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The Capital and the Bay: Narratives of Washington and the Chesapeake Bay Region, ca. 1600-1925
The Calvert papers, Vol INo. 14. GOVERNOR CHARLES CALVERT TO CECILIUS, LORD BALTIMORE.
[Indorsement.]
27 Aprill 1664
My son Charles to me
by Cap: Miles Cooke.
[Superscription.]
Seal.
Calvert Arms
with a
label.
For The Right Honble
The Lord Baltemore
These prsnt
p Capt. Cooke.
May it Please Your Lopp--
I shall now endeauour to giue yr Lopp an Accompt of what I haue done as to yr Lopps Co??ands in the last & This yeares letters but I shall first humbly begg yr Lopps pardon that I haue nott done it sooner:
27th May 1662. Your Lopp was pleas'd in that letter to co??and me to procure some Elke Calues two Males and two Femalls, I haue vsed all my endeauours possible but can
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procure none as yet, yr Lopp in that letter was pleas'd to write about the Manur of Calverton, to know what has beene granted out of it, A Thousand Acres yr Lopp did grant to doctor Barber & 300 acres att an other time, & Mr Pyles has had a 1000 acres more out of it vpon a letter wch Mr Lewger writt long since as from yr Lopp wch is all I know of or can learne from any; I haue acquainted the Masters of Vessells that what letters I send to yr Lopp they should carry for London & nott send them by the post as they were wont to doe & that yr Lopp would beare them out in't, the 20 Barrells of Corne wch Mr Sewall was to haue he has now payd him by discount wth the Chancellr, & the 20th wch my vncle had of yr Lopp in Maryland money he tells me is pay'd as may appeare by his neate Accompt of 1661. I haue according to yr Lopps Grant to my Cosen Darnall of Jenkins Plantacon endeauourd to sell it for him, & hope by these ships to send him Bills of Exchange for't; Mr Sewall has Great Eltonhead as yr Lopp gaue me Ordr in this letter.
24th July 1662. According to yr Lopps Co??ands in this letter I passt the land aforesd to the Secretary, & he has surrendered his warrant for 2000 acres wch yr Lopp was please to bestow on him:
26th July 1662. I humbly returne yr Lopp many thanks for the 25 p pole wch the Countrey gaue by Act of Assembly, I shall endeauour to make the best vse I can for your Lopps seruice: As to what your Lopp writes about the Hattons whoe would faine haue a 1000 acres of the Land att Choptico pretending a promisse from your Lopp wch as I find vpon record was but Conditionall, soe that I shall obey yr Lopps Co??ands & endeauours to satisfie them in some other place, when soever they shall desire it but as yett I heare nothing from them. The Grant wch yr Lopp gaue to Doctor Barber he
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shewd me vpon wch I pass't & sing'd him a pattent, afore yr Lopps letter came to my hands, & whereas yr Lopp does think that grant was reuokt', I enquir'd of the Chancellr about it whoe could say nothing to't as he told me, soe that I cannot find any thing whereby to recall what's pass't he shewing me yr Lopp letter vpon wch I did it & causd the words of yr Lopps letter to be recorded wch concern'd his buisinesse, Mr Lewgers sonne has that Plantation of Coles in lieu of 500 acres wch yr Lopp had giuen him, there were noe housing vpon't, soe that there was noe Tob. to be demanded vpon that accompt of him; As to what yor Lopp: was pleasd to write about the moneys or Tobaccos due from Mr Sewall to Mr Lewger & Coecill Langford I can onely say This that the fees of the Secretarys place are much more then formerly & conceiue it will not prejudice the Secretary to pay part if not the whole, but shall desire yr Lopps positiue Ordr therein for what's due in arreares, & for the furore Coecill Langford being now gone from yr Lopp the Secretary I think may very well pay Mr Lewgers share yearely.
15th Sep: 1661. I did according to yr Lopps Comands take Peeter Gures from the Chancellr but since that he's returnd to him againe but vpon better termes then afore.
