Aug. 4th, 1619.
This day Captaine Henry Spelman[419]
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[420]
and Opochancano at Poole's meeting with him in Opochancano's courte.
Poole chardgeth him he spake very unreverently and maliciously against[421]
this present Governr,[422]
wherby the honour and dignity of his place and
person, and so of the whole Colonie, might be brought into contempte, by
wch 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 part he denyed, excepte onely
one matter of importance, & that was that he hade informed Opochancano
that wthin a yeare there would come a Governor[423]
greatter then[424]
this that
nowe is in place. By wch and by other reportes it seemeth he hath alienated
the minde of Opochancano from this present Governour, and brought
him in much disesteem, both wth Opochancano[425]
and the Indians, and the
whole Colony in danger of their slippery designes.
The general assembly upon Poole's testimony onely not willing to putt
Spelman to the rigour and extremity of the lawe, wch might, perhaps both
speedily and deservedly, have taken his life from him (upon the witness[426]
of one whom he muche excepted against), were pleased, for the present, to
censure him rather out of that his confession above written then[427]
out of
any other prooffe. Several and sharpe punishments were pronounced
against
[428]
him by diverse of the Assembly, But in fine the whole course
[429]
by voices united did encline to the most favourable, w
ch was that for this
misdemeanour
[430]
he should first be degraded of his title of Captaine,
[431]
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.
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, wch he at one time or another
(God's grace not wholly abandoning him) might wth some one service have
been able to have redeemed.[432]
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 paymt of 600G,[433]
and to Captain William Powell, at Captain
Argall's appointment, for the paymt of 50G[434]
more. To Captaine Argall
for 15 skore acres of wooddy ground, called by the name of Argal's[435]
towne
or Paspaheigh; to Captaine Powell in respect of his paines in clearing the
grounde and building the houses, for wch Captaine[436]
Argal ought to have
given him satisfaction. Nowe,[437]
the general assembly being doubtful
whether they have any power and authority to dischardge the said bondes,
doe by these presents[438]
(at the Instance of the said Inhabitants[439]
of Paspaheighs,
alias Martin's hundred people) become most humble sutours to the
Tresurer, Counsell and Company in England that they wilbe[440]
pleased to
gett the said bondes for 600G[441]
to be cancelled; forasmuche as in their
great comission they have expressly and by name appointed that place of
Paspaheigh for parte of the Governor's[442]
lande. And wheras Captain[443]
William Powell is payde[444]
his 50G wch Captaine[445]
Argall enjoined the saide
Inhabitantes to presente him with, as parte[446]
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 50G[447]
from thence, or else that restitution therof
be made here out of the goods of the said Captain Argall.
The last acte of the General Assembly was a contribution to gratifie
their officers, as followeth:[448]
