnless

it

be

the Gouernour) bareheaded, wherby

discerned that he

has a meaninge to speake.

If

more stand vp then

heard.

one, he that

is

iudged to arise

first

is first

Euerie
to

man

is

to direct his speeche to the secretarie,

and

be hard out without interrvption.

He

that hath once spoken to a

bill,

thoughe he be preone day, and this

sently answered and confuted, may not reply that daye, so

that none
is

may speake

twice to one

bill in

to avoide

ouermuche disputes and mispending of time.

In speaking against any mans speeche, the party spoken

against
is

not personally to be named, to auoid heate of

contention and the giueing of distastes.

Noe

revileing or nipping

wordes are

to be vsed

vpon any

occasion whatsoeuer.
All bills are to be read three seuerall daies once (and but

once)

they come to the concludinge of them by voices, that

so in the

meane tyme they may

aduisedlie be

examyued,

and euery man have space

reiect

to deliberate,

and soe accept or

them when they

bill is

are putt to voices.

After a

read three seuerall daies, and sufficiently

secretary
is

disputed vpon, the

shalbe putt to voices or noe.

to demaunde whither it The which being graunted,

bill in his

the said secretarie

saie

is to

hold vp the

hand, and to

as many as will haue this

bill to

passe for a lawe, lett

310

APPENDIX.
sale soe.

him

If the crie yea be found apparently greater

bill
is

then the crie noe, the

contrary,
If
it

enacted for a lavve

if

on the

it is

dashed.
crie is the greater, the secretary

be a dowbt which
thus

is to saie

as

many

as allow the
it sitt still.

bill,

stand vp on your
soe bothe the

feete,

and you that refuse

And
itt.

numbers being counted^ the most And in this manner all bills are
whole tyme of the Assemblie.

carrie
to

be decided during the

the Acts that haue

Vpon

the last daie of the Assembly,

all

passed are to be read.

Which being donne,

occasion.

the Gouernour dismisseth the As-

sembly, concluding with some short speeche, as he findeth

All the acts being afterward

digested

into

a
to

convereceiue
as

nient method, are

their ratification

to

be sent into England

there, in suche

by the Company

manner

by his Maiesties letters pattents

is

lymitted and appointed.

And
ther

in the interim, the

is

Gouernour here by Order of Court,

all

awthorised to putt in execution

the said Actes

and Constitutions whatsoeuer, as he

England.
Note, that any

shall finde

meete, pro-

uided that the same be not repugnant to the lawes of

man

whatsoeuer, although he be none of

bill to

the present Assembly, maie yett lawfully preferr a

the Secretarie dureing any session of any Assembly, pro-

uided that

it

be for the benefitt of the publique, and be

modestlie and cyvillie composed and required.

TJie

Office

of

tlie

Secretarie helonginge to the Generall

Assemhlye.

The

first

day of the Assemblie, the Gouernour haueing

taken his place in the Howse, and the

Company being

come

together, the Secretary

is

to present himself to the

Gouernour

to receiue his oathe.

APPENDIX.

311
his place^

Being swornGj he
call

is

to stand

by

and then to

ouer

all

holde in the

Company by their names and titles they Assemblie, who are to present themselues vnto
the

him

as they are called,

and soe receiuinge theire oathes

to read the forme

from him^ to

retire to their places.

is

This action being performed, he

and

order appointed to be obserued in the holding of the Assemblie.

He
is to

is

also to receiue all bills that shalbe deliuered

vnto

him during the whole tyme

of the Assemblie, the which he

cause the Gierke appointed and sworne for that pur-

pose to engrosse into a booke.

All those
bills,

as occasion shall serue, he is distinctlie to

read word for word with an

Assemblie.

audible

voyce before the

all

He

is

to obserue dilligentlie that

bills

be

openlieread thre severall daies before they be putt to the

question^

and so to passe by voyces.

being read thre severall daies, and
sufficiently

A
the

bill

debated
title

of,

he

is

to holde
bill,

it

of the

he

is

vpp in his hand, and reading to demaunde whither it shalbe

is dilligentlie

putt to the question or nott.

Being putt to the question, he

whether by most voices
or contrariwise
;

to observe

it

be allowed and enacted for a lawe

is

and accordingly he

to recorde
is

itt.

Att

the breaking vp of the Assemblie, he

titles

to read ouer the

of

all

such actes as during the whole tyme of session

haue by the Assemblie bene enacted and confirmed.

lastlie,

And

he

is

to dispose

and construe

all

thesaide actes

and statute lawes into a convenient and sutable forme and

methode, that so they may be sent into England vnto the

Company
he

there to receiue theire confirmation, and in the

interim to be putt in execution here by the Gouernour as

shall finde cause

and occasion.

312

APPENDIX.

Tlw Oath of

the Secreifirie to the Generall Assenihlie.

You
shall

shall receive all suclie bills as shalbe delivered

and

offred vnto

you

to be presented vnto this Assemblie.

You

accordinglie^ as opportunitie shall serve,

distinctly,

Vi^ord for

Assemblie
care that

word and with an audible voyce, reade them in the you shall dilligently observe and take especiall ;
all bills

be openly read three seuerall dayes before

they be putt to the question, or come to be decyded by the

plurality of voices
;

you

shall heedfully

and faithfuUie take

accompt of

all

suche

bills as
;

by most voyces shalbe passed

shall conceale the secretts of

and ennacted
discourse

for lawes

you

the House, and neither directly nor indirectly reveale or

them

to

any person whatsoeuer not being a

All this you shall sweare to
abillity, so

member

of this Assemblie.

performe and keepe to your vttermost powre and

helpe you God.

