Here ende the lawes.
All these lawes being thus concluded and consented to as aforesaide[413] Captaine Henry Spellman[414] was called to the barre to answere to certaine misdemeanors layde to his chardge by Robert Poole, interpretour, upon his oath (whose examination the Governor sente into England in the Prosperus), of wch accusations of Poole some he acknowledged for true, but the greattest[415] part he denyed. Whereupon the General[416] Assembly, having throughly heard and considered his speaches, did constitute this order following against him:
Aug. 4th, 1619.
This day Captaine Henry Spelman[417] 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[418] and Opochancano at Poole's meeting with him in Opochancano's courte. Poole chardgeth him he spake very unreverently and maliciously against[419] this present Governr,[420] 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 parte he denyed, excepte onely one matter of importance, & that was that he hade informed Opochancano that wthin a yeare there would come a Governor[421] greatter then[422] 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[423] 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[424] of one whom he muche excepted against) were pleased, for the present, to censure him rather out of that his confession above written then[425] out of any other prooffe. Several and sharpe punishments were pronounced against[426] him by diverse of the Assembly, But in fine the whole course[427] by voices united did encline to the most favourable, wch was that for this misdemeanour[428] he should first be degraded of his title of Captaine,[429] 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.[O]
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,[430] and to Captain William Powell, at Captaine Argall's appointment, for the paymt of 50G[431] more. To Captaine Argall for 15 skore acres of wooddy ground, called by the name of Argal's[432] towne or Paspaheigh; to Captaine Powell in respect of his paines in clearing the grounde and building the houses, for wch Captaine[433] Argal ought to have given him satisfaction. Nowe,[434] the general assembly being doubtful whether they have any power and authority to dischardge the said bondes, doe by these presents[435] (at the Instance of the said Inhabitants[436] of Paspaheighs, alias Martin's hundred people) become most humble sutours to the Tresurer, Counsell and Company in England that they wilbe[437] pleased to gett the said bondes for 600G[438] 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[439] lande. And wheras Captain[440] William Powell is payde[441] his 50G wch Captaine[442] Argall enjoined the saide Inhabitantes to presente him with, as parte[443] 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[444] from thence, or else that restitution therof be made here out of the goods of the said Captaine Argall.
The last acte of the Generall Assembly was a contribution to gratifie their officers, as followeth:[P]