24th Sep. 1661 Your Lopp in This letter was pleas'd to write about Mr Wm Eltonheads will, whoe by word of mouth gaue his land & other estat to his wife he being art that time a prisoner & could not haue the benifitt of paper & Ink vpon wch the Court then Judgd the will good, but in regard the word heyres was not spoken I am not certaine whether our last Act of Assembly for quietting possessions does not confirmd it as to her as it was intended for all such as had but imperfect Conueyances wch makes me att prsent able to say little but shall endeauour to enquire more into't, in regard wee
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had occasion art our last Prouinciall Court to examine that busines & I find the wittnesse that was to haue prou'd that will was not entred vpon record, wch will alter the thing much, & if Mr Eltonhead will make a letter of Attourney to some person here to sue for his right, I shall endeavour that Iustice be done in't, but if he send a letter of Attourney he must gett it Attested according to Act of Assembly as yr Lopp will see by the Acts sent home this yeare or otherwise it will not be of force here wth vs; I giue yr Lopp many Thanks for the Grafts sent by Mr White last yeare but none of them came to good; I haue & shall obserue yr Lopps Comands in euery particular in these letters of 1662, These last of 1663 I shall now giue yr Lopp the Best Accompt I ame able in answer to euery thing therein.
23th July 1663. I shall according to yr Lopps Co??ands take care for the future whoes Bills I take, & as to that of Mr Loyds about the 26th he assur'd me in the Presence of the Chancellr that he had taken such effectuall Course wth his correspondent in England that I press't him nott to draw any Bills, but it shall make me more Carefull the next time; Smiths Bill wch yr Lopp return'd protested came to my hands, but in regard Smith is gone for England whoe sign'd it, nothing can be done in't here but must leave it to yr Lopp in England where he is or will be some time or other his Father is one of that Company vpon whom he drew those Bills of Exchange & yr Lopp will come to heare of the sonne vpon the Exchange, The 9 hhds of Tobacco wch in 1662 I sent whome to yr Lopp by Capt Tully, 7 of wch I thought good & weighty, but as yr Lopp writes were nott, must be Capt Tullys fault, for it was himselfe that assur'd me that 4 of the 7 wch he brought from Ann Arundell were extraordinary good Tob: & good weight 400 & vpwards all foure, for the other
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Three, I was wth him when they were brought on board his Ship & I caus'd euery hdd to be opend & shew'd him the Tobaccos wch he like't then very well, & wisht all the Tob: he had then on board were as good I saw them weighed & euery hogshead was vpwards of 400 this I can Assure yr Lopp to be truth soe that where the fault was vnlesse Capt. Tully was Careless or did not deale soe fairely wth yr Lopp as he ought to haue done I can't Imagine, for I tooke all the care possible I could that yr Lopp mought not pay freight for bad Tobaccos; The Bills of Exchange wch your Lopp receiued from Coll Smith charg'd by me I will take care shall be payd againe & thought to haue sent in this yeare, But doctr Tilghman putts me of still alleadging his bad condition he is in, but say's he will not faile to contriue paymt next Cropp wch I shall returne to yr Lopp, But This will make for the future take care for whome I doe such a courtesey for it was purely to pleasur the doctr he being a stranger att that time in Virginia wch made me request the fauour of Coll Smith to procure him Creditt for soe much in Virginia wch accordingly vpon my letter he did, & to satisfie him I was forct to draw a Bill for the moneys vpon yr Lopp the Doctr taking noe care to satisfie the debt, As Concerning what yr Lopp writes that the Comissrs wch I sent did not well to consent that the same time for the stinting to be alike in both places, to wch it was answered to me that they could not accomodate it otherwise the Other party alleadging that that would not be soe greate a prejudice in regard Maryland was not much to the Northward of Virginia, & as to the Calling our Assembly here first was a great ouer sight in them, & they could giue me noe good answer to't, onely that it was much press't by the other party the result of our Assembly as to that businesse I sent yr Lopp in Harwood & Copys in Groome; I was not long since att