The Oath of

the Gierke of the Assemblie.

You

shall dilligentlie, exactly, truely,

all

and

faithfullie, as
bills as

nere as possiblie you may, engrosse

suche

shalbe
;

deliuered unto you for that purpose by the secretary

shall assist
affaires as

you

and aide him

in

all

suche imployments and

(belonginge to this present Assemblie) he shall

;

liaue

occasion to vse your service

affaires

you

shall not reueale

this

any busines or

handled or

determyned by

Assemblie within your hearing or knowledge.

shall sweare,

This you

performe, observe, and keepe to your vttmost,

so help you God.

The which
take notice
of.

bills

being found

fitt,

and becomeinge the

eares of the House, and being such as this Assembly

may

API'ENDIX,

313

Tlie

Oath of a Burgesse of the Generall Assemblie.

to be a

Being
shall

member

of this generall Assemblie^ you

sweare to

vse and ymploy your best endevour as a

All suche proposicions as shalbe by
offred vnto the
especiall}''

furtherance thervnto.

you or by your meanes

at a generall welfare

consideration and

discussinge therof shalbe

:

entended and levelled

you

shall

not be lead by any partial!

affection or respect of private interest or gains to

oppose or

hinder the establishinge or ennactinge of any lawe ameing

at the reformacion of

any dissorder and abuse.

practise

In

all

suche

actions as you

shall

and contrive duringe your

service,,
all

whole time of assistance in this

discharge a good conscience in

you

shall strive to

equity and integrity

secrets of the

you

shall

by

all

meanes conceale the

Howse,

and not impart or discover, either by word, writings, or any other meanes, to any one, not being of the present
Assemblie,
the passage and
carriage
of

any

affaii'e

or

busines that shalbe treated of and disputed dureinge the

tyme

of the whole sittinge

and continuance of the saide

shall

Assemblie.

And

this

and euerie parte therof you

so help you God.^

promise and sweare to keepe and performe to your vtter-

most powre and

abillitie,

III.

Historical Documents A^'NEXED to the Sloane MS., 750.

I.

The Voyage of

the

''

GarlantV, 1619.
for the

Wee, the Gouernour and Counsell

do giue
1

Sommer Islands,

certificat

vnder our hands that vpon the thirtieth of

For

fuller information regarding the progress of self-government in

see

the Colony,

a paper

by the editor on the " Constitutional History

xlvii.

of

the Bermudas", in the Archxolmjia^ vol.

314

APPENDIX.

October 1619 the ship called the Garland,

Wm, Wje,

master^ arriued here in the harbour of the Kings-Castle^

haueing hadd a long and tedious voiag from England to

these parts.

And brought

hither diuers passingers safe

and

well^ with certen

goods consigned to these Hands, of

of which goods, notwithstanding

which passingers sixe are said to haue died by the waie and

two in the harbour.

And

the clamour of losse and

damage by
all

diuers passingers, he
sett ashore as farre

and
as

his

company

affirmeth to haue

he or they knowe, having taken noe further charg vpon

only.

them but the conduction of the shipp

Virginia, wherof at sea
their principall

As

also that

he brought in the said shipp diuers passingers bound for

died
fowre, Captaine

Whitney,
at St.

Commander, dicing here on shore

arriuall,

George.

After which

he haueing staled twenty

daies here in harbour before his shipp could be vnladed,

by

reason of the scarcity of boats and the tediousnes of the

wether, althoughe he had

could

all

the assistance that possible

there
arose, the

be given him from

vs,

19th of

November
with
all

in this place, a verie sore

and tedious storme, in

in her.

which storme the foresaid shipp was Hkly to haue perished,

suche

men and goods

as

were then

And by
maine

reason of whiche storme, the Master, for the saftie of the

said shipp,

was constrained
said shipp, being
distres,

to cutt ouer board the

mast of the
by whiche

muche damnified

in his cables,

not being able to performe his voiag to

Virginia without his said mast.

II.

The " Oarland's" Return

to

England without Orders.

Commission graunted to Wm. Wye, Master of the good shipp called the Garland, for the gouernment
of the said shipp passengers and seamen, during voyag from the Sommer Hands into England.
his

To

all

to

whomc

these presents shall

comme

to be scene

APPENDIX.
or heard, I the

315

Goueruour and Principall Comaunder now

resident in the

Sommer Hands,

sendeth greeting, whereas

the Gouernours and Compauie of the Cittie of

London

for

the Plantacion of the said Hands, by vertue of the Kings

Maiesties Letters

Pattents vnto

them

gi'aunted,

hathe

giuen to

me

the said Gouernour, as appeareth

by Commis-

sion under their seale, full charge

and authoritie to execute

all

and performe within these Hands

place

suche things as to the

and

office

of a Captaine

and Commaunder appercivill.

taineth, as well in causes criminall as

Nowe knowe

you, that I the said Governour having vppon speciall considerations, fraughted out the
land,

good shipp

called the Gar-

from these parts into England, with diners parcells of

goods of tobaccoe, and other comodities due to the said

Companie

by vertue of the

said

Commission given

to

me

from the said Companie, doe authorise and enable

Wm.

Wye
ing

to be maister

and Comaunder of the said shipp and

;

Companye during
all

the said voyage

williug

and commaund-

persons whiche shalbe shipped in the said shippe for

this voyage, to accept

and obey him, as

their lawfull

Com-

maunder

in this kind, during the time of the said voyage.

