CDXXXIV. Robert Guyar and John White. Answer to the Com-
plaint and Petition of Captain John Harvey
March, 1623/4
Manuscript Records Virginia Company, III, pt. ii, p. 62
Document in Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
List of Records No. 633
To the Honoble͠ Sr Francis Wyatt knight etc and ye right Worll͠ the Counsell
of state
The answer of Robert Guyar and John White to ye Complaint and
Petition of Capt John Haruey Esquier
Whereas it is obiected that Robert Guyar abetted Jon White to make a
muteny or deuision among ye shipps Company, it is denied by them both,
yt any other order was giuen by the one, or rec' by thother then to know of
the shipps Company, whoe were willing, & whoe not, to alter ye former
designes that they were shipped vpon, wth out any mocion of perswading
or diswading them any thing, Intending rather for the good of Captaine
Haruey then otherwise, and John white denieth yt hee used any p̱swations,
but only demaunded ther opinions
ffor Muteny (if any be) Robert Guyar holdeth it to be Com̃itted against
himselfe by Capt Haruey & his Confederates (hee affirming that whoe so
would not runne his Course hee would Cutt his throat, in regard hee knew
none of the shipp to haue Comand aboue him, Esteeming him selfe mr
& Comaunder, As well by a deed vnder the hand of Capt Haruey (weh hee
is ready to p̳duce) together wth Capt Harueys affirmation both ashoare &
aboard, that hee Came no otherwise then a passenger aboard the shipp,
As by a Comission hee had fro' the Company of virginia in England, wch
Capt Haruey gott from him by intreaty) at the westerne Islandℯ vnder
p̢tence to shew it the Gouernor ther to Certifie whether wee were bound
wch Comission hee saieth hee hath torne, if in Contempt hee referreth to
ye Censure of this board
As for the roll of names alleged to be so Impudenly & insolently deliued
to Capt Haruey, they doubt but it wilbe a maneffestation, that they ment
no prejudice, but rather benefitt vnto him, that therby hee might Consider,
if it were his best Course to vndertake y
e Designe, w
th vnwilling men.
Had they knowne before the
r Coming out of this voyage of the Commissions
& Instructions fro' the lords of his Ma
ties Counsell for New England vnto
Cap
t Haruey, Doubtlesse they would haue either willingly haue submitted
themselues thervnto, or haue Craued liberty not to p̳ceed in the voyage
And now Considering yt not only Robert Guyar & John white, but also
the rest of the shipps Company at the first vndertooke, & were hired to
Come first hither, hence to Canada, fro' thence either to Portucall, Biscay
of France & so home againe, they humble desier to p̳ceed in ther first in-
tencions, otherwise that by the authorty of this board, Captaine Haruey
may be Caused to putt in suffyent suerties to discharge what Robert
Guyar is engaged for him, & to discharge & pay what is otherwise Due
vnto him & the Shipps Company, And that Robert Guyar & John White
may be remitted fro' further Employment wth the shipp, not p̢sueming
wth Capt Haruey to p̢scribe to yor Honor & worps what punishment should
be Inflicted vpon him, for what (vnder Correction) wee Deeme little lesse
then Double Dealing & slander,
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