CCCXI. Peter Arundel. Extract from a Letter to William
Caninge
April (?), 1623
Manchester Papers, No. 341
Document in Public Record Office, London
List of Records No. 450
Sir: I haue seene two of Mr Arundels ɫres in Mr Hassels[94]
custody §written
to Mr Canninge§ the most materiall poyntes are these, and in these Wordes:
Our future miseries doe post a pace: & for prizes of thinges hee sayth: a
1000 of nayles coste 18s or 20s 1000: I haue payed 12ɫ sterlinge for a hogs-
head of meale 20s for a bushell of Indian Corne and non §to bee had§ but
with great men which endanger mee and myne to sterue beefore haruest:
In a Postscript hee sayth: w newes was brought that Cap: Spilman was
cut off by the Indians, hee had warninge of §it§ by an Indian: Hee and
his men cominge with theyr armour The kinge of that place asked why
hee came soe armed? Spillman ta§u§ld him of his distrust and shewed
him the man that gaue him Warninge, Wheere vpon ye kinge in his presence
caused the fellowes head to bee cut of & cast into the fire beefore §the
sayd Capten§ his face (a bad reward to beetray him that had giuen him
so faythfull a Warninge) but his owne life payd for it for ye next day hee &
his men coming a shore disarmed thinking to trade were all cut of by the
Indians. They tooke Mr Pountise his shallope & hewed her too pieces &
came with 60 canowes to take the vnlucky ship the Tyger who had but 4
Saylers & some few land men who who whiffed vp sayles & went faster
then theyr canowes & so left her. Wee our selues haue taught them how to
bee trecherous by our false dealinge with the poore kinge of Patomeche that had
alwayes beene faythfull to the English, whose people was killed hee and his
sonne taken prisoners brought to Jeames towne, brought home agayne, ran-
somed, as if had beene the greatest enemy they had: Spilmans death is a
just reuenge, it was done about that part of the Country: If wee had suffi-
cient prouision, wee should not neede to seeke after the Indians: It is a
great loss to vs for that Cap. was a gra §the best§ linguist of the Indian
Tongue of this Countrys Th
If you thinke fitt to cary our Tobacco into Holland to saue the thirdes
let mee know to whom I shall addere§s§s my self as your factor: &c.
Yours as his owne
P. A.
The bearers brothers name is Mr Jhon Jackson a distiller by Mooregate:
[Indorsed by Sir Nathaniel Rich:] Coppy of a peice of Arundles ɫre out of
Virginia.]