And
for

withall doe give charge and

to performe and execute

commaund
all

to the said

Wm. Wye

suche things, either

gouerment or

direction, as to the said place of maister

shall appertaine

and Commaunder of a shipp

wise,

and not othershall

whoe

for the breache

and transgression therof

give accompt to the said Honorable Companie,

in

now

resident

London,

att his retorne to

England.

In witnes wherof,

I the said
etc.,

Gouernour haue hervnto putt

my

hand and

seale,

15th January 1619.

III.

An

Investigation ordered 1620.

A
To

Commission- graunted to

Wm.

Seymour and Sey-

mour Wodward,
all

gent., etc.

men

to

whome

these presents shall

comme

great-

316
ing, etc., wlieras

APPENDIX.

by reason of the negligence and wastes of

provided

the last yeare, the late blast of our corne^ and the putting

vpou vs of manie verie

falen into

ill

new commers, we
:

are

somme

distres of bread
:

soe that manie

it

are

altogether destitute therof

And
:

because
all

is

especiallie

my

charge and care in doeing justice to

sortes, to suc-

cour the poo-re and distressed

Being informed that there

are divers vncharitable persons

among you, whoe haueing and more a great deale then will an overplus of cotton,
them and
their familye
for

serve

their

sober expences
it,

vntill tlie

next harvest, doe either hide

sell it

expecting a

dearer markett hereafter, or doe

able rates as are

at suche vnreasonfull

altogether vnconscionable, and

of

oppression, theirby provoking God's wrathe against vs to

punishe vs further in our next cropp, since we make a

praie of the necessities

of our poore brethren

For the
thought

redress and remedie of these inconveniences,

fitt

it is

(according to the lawdable custom vsed in England in

the like cases), that there be a due searche

made

in all

cabbins throughout

all

these Hands, and in

all

likely places,

where anie corne male be hidd and layd vpp.

graine,

And

if

there

shalbe found in anie of the said places anie quantitie of

more than shalbe judged

fitt

and requisitt

for the

convenient sustenence vntill the next harvest, of the family

wherin suche corne shalbe found

(a

reasonable rate being

allowed for their purpose), that then the surplusage and

overplus shalbe sould to suche poore people as are
(by all likelihoodes) to stand in greatest
sities
:

knowne

wants and neceshonest

And

that att such prices

as by

men

apis

pointed for that purpose (whereof the

to be alwaies one), shalbe thought

bailifi"

of the tribe

fitt

and reasonable.
if

The payment being

haue wherewithal!
croppe
j
;

to

be made presentlie,
at

the parties

or els

the

farthest

at

the

next

and

for the fuithfull

and

dilligent execution of the

premisses, I haue, and

doe by these presents authorise.

APPENDIX.
constitute and

317

appoint Win,

Seymour,

my

seiaut

maior,

deputie

bailiff of

Sandes

tribe,

and Sej^mour Wodward, the

bailiff of the collony

and steward of
busines.

my

house, to be

Comand

missioners in

this
all

Straightlie

chardging

commaunding

bailiffes

and other

officers

whatsoeuer,

being resident within these Hands, not onelie to acknowledg and receiue them accordinglie, but also to giue and
afford
all

possible assistance for their better effecting of

this service.

Given vnder

my hand

at St.

Georges the 4th

dale of
IV.

Marche 1619-20.

A particular Commission graunted to Lewes Hughes,

John Yaites, John Perenchieff and Jarvis
sworne Counsellors of Estate.
Inglesbie,

To
ing.

all

men

to

whome

these presents shall

comme

greet-

There haveing bene diners and sondrie persons somcalled before

moned and
bodie

me
to

the Gouvernour and the whole

of the Councell,

make

their

personall answers

concerning certaine defamatorie and seditious sclaunders

tending to the contempt of authoritie by the abuse of the

Gouvernours person, the whiche said persons haveing bene

vrged according

to the statute, in that case provided, either

to produce theer authors, or to be held soe themselves

and so
of

to receive their censures accordinglie, they

haue

all

them performed thus muche, so that for the time it resteth upon the person of Miles Kendall, a sworne Councellor, and the bailiff of Sands tribe ; but the said Miles Kendall being att that present soe visitted with Gods hands by sickness, as that he could not with the r.est (according to sommons orderly given him), make his personall appearaunce to answer for himself.

These are therefore

to

com-

maund and
Yaites,
aforesaid, to

authorise thaforenamed

Lewes Hughes, John

John Perenchieff, and Jarvis Inglesby, Counsellor as

make

their personall repaire to the said Miles

Kendall

att the place

where he

is

now

resident,

and there

318
to confer together,
lers,

APPENDIX,

and examyn him about the said particu-

and so

to retorne

how and

vppoii

whome, he

shall

any

waie disburthen himself hereof

Assuredly hopeing, that

he

will

bothe consider duely of the respects in this faire

course carryed vnto him, and also shew a readie willingnes, according to the dutie of the place he holds, to give a
free passage to the

execution of that justice, whiche a

ci'yme of soe highe a nature requires.

Given

att St.

Georges the 8th of June 1620.

IV.

About

Panique

feares

seizeingb

vpon

an

Army.
750.
all

Prohahly hy Gaptain John Smith.

It

Shane MS.,

hath bin founde

the

generall practise of

able

generalls in thoes panique feares which haue often befalne

armies neuer to hazarde a battell before they hadd recouered

and assured the

speritts of their

men

and

this they

com-

monly practised by one of thes two waies or by bothe.

By makeinge
terrified

of speches or
in

by a strounge entrenchinge the

farre

army
:

some place of advantage not

by
litle)

from

their

enemie

and from thence by smale skirmiges of some

to lett the rest find (litle

selected

men

that neither

their enemies

wer inuincible nor more

valient themselues,

but that by the conduction of their cheifes and their obedience to their discipline, they might be broken.