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Virginia to waite vpon the Gouernr & amongst other buisnesse wth him I mou'd the setting forth the diuisionall line from Wattkins point to the seabord syde to wch he seem'd very willing, & some time in Aprill was then appointed for't, & since that I received a letter from Scarburgh wherein he gaue me to vndrstand that he had Order from the Gouerr Councell & Comittee of theire Assembly to write to me that vpon the 10th of May next was the time appointed by 'm the doing that buisnesse to wch I answer'd I should nott faile to send others to meet them on yr Lopps behalfe, wch I am now preparing to doe & shall carefully obserue your Lopps Co??ands & Instructions in that buisness, & I hope I may be able to glue yr Lopp an Accompt by some of the last shipps that depart from hence or Virginia of the accomodating that difference betwext the Virginians & vs, In answer to what yr Lopp writes about the Manur of Great Eltonhead, vpon inquiry since into that buisnesse doe find that there is 5000 acres according to former suruey, & how Mr Sewall came to find there was but 3000 I shall not venture to say att prsent, but it goes now for the full quantity as afore & nothing is sd more concerning it by the Secretary; I receiued a letter from the Lords of the Councell but as yr Lopp. Co??anded me haue taken noe notice of't att all, but shall notwthtanding be very diligent in obseruing theire Co??ands, & I humbly begg yr Lopps pardon for my Omission in not sending the last yeares bonds for 1662 till this last shipping, but shall for the future amend that fault, I sent them by Groome & duplicats by Harwood or Tully I dont well remembr wch The Originalls I keepe here, those of 1663 I now send by Capt Cooke & Copys likewise by Tilghman. My last yeares Accompt I sent, by Groome wth Jack Allen, but am afraid I shall not be able to send yr Lopp This of 1663 untill the next shipping for
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the sheriffs are soe long afore they returne me theire Bookes that I haue not time to make vp the Accompts the same shipping to send yr Lopp, wch I hope will excuse me, but I shall notwthstanding endeauour what in me lyes to hasten them, In answer to what yr Lopp was pleasd to write about the 68 hhds of Tob: wch I sent last yeare in Fon for my not sending the weights of euery hdd was not soe much my fault for the Sheriffs came not downe time enough wth theire notes of particular & the ship was gone afore I had them wch was the cause I sent them not, otherwise I should nott haue Comitted such an ouersight as that was: The Gouerr of New Amstell is returned to Delaware but I vndrstand as yett nothing from him, neither doe wee heare any thing more of the frigatts that were design'd for the Manados, if at any time there be occaticon for our assistance to Call the Dutch to an Accompt for the Land they enioy there wee shall be ready & endeauour to putt in for yr Lopps. Right wch att prsent wee conceiue better to lett alone vnlesse yr Lopp can informe vs wch way wee can safely do't, & wee shall be still ready to Obey Co??ands. I spoak to the Chancellr touching yr Accompts wch he sent to yr Lopp to wch he answered that he had sent yr Lopp his answer to such Obiections as were made & gaue me a Copy of't wch I shall peruse & glue yr Lopp my sence thereof but they are soe tedious that art prsent I am not able to spend soe much time to examine them neither is he at leasure my sicknesse whilst I was in Virginia & the time it Continued on me after my returne into these parts has hindred me extreamly & putt me back in all my buisnesse, but I will examine all those accompts & returne yr Lopp his answer to me as to euery particular: I pay'd him his Thirds last yeare as yr Lopp will find by the Accompt currant wch I sent in Groome; I brought him debtor 70 odds lbs for Arreares of Rents wch I found by
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the books returnd me in 1662 wch his seuerall deputys had receiued & had given noe Creditt ever vpon the Bookes formerly of his wch sume I charg'd him wth & he to gett it of his deputys wch I suppose he has ere this.
