WHILEST I staied in this place I had some little trucke, but not much, by reason of an euill member in the Harbour, who being couetous of trucke vsed the matter so, that he got the Sauages away from me.
And it is no wonder that he should abuse me in this sort, for he hath not spared your Lordshipps and all the Counsell for New-England.
He said vnto the Gouernour that the Lords had sent men ouer into that Countrey with Commissions, to make a prey of others. And yet for my owne part I neuer demanded or tooke from any man in that Countrey, the value of a denier neither had I so much helpe, from any Shippe or Shippes companie as one mans labour the space of an houre, nor, had I any prouision or victuall vpon any tearmes whatsoeuer, saue onely 1000. of bread, and 22. bushells of pease, which was offered vnto mee and not by me requested, for which I gaue present satisfaction in Beuer skines: and also one Rownlet of Aqua vitæ, which was brought to me 16 Leagues vnexpected, which good manners bid me buy. Much more provision was offered to me by many Masters of Ships, but I had no need thereof, so I gaue them thanks for their kindnesse, and refused all.
Nay, it is well knowne, that I was so farre from doing wrong to any: that I suffered the Land which was granted to me by Pattent and made choyce of before any other man came there, to be used, and my timber to be cut downe & spoyled, without taking or asking any satisfaction for the same. And I doubt not but all others to whom you gaue authoritie, will sufficiently cleare themselues of all such imputations.
He said also he cared not for any authoritie in that place and though he was forbid to trucke yet would he haue all he could get: in despite of who should say to the contrary, having a great Ship with 17. peeces of Ordinance and 50. men.
And indeed his practise was according to his words, for every Sunday or once in the weeke, he went himselfe or sent a boate up the river and got all the trucke before they could come downe to the Harbour. And so many Savages as he could get to his stage, hee would enforce them to leaue their goods behind them. One instance a mongst many I will giue you.
On a certaine day there came two Savages to his place, who were under the command of Somerset or Conway, I know not whether, at which time they were both with me at my house, but the other two who went to him, knew not so much, but afterwards they understanding of it, came presently over, but left their Cotts and Beauer skins behind them, whereat Somerset and Conway were exceeding angrie and were ready to beate the poore fellows, but I would not suffer them so to doe. They presently went over the Harbor themselues in their Cannow to fetch their goods, but this man would let them haue none, but wished them to truck with him, they told him they would not, but would carry them to Captaine Levett, he said Levett was no captaine, but a Iacknape, a poore fellow, &c. They told him againe that he was a Roague, with some other speeches, whereupon he and his company fell upon them & beate them both, in so much that they came to me in a great rage against him, and said they would be revenged on his Fishermen at sea, and much adoe I had to diswade one of them for going into England to tell King James of it, as he said; when they came to me in this rage, there was two or three Masters of Shippes by, and heard every word.
But all this did me no hurt, (saue the losse of the trucke, which by divers was thought to be worth above 50. li.) for the two Sagamores whom he inticed from me, and incensed against me, at length used meanes to be freinds with me, sending one who asked me, if I were angrie with them, I told them no, I was not angrie with them for any such matter as lowsie Cotts and skinnes, but if they were Matchett, that is, naughtie men, and rebellious, then I would be Mouchick Hoggery, that is very angry, and would Cram, that is, kill them all.
When they came them selues to me to seeke peace, they brought me a Beauer Coate, and two Otter skines, which they would have let me had for nothing, but I would not take them so, but gaue them more then vsually I did by way of Trucke, I then told them likewise that if at any time they did Trucke with mee, they should haue many good things in leiu of their Beauer: and if they did not Trucke it was no matter, I would be good friends with them, at which they smiled and talked one to the other, saying the other man was a Iacknape, and that I had the right fashion of the Aberieney Sagamores, then they began to applaude or rather flatter me, saying I was so bigge a Sagamore, yea foure fathom, which were the best words they could vse to expresse their minds: I replied that I was a poore man as he had reported of mee. They said againe it was no matter what I said, or that Iacknape (which is the most disgracefull word that may be in their conceite,) for all the Sagamores in the Country loued poore Levett and was Muchicke sorrie that he would be gon, and indeed I cannot tell what I should thinke of them, for euer after they would bring mee any thing they thought would giue mee content, as Egges and the whole bodyes of Beauer, which in my concite eate like Lambe, and is not inferiour to it: yea the very coats of Beauer & Otter-skinnes from off their backes, which though I many time refused, yet not allwaies, but I neuer tooke any such courtesie from them, but I requited them answerably, chusing rather to neglect the present profit, then the hopes I haue to bring them to better things, which I hope will be for a publicke good, and which I am perswaded were a greeuous sinne, to neglect for any sinister end.
And a little before my departure there came these Sagamores to see mee, Sadamoyt, the great Sagamore of the East Countrey, Manawormet, Opparunwit, Skedraguscett, Cogawesco, Somersett, Conway and others.