Thus did
feare, Caesar
fortified in

Cffisar in his

warre with Ariouistus,^

his victualls,

who being

lodged betwixt him and

whiche incited the

herevpon marched with his whole army and

an aduantagious place, about two miles distant

from the enemies camp, ye which withall fauoured ye carriage

of his prouisions of victualls vnto thirde of his

him, employinge one

army

in the
2

worck whilst the other two stoode

j,

Caesar, B. G.,

31.

APPENDIX.
in
battell,

319
if

to

repulse

Ariouistus
:

he should attempt to
left

hinder his

fortifications

this

being done, he

two

legions lodged within

thes

entrenchments, and brought

into his old

back
the

all

the rest of his

army

Camp

and the

morrow

after presented himselfe in battell

:

betweene botlie

Campes

but soe as that Ariouistus issueinge out vpon

him, was by Caesars best men,

who wer ordered purposely

he was gladd to
retire

to receiue him, soe entertained as

with the worst

soldiers

herby recouered, brought out

whervpon Csesar finding the courage of his all his army, and

march] nge to the very retrenchments of his enemies

Camp

prouoked him to the combatt, fought with him and defeated him.

For mine owne part, I

if

find

noe cause to doubt, but that

our

first

discoverers vpon the severall partes in the

West

Indies, hadd

bin

but as heedfuU and wise to maintaine

those Indians in theis kiudes of panique feares which they

was wee might to this daye have wrought more amongst them by the beateinge of a drumme than now wee can by the Greinge of a
at ye first fight, as Ctesar

hadd of our men and armes

to disengage his soldiers from them,

canon.

GLOSSARY OF UNUSUAL OR OBSOLETE WORDS

AND

EXPRESSIONS.

Alongst, 132, cdong Appayd, 134, paid Arrant, 253, term of depreciation Articlers, 262-3, drawers up of articles Barretters, 186, slanderers Be-painted, 196, A. S. prefix Bccuf, 155, heef Brabble, 23, a dispute Branglinge, 234, contentious Burgoisses, 193-4, hurgesses Cccdar, 2, 91, 109, 173, etc., cedar Cape merchant. See Index
Capitulations, 153, stipulations Censure, 38, 254, sentence Cloyed, 230, chohed Condeinge, 1 1, conning, a nautical term^ Coneycatching, 184, cheating. Pigeon-

Go through stick,
and thin"

71, "go through thick

Heraught, 72, herald Houte, Howete, 41, 51, hoot

Ingenio, 206, 210, 291, engine Loquent, 242, talkxitive Matachiu, 19. See note in 1, c. Moores, 243, negroes Opposite, 268, opponent Panele, 226, a kind of coarse sugar Portage, 16, carriage of a thing Prolefull, 159, prolific Provisoe upon the By, 206, an incidental condition Pursuivant, 27, officer of justice in pursuit Respectfully, 255, respectively Saluted to the shoe, 74, a profound
salute

ing

Corps du garde, 237-8, guardroom

Delicate hopes, 264, fond imaginations Embote, 53, embarlc Endammage, 259, A. S. prefix Fashionable, 39, tvell fashioned Fiddle upon, 47, jyrei/ xipon Galamafry, 288, a confusion Gaster, 51, frighten Geason, 232, of inferior quality

Scoggin's dole, 59 (unknown) Shent, 232, shorn of, mulcted Skirmage, 229, skirmish Unih, 129, 2i9, snub? To take in snuff, 257, to take

in

dudgeon Twang, 52, 263, cabal or party

To Cond or Cun {pronounced cunning) vox nautica exp. Guberuatorem quomodo temonem dirigat. Manivayring in Dictionario Naut. defiectit k Lat. conducere. Mallem ab AS. cunnan, scire, noscere, etc.
'

docere

Skinner, Etymologicon Linguce Anglicance, mdclxxi.

INDEX.

Accidents in gunnery, 150 Bermuda Company, 128 Acts of 1620, list of, 199 Billetting of mariners, 266 Adulteration denounced, 185 Bii'ds, enumeration of, 3 Alarms, false, 31, 93, 236 remark on the flight of, 3 orders providing for, 280 abundance of, 13 Bishop, appeal to, 112 Amazon River, 34 160 Boat escapes attempted, 13, 113 Ambergrece, 18, 21, 22, 27, 28, 30, Boat voyage to Ireland, 79, 182 its value, 164, 218, 273 Boundaries Act, 202 Apprentices imported, 189, 205 Brazil, 85 sale of, 273 Breakers, Mill's, 225 Aqua vitffi, 67, 134, 137-8, 281-3 Bridges, 201, 228, 232 ArgoU, Captain, 132, 211 Brother Islands, 102 Armada, the Spanish, 60 Bunbury, Mr. E. H., 9 n Armament in 1618, 107 See Guns Bui'gesses chosen, 188, 193 Artillery. Assembly the first, 188-90, 216, 292 their duties, 198, 313 Burning alive for petty treason, 180 its constitution, 193, 308 in the hand, 187, 233, 287 its difficulties, 203, n. of King's Castle, 151 its rules and officers, 198 Butler, James, 243 room erected for, 232 Butler, Nathaniel, Governor, 120-2 Assistants to Governor, 60 how elected, 131, 132 Assizes, 77, 78, 87, 89, 139, 156, 176, 286 arrives, 148, 290 187, 228, 233, 279, his first proclamations, 160 charge to, 177 his first dispatch, 162 mode of conducting them, 176 letter to the bailiffs, 168 when held, 201 Auditors, appointed by the Virginia acts as judge, 176 charge to the grand jury, 177, Company, 128 Azores, 85 187 speech to the Assembly, 194 Bahamas, 85 reply to the Company, 215 Bailifis or baylies, 77, 140, 154, 193, erects a new residence, 231 charges against him, 249 287, 289 all fined, 228 his defence, 253 petition Butler, 167 quits the island, 293 Baker, a pirate, 251, 257 Ballot, practise of, 131 Cabins of palmetto leaves, 23 Barker, Judge, 79 Caca-roache, 6 Barnstaple, ship of, 189, 216, 272, 276 Cahows, 3, 41, 87 Barrett, engineer, 35 Canary Islands, 47 Barretters, common slanderers, 186 Cannibalism, case of, 65 Bartlett, surveyor, 29, 36, 37, 39 Cape merchant, 69, 75, 97, 184, 210, Bedford, Countess of, 106 267, 272, 277 tribe, 106 Carter, Christopher, 14, 16, 99, 249, Beer exported, 264 273 recovered from a wreck, 188 Carvel, Caravel, 93, 97 Bermuda, description of, 1, 2 Cassada, Cassava, 238, 285 discovery, 9 Castle, the King's, 35, 77, 87, 170, 200, 215 a locality in London, 45 n.

