CHAP. II.

WHilest I staied in this place I had some little trucke but not much, by reason of an euill member in the Harbour, who being couetous of trucke vsed the matter so, that he got the Sauages away from me.

And it is no wonder that he should abuse me in this sort, for he hath not spared your Lordshipps and all the Counsell for New-England.

He said vnto the Gouernour that the Lords had sent men ouer into that Countrey with Commissions, to make a prey of others. And yet for my owne part I ne∣uer demanded or tooke from any man in that Coun∣tery, the value of a denier, neither had I so much helpe from any Shippe or Shippes companie as one mans labour the space of an houre, nor had I any pro∣uision or victuall vpon any tearmes whatsoeuer, saue onely, 1000. of bread and 22. bushells of pease, which was offered vnto mee, and not by me requested, for Page  13which I gaue present satisfaction in Beuer skines: and also one Rownlet of Aqua vitae, which was brought to me 16. Leagues vnexspected, which good manners bid me buy. Much more provision was offered to me by many Masters of Ships, but I had no need there∣of, so I gaue them thanks for their kindnesse, and refu∣sed all.

Nay it is well knowne, that I was so farre from do∣ing wrong to any: that I suffered the Land which was granted to me by Pattent and made choyce of before any other man came there, to be used, and my timber to be cut downe & spoyled, without taking or asking any satisfaction for the same. And I doubt not but all others to whom you gaue authoritie, will sufficiently cleare themselues of all such imputations.

He said also he cared not for any authoritie in that place, and though he was forbid to trucke, yet would he haue all he could get: in despite of who should say to the contrary, having a great Ship with 17. peeces of Ordinance and 50. men.

And indeed his practise was according to his words, for every Sunday or once in the weeke, he went him∣selfe or sent a boate up the river and got all the trucke before they could come downe to the Harbour. And so many Savages as he could get to his stage, hee would enforce thē to leaue their goods behind them. One instance amongst marry I will giue you.

On a certaine day there came two Savages to his place, who were under the command of Sommerset or Conway I know not whether, at which time they were both with me at my house, but the other two who went to him, knew not so much, but afterwards they Page  14understanding of it, came prefently over, but left their Cotts and Beauer skines behind them, whereat Somer∣set and Conway were exceeding angrie: and were rea∣dy to beate the poore fellows, but I would not suffer them so to doe. They presently went over the Harbor themselues in their Cannow to fetch their goods, but this man would let them haue none, but wished them to truck with him, they told him they would not, but would carry them to Captaine Levett, he said Levett was no captaine, but a Iacknape, a poore fellow &c. They told him againe that he was a Roague with some other speeches, whereupon he and his company fell upon them & beate them both, in so much that they came to me in a great rage against him, and said, they would be revenged on his Fishermen at sea, and much adoe I had to diswade one of them for going into England to tell King Iames of it, as he said; when they came to me in this rage, there was two or three Ma∣sters of Shippes by, and heard every word.

But all this did me no hurt, (saue the losse of the trucke, which by divers was thought to be worth a∣boue 50. li.) for the two Sagamores whom he inticed from me, and incensed against me, at length used meanes to be freinds with me, sending one who asked me, if I were angrie with them, I told them no, I was not angrie with them for any such matter as lowsie Cotts and skinnes, but if they were Matchett, that is, naughtie men, and rebellious: then I could be Mou∣chick Hoggery, that is very angry, and would Cram, that is, kill them all.

When they came them selues to me to seeke peace, they brought me a Beauer Coate, and two Otters kines Page  15which they would haue let me had for nothing, but I would not take them so, but gaue them more then v∣sually I did by way of Trucke, I then told them like∣wise that if at any time they did Trucke with mee, they should haue many good things in leiu of their Beauer: and if they did not Trucke it was no matter, I would be good friends with them, at which they smiled and talked one to the other, saying the other man was a Iacknape, and that I had the right fashion of the Aberieney Sagamores, then they began to ap∣plaude or rather flatter me, saying I was so bigge a Sa∣gamore, yea foure fathom, which were the best words they could vse to expresse their minds: I replied that I was a poore man as he had reported of mee. They said againe it was no matter what I said, or that Iack∣nape (which is the most disgracefull word that may be in their conceite,) for all the Sagamores in the Coun∣try loued poore Leuett and was muchicke sorie that he would be gon, (and indeed I cannot tell what I should thinke of them, for euer after they would bring mee any thing they thought would giue mee content, as Egges and the whole bodyes of Beauer, which in my coneite eate like Lambe, and is not inferiour to it: yea the very coats of Beauer, & Otter-skinnes, from off their backes, which though I many times refused, yet not allwaies, but I neuer tooke any such courtesie from them but I requited them answerably, chusing rather to neglect the present profit, then the hopes I haue to bring them to better things, which I hope will be for a publicke good, and which I am perswaded were a∣greeuous sinne, to neglect for any sinister end.

