They asked me why I would be gone out of their Countrey, I was glad to tell them my wife would not come thither except I did fetch her, they bid a pox on her hounds, (a phrase they have learned and doe vse when they doe curse) and wished me to beate her. I told them no, for then our God would bee angrie. Then they runne out vpon her in euil tearmes, and wished me to let her alone and take another, I told them our God would be more angrie for that. Againe they bid me beate her, beate her, repeating it often, and very angerly, but I answered no, that was not the English fashion, and besides, she was a good wife and I had children by her, and I loued her well, so I satisfied them. Then they told me that I and my wife and Children, with all my friends, should bee hartily welcome into that Countrey at any time, yea a hundreth thousand times, yea Mouchicke, Mouchicke, which is a word of waight.
And Somersett tould that his Sonne (who was borne, whilst I was in the Countrey, and whom hee would needs haue to Name) and mine should be Brothers and that there should be muchicke legamatch, (that is friendship) betwixt them, untill Tanto carried them to his wigwam, (that is vntill that they died.)
Then they must know of mee how long I would be wanting, I told them so many Months, at which they seemed to be well pleased, but wisht me to take heede I proued not Chechaske in that (that is, a lier.) They asked me what I would doe with my house, I told them I would leaue 10. of my men there vntill I came againe, and that they should kill all the Tarrantens they should see (being enimies to them) and with whom the English haue no commarsse. At which they reioyced exceedingly, and then agreed amongst themselues that when the time should be expired, which I spoke of for my returne, euery one at the place where he liued would looke to the Sea, and when they did see a Ship they wold send to all the Sagamores in the Countrey, and tell them that poore Levett was come againe. And thus insteed of doing me hurt, I thinke that either he or I haue done good to all Planters, by winning their affections, (which may bee made vse of without trusting of them.)
But if your Lordship should put up this wrong done unto you, and the Authority which you gaue them, never expect to be obeyed in those parts, either by Planters or Fishermen; for some haue not stucke to say, that if such a man, contemning authority, and abusing one of the counsell, and drawing his knife upon him at his own house, which he did, should goe unpunished, then would not they care what they did heereafter.
And truely let me tell your Lordships, that if euer you intend to punish any for disobedience, or contempt of authority, this man is a fit instrument to make a president of, for he is rich, and this yeare will gaine the best part of 500 pounds by that Countrie, and he hath nether wife nor childe, for whose sakes he should be spared.
And if he goe free, as hee has domineered over vs, to whom your Lordships gaue authority, but no power to put it in execution, so will he grow unmannerly too with your Lordships, as hee hath already begunne.
And it will discourage men hereafter to take any authority upon them, or to goe about to reforme any abuses in those parts, and also it will hinder Planters for going over, if Fishermen be suffered not onely to take away their truck, but also to animate the Sauages against them, for this is the way to cause all Planters to haue their throats cut.
But I leaue these things to your Lo. consideration, who haue as well power as authority to punish such rebellious persons.
Thus hauing acquainted you with what I haue done, seen and heard; now giue me leaue to tell you what I thinke of the Savages, the inhabitants of that country: as also to iustifie the innocent, I meane the Countrie of New-England, against the slanderous reports of this man, and some others which I haue heard, and likewise to deliver my opinion, what courses I conceiue to be most convenient to be taken, for bringing most glorie to God, comfort, honor and benefit to our King, and our owne Natiue Nation.