322
Caswell, Mr. R., 211, 213

INDEX.
Dale, Sir Thomas, his orders, 77 Danby, 137, 139, 249 David's Island, 282 Davis, sea captain, 21, 23, 27 Deane, Paul, 90, 294 Defamation, extent of, 186

92 Cattle sent from England,

Cats,
5,

wUd,

42, 85,

124

difficulties with, 223,

260

Cavendish, Lord, 106, 160 Caves, allusion to them, 71 Cedar, exported, 80, 84 Chance medley, definition of, 181 Charge, Butler's, 187 Charles Fort, 107, 238 Children pressed, 205, 286

Defence arrangements, 52, 237 insufficiency of, 296 Delawne, 261

Delbridge,
J., free trader, 27, 189, 216, 225, 272 Desertions, attempted, 113 Devils, Demonios, Isle of, 10 Devonshire Eedoubt, 167, 215 Tribe, 106 Dice, use of, 252, 260 Discovery of Bermuda, 9 Division or dividend of tobacco, 207,

Church, erection

of, 26, 137, 142, 161 assemblies held in, 192, 216 of England, 112, 153, 178

endowment

of,

124

liturgy tinpopular, 171 State services, 273 Churchwardens, 229, 283 Civic feasting, example of, 247 Clergy, benefit of, 90, 187, 233 demand for, 293, 294, 297 dissensions of, 57 opposition to the Governor, 24,
49, 50, 54, 61, 91,
.

212 Drunkenness, prevalence 62, 67, 138, 185, 227

of,

48,

59,

Dutch

112

See Ministers Clerk of the Store, 58

carpenter, 163, 250, 254 cruisers, 165, 166, 189, 212, 214, 220, 257 wreck, 146, 163, 164 Dutton, J., Bailiff, 148, 250, 255, 295

Cockroaches, etymology of name, 6 Coin, its scarcity, 227 Commission, the Governor's, 75, 134,
148, 152

Ears, cutting off of, 140, 302

Prayer, use insisted on, 112 Communion Cup, presentation of, 211,

Common
221

East India Company, 130 Egg, birds, 4

Elfrey, D., sea-rover, 33, 47, 132 Exchange, bills of, 210, 219 Company, The Virginia, 17, 26, 28, 39 Execution of John Wood, 78, 89 of Paul Deane, 90, 294 business ill-conducted, 296 of John Yates, 114 confiscates goods, 98 of one man, 187, 188 factions in it, 120, 122, 128, 130 of two men, 287 general letters of, 209, 226 Exercises, martial, 188, 229 policy, its selfishness, 240 Expenses, public, how met, 106 Conformity expected, 112 not secured, 171

Conies, 5

Coney Catching, 184

Cooper's Island, 39, 41, 273 Corn, Act for setting, 202 means of i^reserviug, 281 supply to forts, 134, 201

Famines or great
41,

scarcities, 33, 34, 40,

159

See Ferrars Farrars, J. Faucett, the widow, 30 Felgate, R., Captain, 35, 151, 155, 165,

want

of,

210

(wheat), a failure, 3 Corporal chastisement, 79, 110, 111

Corruption of

Officers,

141

Council, contempt of, 299 Counsellors of tribes, 281, 289 Crayford, shipmaster, 139 Criminal offences, list of, 181 Crowther-Crowder, 251, 257 Cudgel, its employment, 79, 110, 111,

261
Cuffe tobacco, 184

299 Fencing, Act relating to, 202 Ferrars, Mr. John, 252, 262 Ferry at Burnt Point, 229 Fidicena tibicen, scissors grinder, 6 Figs, abundance of, 3, 84, 85 Fires, accidental, 150, 167 Fire resorted to, 91 Fish, abundance of, 6, 41, 43 primitive way of catching, 43 Fisher, Captain Edward, 33, 34 Flemish wreck, 68
Fhiellcn, a settler, 254

Cunningham

Fort, 24

INDEX.
Flying fish, 65 Forced levies, 90 Forged letter imposes on D. Tucker, 119
Fortifications, 23, 29, 35, 39, 87, 161,