And a little before my departure there came these 〈1 page missing〉Page  16mores to see mee, Sadamoyt the great Sagamore of the East Countrey, Manawormet, Opparunwit, Skedragus∣cett, Cogawesco, Somersett, Conway and others.

They asked me why I would be gone out of their Countrey, I was glad to tell them my wife would not come thither except I did fetch her, they bid a pox on her hounds, (a phrase they haue learned and doe vse when they doe curse) and wished me to beate her. I told them no, for then our God would bee angrie. Then they runne out vpon her in euill tearmes, and wished me let her alone and take another, I told them our God would be more angrie for that. Againe they bid me beate her, beate her, repeating it often, and very angerly, but I answered no, that was not the English fashion, and besides, she was a good wife and I had children by her, and I loued her well, so I satisfi∣ed them. Then they told me that I and my wife and Children, with all my friends should bee hartily wel∣come into that Countrey at any time, yea a hundreth thousand times, yea Mouchicke, Mouchicke, which is a word of waight.

And Somersett tould that his Sonne (who was borne, whilst I was in the Countrey, and whom hee would needs haue to Name) and mine should be Bro∣thers and that there should be mouchicke legamatch, (that is friendship) betwixt them, untill Tanto carried them to his Wigwam, (that is, vntill that they died.

Then they must know of mee how long I would be wanting, I told them so many Months, at which they seemed to be well pleased, but wisht me to take heede I proued not Chechaske in that (that is, a lier.) They asked me what I would doe with my house, I told Page  17them I would leaue 10. of my men there vntill I came againe, and that they should kill all the Tarrantens they should see (being enimies to them) and with whom the English haue no comarsse. At which they reioyced exceedingly, and then agreed amongst them∣selues, that when the time should be expired, which I spoke of for my returne, euery one at the place where he liued would looke to the Sea, and when they did see a Ship they wold send to all the Sagamores in the Countrey, and tell them that poore Leuett was come againe. And thus insteed of doing me hurt, I thinke that either he or I haue done good to all Plan∣ters, by winning their affections, (which may bee made vse of without trusting of them.)

But if your Lordship should put up this wrong done unto you, and the Authority which you gaue them, never expect to be obeyed in those parts, ei∣ther by Planters or Fishermen; for some haue not stucke to say, that if such a man, contemning autho∣rity, and abusing one of the counsell, and drawing his knife upon him at his own house, which he did, should goe unpunished, then would not they care what they did heereafter.

And truely let me tell your Lordships, that if euer you intend to punish any for disobedience, or contēpt of authority, this man is a fit instrument to make a president of, for he is rich, and this yeare will gaine the best part of 500 pounds by that Countrie, and he hath nether wife nor childe, for whose sakes he should be spared.

And if he goe free, as hee hath domineered over vs, to whom your Lordships gaue authority, but no Page  18power to put it in execution, so will he grow unman∣nerly too vvith your Lordships, as hee hath already begunne.

And it vvill discourage men hereafter to take any authority upon them, or to goe about to reforme any abuses in those parts.

And also it vvill hinder Planters for going over, if Fishermen be suffered not onely to take avvay their truck, but also to animate the Sauages against them, for this is the vvay to cause all Planters to haue their throats cut.

But I leaue these things to your Lo. considerati∣on, vvho haue as vvell povver as authority to punish such rebellious persons.

Thus hauing acquainted you vvith vvhat I haue done, seen, and heard; novv giue me leaue to tell you vvhat I thinke of the Savages, the inhabitants of that country: as also to iustifie the innocent, I meane the Countrie of New-England, against the slanderous reports of this man, and some others which I haue heard, and likewise to deliver my opinion, what cour∣ses I conceiue to be most convenient to be taken, for bringing most glorie to God, comfort, honor and be∣nifit to our King and our owne Natiue Nation.