24th July 1663. I receiued yr Lopps as p Margent by Mr Allen & according to yr Lopps Co?ands therein haue shewne him all the kindnesse possibly I could, he's a very good Condicond young man, & In time may done well as to the vndrstanding our Co?odity & manner of dealing in these parts of the world, wch att This time I confesse can giue little encouragemt to any, I receiu'd the Mault & flower from Groome & humbly & returne yr Lopp many Thanks for them & for the news books wch are a great divertisment to vs here, I haue acquainted my Couzen Wm Caluert about that buisnesse betwixt him & my vncle, & shall endeauour what I can for the best.
26th July 1663. This I receiu'd by the hands of dr Humberstone & in Obedience to yr Lopps Co?ands receiu'd him into my house whilst he stay'd here, but I cannot find him to be the person capable of performing those things yr Lopp was inform'd of him he's an Indiffrent good Chirurgeon & as indiffrent in his religion, he past here for an Athest, & I think him little better, some call'd him the Heathen doctor & I presume none could call him a miss, but I was Civill to him in regard it was yr Lopps pleasure & Comands to me. I shall speake to Augustine as yr Lopp formerly writt about a particular Mapp for StJohns & West St Marys, Mr White has done some thing as to the House & Orchard of St Johns wch I presume he'll send yr Lopp this shipping.
3d August 1663. I receiu'd this letter & a letter from yr Lopp for Collr Fontele Roy & a warrant for him, both wch I carried wth me to Virginia, but afore I could gett it sent
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to him he was dead, soe that I haue the warrant & shall keepe it vntill yr Lopp shall further direct in't, I returne yr Lopp many thanks for the moneys payd to Mr Fitzherbert in England wch I chargd vpon yr Lopp.
14th August 1663. In answer to what yr Lopp was pleas'd to write in this letter I shall now endeauour to satisfie as to euery particular the best I can; In that letter I receiued seuerall papers from yr Lopp & a note of the prizes of such things sent in Capt Tully. The Things themselfes I receiued & a Man seruant, the other that was to haue come being putt a shoare att Plimouth, I had alsoe by that vessell Copys of yr Lopps Co?ission & Instructions to Capt Swanley Gouer of Newfounland, all wch I shall peruse & returne an answer as soone as I can for yr Lopps satisfaction; The busness wch the slones Complain's & writt about is by me accomodated betwext them & the Chancellr he paying the Arrears of Rent due from them, & he to haue what was in his hands of shares, by wch meanes he came to gett 10 or 12th by the bargaine & gave discharges to each other afore me, & soe that that difference was ended; the arreares of Rent comes to 38 odd pounds wch I am to charge to the Chancellrs accompt this yeare, towards paymt of his Thirds as Sallary from yr Lopp: The Proclamacon wch yr Lopp was pleasd to mention was issued forth by me & the Rest of the Councell concerning the taking of Hydes for Rent, nothing as yett is done in't, in regard Mr Jackson could not give that security to me wch in Reason I ought to haue demanded of him for the securing yr Lopp of yr Rents & besides one reason wch made me doe nothing in't was because the Councell had nothing to doe wth things of that nature wch afterwards I reflected on though at the Issuing forth of that Proclama?? I was surpriz'd but it signified nothing; Though many times when I have spoken
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by the by to the Chancellr of the difficulty I had in getting the Rents cleare euery yeare, he has often press't me to aduise wth the Councell wth it, but I haue made him still this answer that I conceiu'd it not a buisnesse properly belonging to them, but that I should vse what means wth his aduise I thought best, wch since I haue vndrstood he has informd the Councell as he has of many other things wch in priuate I have discours't wth him: I haue endeavour'd to assist Mr Jackson what I can in letting him a spott of ground hard by me for his Tann Fatts & lent him a House to putt his Bark in euer since he came, but I find the Countrey are not soe ready to encourage him as I thought they would in regard they see noe great effects of his coming in; The reason I did nott last yeare send yr Lopp an accompt of the Things sent that yeare & that I did nott answer the letters of that