323

Harvests, two yearly, 8, 159 Hats, wearing, a sign of dignity, 299 Healthfuluess of climate, 8 Hearus or Herons, protection of, 233 Herrera, his history, 9
Hellicott, mai-incr, 97

167, 169, 215

list of,

107

of trade requii-ed, 240, 297 Freight on tobacco, 159, 209, 217 French Protestant Liturgy adopted,
17-2

Freedom

High treason defined, 179 Highways Act, 201 Hilliard, Andrew, his sufferings

at sea,

French rovers, 47, 83, 86 Fresh water discovered, 282 Frigates, trading with W. Indies, 70, 93, 144, 164

47,

Gabriel! or Gabry, N., 99, 100, '211 Gates, Sir Thomas, 14 General laud, 106 General letters, 207, 269 Generality, a phrase for free men, 204,

63 Hind, polygamist, 249 Hogs, wild, 5, 10, 13 Acts relating to, 230 Hog money, 76 Hope, Sir John, 305 Hostile projects against the settlement, 169 Hughes, Rev. Lewis, 49, 58, 60, 72, 81,
,

91, 111, 143, 152, 243, 245, 291, 301,

317

212

Geneva Liturgy, 173

Glebe lauds, 124 Gaol fever, 205 Goats, 5, 252, 260 Godwin, W., 79 Governor, how paid, 122,

Welshman, 57 boldness of, 50, 54, 112 quarrels with Tucker, 111 departs for England, 225 returns, 268 Hurricanes, or great gales, 60, 92, 156, 161
a

25

receives gifts, 146, 257 spoke in assembly covered,

197

Act relating

to,

202

addresses the Spanish ambassador, 275 his guard, 176, 273, 283
his progresses, 238 jury, the first, 177 Grapes, their failure, 217

Immigrants. See Passengers Indian corn, 3 Indian slave, the first imported, 84 Indictment, bills of, 178
Indigo, 3 Inglesbie, Jarvis, 317 Intemperance, its prevalence, 59, 138,

Grand

185
Interruption of preachers, 113, 301 Intrigues to get rid of D. Tucker, 118 Ireland Island, 105, 124 Irish fight, 229 Italian language, use of, 165

Great men's letters, 123 Grievances of the colonists, 241, 291, 293, 294, 296 Grove, Provost Marshall, 137, 141, 249

Guernsey and Jersey, Liturgy, 172

of,

171,

Gunpowder

273 supply of, 32, 268 waste of, 212, 220

plot,

Jerusalem compared with Bermuda, 1 Johnson, Alderman, 131, 243 Joynes, Rev. R., 272 Justices of the peace, 289
Katherine's Fort, 35, 236

Guns, recovered from wrecks, 26, 163, 237, 286, 289, 290, 291 Gurnet's Head, 26,28,29,31, 32, 35, 170
Halbardiers, 176, 273 Halver, tenant on shares, 228

Hambleton, Marquis of, 106 Handicraftsmen bound to work, 229 Harbouring pirates, 212
Harcourt, R., 34,
n.

Keath,'Rev. G., 24, 49, 56, 57, 73 a Scot, 57 his audacity, 24 Kendall, Edwin, 21, 22, 23, 27, 242 Kendall, Miles, 44, 121, 299 acting Governor, 122 intrigues to continue, 134
his riotous living, 1 59 superseded by Butler,

Harriot, T., his sedition, 298, 299, 302 Hardships of settlers, 220, 297, 303

149,

152
goes to England, 225

Hardinge, W., 301

324

INDEX.
Murderers 290
(a class of guns), 147, 289,

Kendall, supported by Sir E. Saudys, 242, 248 returns to Bermuda, 269 Killock, a boat anchor, 64 "Kings", the three so-called, 17, 20 Kjng's Castle, 35, 77, 87, 170, 200,

Musk

melons, 3 Musquitoes, 6

Musters of

all

able to bear arms, 188

Needham, a settler, 252, 260 215 Negro slaves, imported, 84, 99, 144, Kirby, a pirate, 144, 242, 246, 278 146,211 his death, 279 dispute about, 242 Land to the N.W., indications of, 3 owned by the Company, Lang, Rev., 142, 212, 221 219 Law of England claimed, 297 Newfoundland, attempt to escape to, the ComLaws must be confirmed by 19 pany, 297 trade with, 140 Lead, scarcity of, 290 Newgate supplies emigrants, 204 Letters to the Company, 293 Newport, Captain, 11 Lewes, Mr. See Hughes North, John, 211 Lignum vitse, trade in, 84 Nathaniel, 211 Limestone sent to Virginia, 285 Norwood, R., 77, 104 Liquor, great consumption of, 227 his alleged corruption, 104 Liquors, supply of, 58 his survey, 105, 106 illicit traffic in, 226 Liturgy of Guernsey and Jersey, 171 Officers of the forts, 77 Llewellin, Roger, 211 Olives, wild, 2, 3 Loblolly, a porridge, 48, 66, 135 Lords, arbitrament of the, 124, 132, Oranges and lemons, 3 Ordnance. See Guns 211 Ottwell, Provost Marshall, 252, 261 Overplus, The, its origin, 104, 106 Machiavel, a term of reproach, 55 appropriation of it, 132, 211 Magazine ships, 110, 163, 189, 203, Tucker's house on it, 109, 242 111, 156 Maine, The, a geographical expression, Overseers, anniial, 288, 289 67, 72, 77, 101, 136, 151, 237 Oyeres, Oyez a cry, 176 Mallory, a settler, 301 Oysters, j^earl, 291 Mangrove, bark for tanning, 98 Mansfield, John, 44, 52 Paget's Fort, 24, 26, 39, 88, 144, 231, Su- Robert, 106, 160 Manslaughter defined, 181 236, 239, 241 tribe, 106 Matachin, or Matachina, 19 Palmetto berries eaten, 64 May, Henry, his shipwreck, 10 cabbage, 33 Meal, supplies of, 33, 44, 132 hoiises, 23, 182 Melons, growth of, 3 coarse sugar, 226 249 Panele, a Melliuge, Mr. T., 247, Panique fears, essaj;^ on, 318 Milford Lane, Strand, 45, n. Parsnips grown, 3 Mill's breakers, 225
!

