68 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE PILGRIMS V. CHAP. themselves, as no business could well go forward; the which may the better appear in one of the messengers' 1619. letters, as followeth. May 8. To his Loving Friends. I had thought long since to have writ unto you; but could not effect that which I aimed at, neither can yet set things as I wished. Yet, notwithstanding, I doubt not but Mr. Brewster hath written to Mr. Robinson ; but I think myself bound also to do something, lest I be thought to neglect you. The main hindrance of our proceedings in the Virginia business is the dissensions and factions, as they term it, amongst the Council and Company of Virginia, which are such as that ever since we came up no business could by them be despatched. The occasion of this trouble amongst them is, that a while since Sir Thomas Smith,' repining at his many offices and troubles, wished the Company of Virginia to ease him of his office in being treasurer and governor of the April Virginia Company. Whereupon the Company took occasion to dismiss him, and chose Sir Edwin Sandys 2 28. Sir Thomas Smith was the first treasurer and governor of the Virginia Company, and continued in office till superseded by Sir Edwin Sandys. He had the chief management of their affairs, and presided in all the meetings of the Council and Company. He was a London merchant, of great wealth and influence, governor of the East India and Muscovy Companies, and of the Company associated for the discovery of the north-west passage. In 1604 he was sent ambassador from King James to the Emperor of Russia. He was also one of the assignees of Sir Walter Raleigh's patent, and thus became interested in the colony of Virginia. See Belknap, ii. 9— 19; Stith, pp. 42, 158. 2 Sir Edwin Sandys was elected April 28, 1619. Stith says that "he was a person of excellent understanding and judgment, of great industry, vigor and resolution, and indefatigable in his application to the business of the company and colony." His election was brought about by the Earl of Warwick's (Lord Rich) hostility to Sir Thomas Smith. Sandys was very ob WITH THEIR AGENTS IN ENGLAND. V. 69 treasurer and governor of the Company, he having CHAP. sixty voices, Sir John Wolstenholme sixteen voices, and alderman Johnson' twenty-four. But Sir Thomas 1619. May Smith, when he saw some part of his honor lost, was 8. very angry, and raised a faction to cavil and contend about the election, and sought to tax Sir Edwin with many things that might both disgrace him and also put him by his office of governor. In which contentions they yet stick, and are not fit nor ready to intermeddle in any business; and what issue things will come to, I know not, nor are we yet certain. It is most like Sir Edwin will carry it away; and if he do, things will go well in Virginia; if otherwise, they will go ill enough always. We hope in two or three Court days things will settle. Mean space I think to go down into Kent, and come up again about fourteen days or three weeks hence; except either by these aforesaid contentions,2 or by the ill tidings from Virginia, we be wholly discouraged; of which tidings as followeth. Capt. Argall is come home this week. He, upon noxious to King James on account of his political principles. The king said "he knew him to be a man of exorbitant ambition." Accordingly, when the year for which he was chosen, had expired, James objected to his reelection, and in a furious passion exclaimed, “Choose the devil, if you will, but not Sir Edwin Sandys." To get out of the difficulty, the Company chose the Earl of Southampton treasurer, and Sandys deputy. See Stith, 159, 178, 181; Burk, i. 322; Short Collection, pp. 6, 8, 19. 1 Alderman Johnson was at this time the deputy-treasurer of the Company. See Stith, p. 150. For an account of the contentions in the Virginia Company, see Stith's Virginia, pp. v. 158, 180. Stith had in his possession copies 3 Sir Samuel Argall was a kins- 70 CORRESPONDENCE OF THE PILGRIMS CHAP. notice of the intent of the Council, came away before V. May 1 Sir George Yeardley came there, and so there is no 1619. small dissension. But his tidings is ill, although his person be welcome. He saith Mr. Blackwell's ship came not there until March; but going towards winter they had still northwest winds, which carried them to the southward beyond their course; and the master of the ship and some six of the mariners dying, it seemed they could not find the Bay, till after long seeking and beating about. Mr. Blackwell is dead, and Mr. Maggner, the captain. Yea, there are dead, he