yeare was because Spenser was gone sooner then I heard he was to goe, but I sent by the way of New England but cannot vndrstand that yr Lopp received the letters. The Things that yr Lopp sent this yeare I shall now giue an accompt to euery particular as I receiud them; The Warrant wch yr Lopp mentions Mr Lewger has for me as Receiuer came to me, & I haue giuen Capt Tully 10th to pay him it being for the first paymt & shall not faile to pay as much yearely till 7 yeares be expired as long as I continue Receiuer; I haue spoke to the Chancellr concerning what he writt to yr Lopp of a promisse I made to Patrick Powest of the land att Pork Hall neck, wch I wonder extreamly att, when he knows, I neuer did nor could I if I would, & to lett yr Lopp see he has done me a great deale of wrong in't, the busnesse was this, he himselfe came to me & spoake in this fellows behalfe to me for that land, To wch I answered him: Sr you know it lyes not in my power to dispose of any lands Escheated to his Lopp wth out particular
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Ordr for't, & as yett I haue none the second time he came againe, & I made him the very same answer as afore I had done, but Patrick as he says presst him soe much that he came the Third time wth him at wch I was a little troubled & desird the Chancellr he would satisfie him, but nothing would serue it seemes vnlesse I gave the fellow an answer & vpon that I went out of my parlor to the fellow, & the same buisnesse was mou'd by the fellow, & the same answer I gaue him as I had to the Chanr then Patrick desir'd me to write to yr Lopp to procure it him, I then demanded of the Chancellr whither himselfe & Dick Willan whoe was then liuing were willing to't in regard I knew both theire stocks of Cattle & hogs ran in that neck, the Chancellr made me answer he was very willing & more over did assure me of Mr Willan Willingnesse to't to wch I reply'd if it be true as yu are pleas'd to say I'll write to his Lopp about it, but wth in a Day or two after I pass't by Mr Willans House & mett wth him whoe desir'd to know of me whether Patrick had obtained a grant of Pork hall neck, & vpon that I acquainted him wth what I have here related to yr Lopp, wherevpon he made me answer that if any body did seate that land it would ruine him in his stock, I i?ediatly went to the Chanllr & sent for Patrick to come thither to me & told them both what Mr Willan had said, to wch the Chancellr told me priuatly that Willan was a strange man, but My lord the reason of that was there had beene some little difference betwixt my Vncle & him about some Corne Willan had lett him & could not gett it againe, I told Patrick I would doe nothing that should ruine a person that had beene soe faithfull as dick Willan had beene to yr Lopp well then sd the Chanr doe not Sr at least hinder him by writing to yr Lopp, I assurd him I would neither write for the one or the other & this is the buisnesse
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in short wch I humbly leave to yr Lopp to iudge whether This were a promisse I could acquaint yr Lopp wth many other Triuiall Things wch he has reported of me but are nott worth troubling yr Lopp wth all att prsent. I give yr Lopp many Thanks for the Things sent by Capt. Tully, I receiued them all & the Inuoyce and as they were sett downe both in that & the Bills of lading I shall be very carefull as well of what yr Lopp has last sent me as likewise of the things I had afore: The reason I haue nott giuen yr Lopp soe large an accompt of euery particular from time to time was for want of a Clerk I haue now hired one for a time, & shall for the future glue yr Lopp better satisfaction; but for sending the Escheats, Mich?? I receiue the Rents I will if possible I ame able & can gett my Bookes in time enough; If I had nothing else to doe but to goe to the Respective sheriff of euery County for theire seuerall books I'ts very possible I mought do't, but hauing continually more buisnesse then I can well runn Thorough, I must neglect one thing or other if I should stir soe much from home I did desire as yr Lopp writes to haue some frieght taking last yeare in England, but fearing afterwards If I should not compleat my freight, I should be protested against, I chose rather to lett it alone & that was the reason I did not send word as I writt I would otherwise have done. I haue acquainted the Secretary that the Chancellr had writt yr Lopp word of some indiscreet & vnhandsome speeches he should vtter & that the Chancellr had informd yr Lopp he had acquainted me wth it, but I assure yr Lopp I can't remembr that ever I heard any word or tittle of't afore I read yr Lopps letter for if I had I should have hardly past it in silence soe I i?ediatly went to the Chancellr to know of him whoe Those persons were that would be Mr Sewalls accusers he told me Mr Coursey was the person,