Minister, arrival of one, 142, 242 trial of one, 54 house built for, 87 Sec Clergy Misprision of ti-eason defined, 180 Moore, Mr. R., first Governor, 17, 19,
20, 45, 60, 136

Passengers, arrivals of, 17, 27, 28, 30, 35, 36, 142, 159, 189, 204, 225, 267, 268, 271

wretched stamp of some, 286 Pauper children, neglect of, 296

Payne, a settler, 260 Paynter or Painter, S., 295 severe treatment by the Com- Pearl fishing, 291 Pembroke Fort, 39, 273 pany, 39, 103 tribe, 106 Moores, negroes so called, 243 Penal servitude, 294 Mount, the first, 28, 107, 137, 161 Pcuistou's Fort, 23, 241 the second, 173, 204, 225 Island, 23 Keeper, 236 Conocnvptis, John, 317 Perinchieff, sea. 30 Mulberry 2, 3, proper. Morus, 218 Perjury denounced, 183
,

INDEX.
Perspective, glass, 164 Petition to the six Governors, 48

325

Registration of births, etc., 283 Reprieves at the gallows, 114, 140,

279 ReptUes, unknown, 6 Rhodes, climate compared with, 9 Riche, Geo., trial of, 101, 103 114, 117 Pigeon-house, a small redoubt, 241 a kinsman of the Earl of WarPUlory, use of, 1S7-302 wick, 99 Pimplicoe, Pimlico, 4 Mount, 174 Pineapples, 3, 84, 98 Sir Nathaniel, 243 Pinnaces, employment of, 36 37, 41 Roberts, a planter, 211 Pii-ac}', acts of, 34, 37, 47, 85, 93, 98, Rosa solis (a liquor), 67, 138 134, 144, 159, 212 danger of the Island becoming Rules of the Vii-ginia Company, 116 a centre of, 196, 209, 213 Sabbath observance, 249, 253 ill defined nature of, 214 Pirates, their ambiguous status, 48, Sack {the wine), 138, 212, 220 St. George's, 19, 23, 28, 29, 33, 76 94, 96, 98, 214, 221, 242 St. Katherine's Fort, 35, 236 Plague, suspicions of, 205 Saker, piece of ordnance, 48, 241, 278, Plantains, abundance of, 3 286, 289, 290, 291 Plants, enumeration of, 2, 3 Pocahontas and her companions, 271, Salutes dispensed with by James 1, 212 to Governors, 152, 154, 220 272 Sandys, Sir Edwm, 120, 131, 242, 247 Poison, ivy, 2

Petty juries, 176 Petty treason defined, 179 PhUpot Lane, London, 128 Piety, example of, 32

Pollard, Mr.,

his trial, 99, 101, 103,

115,117 Pomegranates, 3
Population, 30, 76, 227, 294 Port Royal, 42, 65, 81, 301 Portugals, 9, 47, 85, 86, 265 Potatoes, Batatas, 5 Solarium, 30, 285 Poultry, domestic, 5, 135, 285 Powell, a pirate, 85, 93, 95, 97, 102,
165, 239, 251, 257 Prayer-book objected to, 112, 171 Preachers, supply of, 211 Premunire threatened, 300 Presentments, 186, 229 Pressing of men, 286 Prices complained of, 295

elected Treasurer, 128, 130, 132, n. his intemperance, 248 George (his brother), 120, 122 tribe, 42, 106, 265 Saunders, R., 79 Savage Islands, 38, 78, 85, 93, 132 Scandalum magnatum, case of, 301 Scarcity of provisions, 41, 166 " Scissors' grinder", 6 Scoggin's Dole, 59 Scot, , a planter, 261 Scoutin, Peter, a Dutch skipper, 145,

166
Sea- venture flats, 107, 290 Secretary, functions and fees
of,

193,

219
Settlers, their complaints.

Prickle pears, 2 Proclamations, 160, 166 Progresses, the Governor's,

See Griev

ances
67,

156,

237
Provisioning of forts, 201 Pro\dsions seized, 160 obtained from a

Seymour, "William, 315 Shark fishing, 237

Shares of land, 36, 77, 103, 104 Shingles, use of. 111 Dutch ship, Shipping, !rhe Blessing, 34, 115, 116, Carwell, 97 Diaiia, 110, 123, 132 166 Edidn, 36, 37, 41, 43, 58, 69, 114 Provost Marshall, 35, 137 Puitt, Henry, 79 70, 71, 78, 84 ; Elizabeth, 27, 30 ; Garland, 155, 156, 16-3, 167, 185, Pulpit, abuses of the, 24, 50 209, 313; George, 70, 72, 225, 246 ; Gilhjilou-er, 125, 138, 140; Hopewell, Radishes, grown, 3 James, 268 Joseph, 85, 86, 93, 95 Rats, the plagvie of, 5, 34, 90, 102, 132, Martha, Margaret, 36 186 203, 216 Neptune, their sudden disappearance, 91 30 28, 29, 88, 92, 96, 97, Plough, 17, 19, 26 Rose, 101 Readers, their duties, 283 Sea Venture, Recusants not endured, 153 34,??.; Seafiower, li2 Star, 35 Thomas, 36, Reefs, their danger, 8, 265, 276 11, 26, 290
; ; ;
;