saith, a hundred and thirty persons, one and other, in the ship. It is said there was in all a hundred and eighty persons in the ship, so as they were packed together like herrings. They had amongst them a flux, and also want of fresh water; so as it is here rather wondered that so many are alive, than that so many are dead. The merchants here say it was Mr. Blackwell's fault to pack so many in the ship; yea, and there was great murmuring and repining amongst them, and upbraiding of Mr. Blackwell for his dealing and disposing of them, when they saw how he had disposed of them, and how he insulted over them. Yea, the streets at Gravesend rang of their extreme quarrelling, crying out one of another, "Thou hast brought me to this. I may thank thee for this." Heavy news it is, istration was so tyrannical and Sir George Yeardley was in 1619, and was empowered to investigate the charges against Argall on the spot. But the earl of Warwick having sent over a small bark to inform him of what was preparing against him, and to bring him away, Yeardley did not arrive in Virginia till ten or twelve days after Argall's escape. See Belknap, ii. 61-72; Stith, p. 157; Burk, p. 322; Smith, ii. 37. WITH THEIR AGENTS IN ENGLAND. 71 V. I May 8. and I would be glad to hear how far it will discourage. CHAP. I see none here discouraged much, but rather desire to learn to beware by other men's harms, and to amend 1619. that wherein they have failed; as we desire to serve one another in love, so take heed of being enthralled by other imperious persons, especially if they be discerned to have an eye to themselves. It doth often trouble me to think that in this business we are to learn, and none to teach. But better so than to depend upon such teachers as Mr. Blackwell was. Such a stratagem he made for Mr. Johnson and his people at Emden; much was their subversion. But though he then cleanlily yet unhonestly plucked his neck out of the collar, yet at last his foot is caught. Here are no letters come. The ship Captain Argall came in is yet in the west parts. All that we hear is but his report. It seemeth he came away secretly. The ship that Mr. Blackwell went in will be here shortly. It is as Mr. Robinson once said; he thought we should hear no good of them. Whether he Mr. Brewster is not well at this time. will go back to you or go into the north, I yet know not. For myself, I hope to see an end of this business ere I come, though I am sorry to be thus from you. If things had gone roundly forward, I should have been with you within this fourteen days. I pray God direct us, and give us that spirit which is fitting for such a business. Thus having summarily pointed at things which Mr. Brewster, I think, hath more largely writ of to Mr. Robinson, I leave you to the Lord's protection. Yours, in all readiness, &c. ROBERT CUSHMAN. London, May the 8th, 1619. 72 CHAP. V. CORRESPONDENCE OF THE PILGRIMS A word or two, by way of digression, touching this Mr. Blackwell. He was an elder of the church of 1619. Amsterdam, a man well known of most of them. He declined from the truth with Mr. Johnson and the rest, and went with him when they departed asunder in that woful manner which brought so great dishonor to God, scandal to the truth, and outward ruin to themselves, in this world. But I hope, notwithstanding, through the mercies of the Lord, their souls are now at rest with God, in the heavens, and that they are arrived in the haven of happiness, though some of their bodies were thus buried in the terrible seas, and others sunk under the burden of bitter afflictions. He, with some others, had prepared for to go to Virginia; and he with sundry godly citizens being at a private meeting (I take it, at a Fast,) in London, being discovered, many of them were apprehended, whereof Mr. Blackwell was But he so glossed with the bishops, and either dissembled or flatly denied the truth which formerly he had maintained; and not only so, but unworthily betrayed and accused another godly man who had escaped, that so he might slip his own neck out of the collar, and to obtain his own freedom brought others into bonds. Whereupon he so won the bishops' favor, (but lost the Lord's,) as he was not only dismissed, but in open court the Archbishop gave him great applause and his solemn blessing to proceed in his voyage. But if such events follow the bishops' blessing, happy are they that miss the same. It is much better to keep a good conscience and have the Lord's blessing, whether in life or death. But see how that man, apprehended by Mr. Blackwell's means, writes to a friend of his. one. |