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where vpon I su?onds him to St Marys & made knowne the businesse to him to wch he made answer that he had heard seuerell things come from the Secretary, I desird that he would give me vndr his hand what he had to say & lay to his charge wch I heare send to yr Lopps being able to say little to't my selfe the one declaring vpon Oath & the Other positiuely denying vpon Oath. Mr Coursey moreouer told me that others had heard as much as himselfe, I demanded whoe those were & he told me the Chancellr had heard the same & to the same effect as what he could say, whervpon I spoake to the Chancellr whoe told me likewise that he had att an other time heard to the same purpose as Mr Coursey, & I desir'd he would alsoe give it me vndr his hand & vpon Oath wch he has done, both wch I present to yr Lopp to iudge of, Now May it Please yr Lopp this I can say that neither the Chancellr nor the other Can endure the Secretary & haue endeauour'd what they can to doe him vnkindnesse as yr Lopp may plainly see by the Journalls of the last Assembly, & I know they haue attempted to do him what mischief they Could to the people by disparagin him wch I thought was not handsome he being your Lopps Officer & Third person in Employmt; when I first spoake wch the Chancellr to know whoe those were that accusd the Secretary he told me onely Mr Course & yett since that it seemes he says he heard as much, they are vpon theire Oaths & therefore shall not presume to speake more in't if it be true I wonder art Mr Sewall for being soe indiscreet, for in his actions euer since he has beene yr Lopps Officer he has giuen sufficient testimony of his readinesse both to serue yr Lopps & the Countrey & I could wish I had cause to say as much as of the rest of yr Lopps Officers whoe pretend more but theire actions doe not suit accordingly, The Secretary does intend for England in Cooke & of him yr Lopp may be
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further satisfied, both as to his owne particuler & the humors & dispositions of other persons here in Office & of theire Carriage in yr Lopps affaires here, yr Lopp may confide in him for the naked truth of Things here & I doubt but when I may see yr Lopp to Confirme what he may relate-- I haue reced: An Act of Parliamt & shall be very diligent in Obseruing it, but I haue desir'd the Secretary to know of yr Lopps what's is meant by searching vessells for Forraign goods whether wee must strictly looke into euery particuler Cargo The Merchant & Mastr brings in if soe it will be an Endlesse trouble both to the Officers & Mastr & Owners of such goods, wherefore I shall earnestly entreat yr Lopp to satisfie vs in that, least wee runn ourselues into some inconuenience by being to Officious in our places, if yr Lopp can by the first Ship that comes for these parts--Mr Willan is dead but I acquainted his wife about that wch yr Lopp writt concerning a release he had sent for England & what shee will doe in't I can't tell as yett; Whereas The Chancellr writt to yr Lopp that he might leaue The Great Seale wth me when his Occations call'd him vp the Bay to his Plantations, he has since desir'd me to write to your Lopp that he may be dismiss't from his imploymt, for that as he say's he is not able to looke after yr Lopps buisnesse and his owne. The Secretary can giue yr Lopp the seuerall reasons why he has desir'd that soe much, if he were dismist I am certaine I could not have more buisnesse then now I have vpon me, yr Lopp does give a Sallary to a person to beare the name of an Officer but does little & what help & profitt it brings to yr Lopp I doe not conceiue, he has been absent these two Courts & is like to be the next & vnlesse I be at home noe Courts can be held, The Hattons haue not as yett spoaken any thing of the land of Choptico as I haue sd afore, but as to what doctor Barber
