America and West Indies: May 1634

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1860.

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'America and West Indies: May 1634', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660, (London, 1860) pp. 178-180. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp178-180 [accessed 17 March 2024]

May 1634

May 7. Minute of a Committee for Providence Island. Letters are read received from thence by the Falcon. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 130.]
May 8.
Salt preston.
[Preston-pans.]
Jo. Ker [?] to Thos. Leviston. Would be glad to hear from him concerning the success of the plantation of New England, "for there be many here that incline much to that country;" means not so much the ministers that are assured, but young men of rare gifts, who cannot get any lawful entry, as also professors of good means, who labour to keep themselves pure and undefiled. [Extract from DOMESTIC Corresp. Car. I.]
May 12. 14. Sir Ferdinando Gorges to the King. The King having taken the management of the several plantations into his own hands, Gorges suggests that New England, which extends 300 miles along the sea coast, should be divided into several provinces; that a Governor and assistants should be assigned to each, and some person of honour appointed with the title of Lord Governor or Lord Lieutenant, to represent the King, for the settling of a public state, to be assisted with other proper officers. Considerations respecting the future government of New England, and the persons to be employed.
May 12.
Brooke House.
Minutes of a Court for Providence Island. Conference with passengers [by the Falcon] concerning the state of the plantation. Mr. Ditloff's claims for books left in the island, and two servants. Bill presented by the wife of Mat. Harbottle to be paid. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 130–31.]
May 13.
Brooke House.
Minutes as above. Accusations against Nic. Goodman, the workmaster, deferred. Licence to Mr. Stacey to take his tobacco consigned to him by his servants in the island. Payment to Mr. Ball for Mr. Sherland's half share. Warrants to Nic. Goodman and Dan. Symonds to take up tobacco. Petition to the King to erect a trade at Cape Gratia de Dios, approved and ordered to be presented. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 131–32.]
May 15.
Brooke House.
Minutes as above. The Earl of Holland elected Governor, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Deputy, John Pym, Treasurer, and Wil. Jessop, Secretary. Mr. Hunt, the Sec. of the island, attested the truth of many charges against Nic. Goodman; referred to next meeting. Warrants to Mr. Boot and Serjeant Whitehead for tobacco. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 132–33.]
May 16. Minutes as above. Nic. Goodman's defence. Mr. Boot, for liberty to go into the country. Money for the Company's use. Petition of John Newman, a passenger in the Falcon, for allowance of his transportation, "he being very poor." Warrants to Mich. Archer and John Elfrith, to take out barrels of tobacco. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 133–34.]
May 17.
Brooke House.
Minutes as above. State of the plantation. Resolved to send a ship of about 200 tons burden, and a pinnace, with 200 men, and that if any women or children are permitted to go, they should not be included in that number; with a magazine of about eight or ten pounds a man, and 1,500l. in ammunition and clothes; total expense about 5,500l. Means of raising this supply. Business concerning loans. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol., III., pp. 134–36.]
May 17.
Brooke House.
Minutes of a General Court for Providence Island. Payment of half a year's pension to Messrs. Roote and Ditloff. The charges against Goodman; his defence; his wages to be paid, but a sharp reproof administered for his offensive demeanour. Grounds both for the necessity and convenience of another supply for the island. Mr. Treasurer's opinion on raising funds for the supply. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 136–37.]
May 19.
Brooke House.
Minutes as above. Propositions concerning the quantity of the next supply. The sending of a great ship respited unless a number of passengers can be procured to transport themselves at their own expense. Conditions upon which Mr. Root will obtain 100 persons to go over at their own charge. Serj. Whitehead and Michael Archer affirm they had discharged certain debts to the Company's stores. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 137–40.]
May 20.
Brooke House.
Minutes as above. Bond for the payment of 800l. lent by the Earl of Lincoln sealed. Payment to Peter Peterson, a Dutchman, for work done to the forts in the island, and to the Elizabeth, and for making a shallop for Capt. Camock. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 140.]
May 22. Minutes as above. Mr. Ditloff to receive 35l. for books left by him in the island. Resolved that a pinnace be forthwith made ready for the next voyage and no greater ship prepared, also a catch of between 16 and 20 tons to accompany the pinnace. Agreement for raising funds to set them forth. Encouragement to adventurers to join. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 141.]
May 30. Minutes as above. Payment to Nic. Goodman of the remainder of his wages. Demand of Rich. Manning for 20l. for a year's services. Amounts paid to the surgeon of the Falcon and Alice Field the gunner's wife. Repair of the Falcon. The Robert, a ship of 210 tons with 18 pieces of ordnance, may be hired for 50l. a month. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 142–43.]
May?
Dorchester [New England].
15. [Capt. Israel Stoughton] to his dear brother [Dr. Stoughton]. Mr. Patrickson, Mr. Cradock's agent, happily came in the spring. No ships arrived, though many are heard of. Supposes he will hear much about the cross in the banners; it is true Capt. Endicott did deface it upon his own private head. Long account of the political and religious differences in consequence. There has been somewhat to do about a negative voice for magistrates. Details concerning the history of the government of New England and his troubles through having been induced by Mr. Wareham of Dorchester, their pastor, to write down his reasons for "refusing to give them [the magistrates] such a negative as they challenged." Has been accused by Winthrop of being the troubler of Israel and a worm, such as Hooker had spoken of in his sermon. "This General Court" [6 May 1634, John] Haynes was chosen Governor, a very godly man of Hooker's charge. Very many hands against Winthrop, who has lost much of that applause he had for being either Governor or Assistant; some put in blanks because they would admonish him to look a little more circumspectly to himself. "He is indeed a man of man and some say they have idolized him and do now confess their error." Begs these things may be kept private.
1634? 16. "A proper Ballad, called the Summons to New England, to the tune of the Townsman's Cap," eleven stanzas of eight lines, commencing thus:-
"Let all the Purisidian sect,
I mean the counterfeit Elect."
The last stanza but one is as follows-
"The Native people, though yet wyld,
Are all by nature kinde and mylde,
And apt allready, (by reporte,)
To live in this religious sorte,
Soone to conversion they'l be brought
When Warham's miracles are wrought,
Who being sanctified and pure
May by the Spiritt them allure."