Part 22

AUG. 4^{th}, 1619.

This day Captaine Henry Spelman was convented before the General Assembly and was examined by a relation upon oath of one Robert Poole, Interpreter, what conference had passed between the said Spelman and Opochancano at Poole's meeting with him in Opochancano's courte. Poole chardgeth him he spake very unreverently and maliciously against this present Govern^r, wherby the honour and dignity of his place and person, and so of the whole Colonie, might be brought into contempte, by w^{ch} meanes what mischiefs might ensue from the Indians by disturbance of the peace or otherwise, may easily be conjectured. Some thinges of this relation Spelman confessed, but the most parte he denyed, excepte onely one matter of importance, & that was that he hade informed Opochancano that w^{th}in a yeare there would come a Governo^r greatter then this that nowe is in place. By w^{ch} and by other reportes it seemeth he hath alienated the minde of Opochancano from this present Governour, and brought him in much disesteem, both w^{th} Opochancano and the Indians, and the whole Colony in danger of their slippery designes.

Aforesaid, Bancroft.

Spelman, McDonald.

greatest, McDonald.

gen^l, Bancroft.

Spellman, Bancroft.

Spellman, Bancroft.

ag^{st}, McDonald.

Governour, Bancroft.

Governour, McDonald, Bancroft.

than, McDonald, Bancroft.

Opochancanos, McDonald.

The general assembly upon Poole's testimony onely not willing to putt Spelman to the rigour and extremity of the lawe, w^{ch} might, perhaps both speedily and deservedly, have taken his life from him (upon the witness of one whom he muche excepted against) were pleased, for the present, to censure him rather out of that his confession above written then out of any other prooffe. Several and sharpe punishments were pronounced against him by diverse of the Assembly, But in fine the whole course by voices united did encline to the most favourable, w^{ch} was that for this misdemeanour he should first be degraded of his title of Captaine, at the head of the troupe, and should be condemned to performe seven yeares service to the Colony in the nature of Interpreter to the Governour.

witnes, McDonald, Bancroft.

than, Bancroft.

ag^{st}, McDonald.

courte, McDonald, Bancroft. misdemeanor, McDonald; misdemean^r, Bancroft.

Capt., McDonald.

This sentence being read to Spelman he, as one that had in him more of the Savage then of the Christian, muttered certaine wordes to himselfe neither shewing any remorse for his offences, nor yet any thankfulness to the Assembly for theire sofavourable censure, w^{ch} he at one time or another (God's grace not wholly abandoning him) might w^{th} some one service have been able to have redeemed.

This paragraph appears only in the McDonald copy, and in that it has two rows of lines at right angles to each other and diagonally across it, as if to indicate that this portion of the record was considered as being improperly made or, perhaps, was not official.

This day also did the Inhabitants of Paspaheigh, alias Argall's towne, present a petition to the general assembly to give them an absolute dischardge from certaine bondes wherin they stand bound to Captain Samuell Argall for the paym^t of 600^G, and to Captain William Powell, at Captaine Argall's appointment, for the paym^t of 50^G more. To Captaine Argall for 15 skore acres of wooddy ground, called by the name of Argal's towne or Paspaheigh; to Captaine Powell in respect of his paines in clearing the grounde and building the houses, for w^{ch} Captaine Argal ought to have given him satisfaction. Nowe, the general assembly being doubtful whether they have any power and authority to dischardge the said bondes, doe by these presents (at the Instance of the said Inhabitants of Paspaheighs, alias Martin's hundred people) become most humble sutours to the Tresurer, Counsell and Company in England that they wilbe pleased to gett the said bondes for 600^G to be cancelled; forasmuche as in their great comission they have expressly and by name appointed that place of Paspaheigh for parte of the Governo^r's lande. And wheras Captain William Powell is payde his 50^G w^{ch} Captaine Argall enjoined the saide Inhabitantes to presente him with, as parte of the bargaine, the general assembly, at their intreaty, do become sutours on their behalfe, that Captaine Argall, by the Counsell & Company in England, may be compelled either to restore the said 50^G from thence, or else that restitution therof be made here out of the goods of the said Captaine Argall.

600^{Li}, McDonald; L60, Bancroft.

50^{li}, McDonald; L50, Bancroft.

Argall's, McDonald. Capt., Bancroft.

now, McDonald.

presentes, McDonald, Bancroft.

Inhabit^{ts}, Bancroft.