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writt yr Lopp word that I told him I had a check from yr Lopp for signing his Pattent for his 1300 acres wch he has there I did say as much to him but forgott to write yr Lopp an answer then of what I had done in't, I had yr Lopps letter to the Chanr for what I did, & I told him yr Lopp did wonder how he came to haue any land there, & that if I had not already pass't the Pattent I would haue held my hand, this I told him wherevpon he prsently gave out I would take his land from him & seuerall other vnhandsome speeches as he is indiscreet enough to say any thing att his pleasure-- I haue acquainted the Chancellr wth what he had informd yr Lopp that I did not from time to time co?unicatt yr Lopps Instructions to him to wch he answerd me little, I desir'd him to lett me know what it was I had ever kept from him that concernd him selfe or the Countrey, he was pleas'd to giue me noe answer, though I can iustly complaine of his being backward in assisting & informing me of the buisnesse of the Countrey, but I shall presume to say noe more att prsent of this vntill I shall haue a fitter opportunity. I inform'd Mr Nuttall of what yr Lopp writt concerning my vsing of him friendly as yr Lopp co?anded wch I shall vpon all occations doe for he deserues it & I doubt not but that he will proue very faithfull to the Interest of Maryland. The Runlett of Tobacco wch Capt Cook carried ouer last yeare to yr Lopp was prsented as a token from Mr Preston the Great Quaker that was, when I spoak to him for a 100?? one for to send to yr Lopp he was resolu'd to present it him selfe & caused it to be putt on board Capt Cooke & I knew nothing of't till Cook was sett saile out of the Riuer, I doe intend to send a smal runlett by Mr Sewall of the same persons Tobacco, but I feare not soe good as the last I am very sorry that I am disapointed in euery Thing, that I haue nothing worth prsenting yr Lopp
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this yeare, I hope hereafter to gett dried peaches good stoare to send next yeare hauing one now that can doe them.
6th Sep. 1663. Your lopps bearing date as p Margent I receiu'd & the seueral Bills of lading & inuoyce & other papers being duplicats of those I had receiu'd by Tully, & att the same time my Cozen Wms sister arriued here & is now att my house, & has the care of my houshold affaires, as yett noe good Match does prsent, but I hope in a short time she may find one to her owne content & yor Lopps desire, I shall further what I can towards it, I haue acquainted her Brother what yr Lopp does expect he should doe for her, but in case he does not, or be not in a Condicon to doe much I shall take care she shall not want as long as she remains wth me, There came wth her two maids one to wait vpon her & the other to my selfe, I receiued likwise a light su?er druggat suit a pewter still 2 Copper stew panns & in them 20?? of yellow wax, I alsoe had wth them other papers relating to former Accompts betwixt yr Lopp & the Chancellr the wch I shall carefully peruse. We can heare nothing as yett of the Comissrs wch yr Lopp writt were going for New England;--The Carpenter wch yr Lopp agreed wth Gilbert Mettcalfe for 30?? is now wth me I spoak wth Edmund Berkley in Virginia about him, but it was att least two month ere I had him afterwards, & when Mr Berkley came for his 30??, by Chance the fellow askt me what time Berkley had sold him to me, I told him for 3 yeares & as much as was then to Aprill, to wch the fellow replyed Sr he misinformd yu for I haue but two yeares & as much as to next Aprill, I then demanded whether he had an Indentur & he produc't me one, & by that he had but two yeares more to serue, Mr Berkley was a little amaz'd att first att it & could not tell well what to say, but vpon long examining The Indenturs & debating the whole buisnesse, I