326
43,
;

INDEX.
Sundial taken for navigation, 81

Treasurer, 132, 133, 140, 77 Warwick, 147, 156, 16-2, 250, 256 148, 151, 155, 156, 167, 188, 209, Welcome, 44, 45, 55 237, 290 Anon (Delbridge's ship), 189, 216, 272, 276 ; Spanish prize, 33, 34
;
;

Shipwreck

May, 10 of of Sir Geo. Somers, 11 See Wrecks

Sickness on shipboard, 155, 204, 216,

265, 268 Sidesmen, their duty, 283 Silk culture, 30, 218

Silk sjaiders, 6 Simplicity, example of, 68 Six Governors, their appointment, 44,

47 Skirmishing, a

mode

of defence

en-

joined, 229 Slavery, jjenal, 295 Slaves. See Negroes

Smith, George, 213 Captain John, 48, 57

Sir 116, 243

Thomas,

20, 46, 82, 106,

to, 128,

frauds attributed Smith's Island, 20, 23

129

Fort, 136, 144, 231, 239 Soil of the islands, 2 Somers, Sir George, his shipwreck, 11 his death, 15 stone, 15, 174, 305

commemorative
inscription,

174
landing-place, 109

Somer's 80, 87

seat,

now Somerset,
of,

15,

42,

Tanning, attempts at, 98 Thomond, Earl of, his reception of runaways, 83 Three Kings of Bernnida, 18 Tobacco, 3, 29, 41, 110 burning of, 224 dividend of, 207, 208, 212, 214, 295 export of, 224, 225 freight of, 157, 209 frauds in, 184 how to be grown, 233 office of triers, 238 precautions taken, 222, 234 proclamations concerning, 234 quality of, 114, 167, 206, 234 revenue paid in, 202, 219 storm destroys, 267 Torches prohibited, 229 Tortoises. See Turtle Torture, application of, 62, 63 Tower, Marshall, 35 Treasure, reports of, 10, 68 Treasurer, the disabled, 163 fitted for freight, 157 Tribes, how laid out, 77, 105, 160 Triumviri, or Three Kings, 17 Trunk whale, 89 Tucker, Daniel, 63, 69, 70, 72, 85, 108 his grant of land, 103, 106, 124 his house at the Overplus, 109, 111,114 his fortifications, 107, 136 leaves Bermuda, 122, 123

Southampton, Earl
279

247

Fort, 87, 161, 163, 215,

tribe, 66, 106 Southwell, Captain, 120, 123, 128, 131 Spaniard's pillage of, condemned, 212 wrecked, sent away, 274 Spanish treasure, 10 hostility, 27, 276 sujiposed attack, 31, 36 wreck, 265 Stairs, public landing, 289 Stokes, Captain, 77 Storms, remarkable, 64, 92 Strappadoe, applications of, 57

intrigues at home, 131, 206, 211, 221, 247 Tucker, Mr., 69, 116

Tucker's town, 104 Turkeys, mention of, 135, 287 Turtle, Act for preservation of, 203

United provinces of Holland, 165, 209 Unnatural crimes, 183, 287

Vagabondage Vine culture,

restrained, 202
3, 76,

210, 212, 217

Submerged rocks, N.W., 266

Sugar cultivation,

indications
3, 90,

of,

Virgin Islands, 78, 85, 132 Virginia, Somers reaches, 14 commodities sent to, 277, 284, to

285
206, 207, 210,

212, 217, 224, 230, 291 soil not suited for, 217 loaves, a handsome gift, 212,

Virginia Comj^any, 11, 17, 128 factions in, 116, 122, 127, 242 Virginian Constitution taken as a

220
refiner .sent out, 221

model, 75, 77 maidens, attendants of Pocahontas, 271, 284

INDEX.
Walker, Robert, 102 "Walters, Robert, 14 Ward, John, 213 "Warnain, W., 257 Warwick, Earl of, his

327
killed

Wood

accident, 147 a settler, 251, 257 Woodward, Seymour, 151, 283, 315 Worsnam, Sir J., 131

Woodall,

by an

85 Wreck, anonymous, 291 242 a Dutch, 145, 163 of the Sea Venture, 11, 290 Sir E. Sandys, his enemy, of a Spanish ship, 9, 265, 278, 242, 247 Fort, 29, 62, 231 289, 291 tribe, 106, 168 of the Waricicl; 156, 290 Wa7nnci:, vrreck of the, 156 escape from, 276, 299 Water melons, 3 not complete if there are live West Indies, trade with, 78, 84 creatures on board, 275 Whale fishing, 88, 92, 256, 285 Wrecking practised, 146, 266 Whippei-, a degrading office, 182 Wrongs pretended to have been comWhipping, a common punishment, 89, mitted by Butler, 249 Wvatt, Sir Thomas, letter to, 277 182, 187, 233 Wye, Capt. W., 313, 314 Wild fowl, protection of, 233 hogs, 5, 10, 13 Yardley, Sir George, ofierings to, 277, man of the woods, 43 Williams, Robert, 249, 252, 261 278 Wives assigned for sale, 271, 273 Yates, Captain J., 134, 250, 255, 300, Wood, John, trial of, 78, 79 303, 317 Wood, Ensign, his plots, 119, 134, 135 John, executed, 114, n.
cattle,

his negroes, 211,

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