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was resolu'd at last not pay for 3 yeares seruice when I saw he could not assure me oft in regard the Indenture appear'd to me a good & firm obliga??n, & I veryly beleeue it is; & some Trick of Berkleys, for as I since came to vnderstand he endeauourd to gett this Indenture of the Carpenr but could not, & soe thought to haue had his Bills for 30?? afore I should haue knowne any thing att all of it att last wee agreed for 20?? for 2 yeares seruice, in regard I had much employmt for a Carpenr & hauing relyed vpon him for this fellow; had putt of others & was then seating a planta??n at Wst St Mary's. I gaue him Bills for 20?? for 2 yeares seruice & I am to deliuer him art the end of the time he has to serue me to Berkley whoe will endeauour to make the poore fellow serue a other yeare if he can, I suppose he can not for its as good an Indenture as I see are made, The Carpr is a good workman & vndrstands a mill very well for wch I Chiefly bought him, & I hope to gett mill finisht ere his time be out wth me, I haue askt the Chancellr of the fewness of the Port dutys for Catches & other vessells from London, to wch he answered yr Lopp as he says that many of those Catches went a way wth out paying port dutys wch I wonder att very much, & for the London Ships he says there were not more than what he mentiond (viz) 8 or 9; I receiued two letters from the Comissrs of the Custome house of London about the Act for Trade & nauiga??n, wch I shall answer by these shipps, & send Copys of This yeares bonds to yr Lopp & not to them, I humbly giue yr Lopp many Thanks for the Garden seeds I receiu'd This yeare, I shall for the future send yr Lopp a particular of all such things as I want, & would not that yr Lopp should be att soe great a charge for many Things wch I haue receiud This yeare, for I haue bad Tobaccos enough here wch will buy many things wth when it is not worth sending
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home, & for yr Lopp to buy soe many things in England I am sencible costs a great deale of moneys wch I would not by any means yr Lopp should doe, vnless it be for such things as I send for, & then I will take care to send where with all to procure them. As for setting vp a farme for English Graine, I haue this yeare made a good stepp towards it, by sowing 15 or 16 bushells of wheate And 10 or 12 bushells of Oats, 7 bushells of pease 8 or 9 bushells of Barley, & if the yeare proue seasonable I doubt not but to haue 300 hundred bushells of wheat encrease for last yeare in a spott of ground of 2 acres & a halfe I had aboue 40 bushells of wheat a 12 bushells of Oats & 8 or 9 bushells of pease, & the straw of that preserud my young Cattle in the hard wether & kept me 4 horses constantly in the stables in very good hart, when other horses were hardly able to doe any seruice; The Flax & Hemp wch yr Lopp sent me was sowd & beginns now to come vp, for wch I returne yr Lopp many humble Thanks, I receiu'd likewise papers relating to the Chancellrs Accompts, wch I will peruse & know his answer; The Warrant for a Thousand acres for Bishop Russell I receiud in 1662 & the Chanr was then very earnest to see it layd out, being for his Old acquaintance wch made me doe nothing in't, but I humbly beg yr Lopps pardon I return'd noe answer to't, but I shall now take effectuall course to see it done & to that end haue already giuen Ordr to the Surueyr to lay it out & the Pattent shall be sent him. The yeare has beene soe bad for euery thing that I shall be forc't to disapoint yr Lopp of meat & other things yr Lopp writt for, Mr Sewall can inform yr Lopp being somewhat sencible of the difficulty in getting meate & Corne; & it has beene much worse wth me in regard of my being long absent from my family when I was sick in Virginia, I haue Thirty to prouide victualls for, wch does putt me to some care & trouble
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besides the expence wch is the least,--I haue labour'd what I can to procure yr Lopp some birds & deere but neither Tobaccos nor moneys will tempt any person to gett me any this yeare, notwthstanding I haue profer'd great rates, your lopp was pleasd to write that some had inform'd that wee had water Pheasants but as yett I can heare of none that euer saw any, & for our sort of hawks I neuer thought them worth sending otherwise I had sent long since some, the next yeare I shall be able to procure some to send. I returne your Lopp many Thanks for the Books I receiud by Story & the note of particulars, I had one Man Seruant named Thomas Venaubles a good diligent fellow & I shall vse him well vpon yr Lopps Co?ands;--I acquainted doctor Barber of what yr Lopp writt me concerning him;--I receiud yr Lopps letter of the 8th of Sept: & wonder very much that some should inform my Cousen Wm Caluerts sister, that I had hoe kindnesse for her, when I can safely say I neuer had any such thoughts & can say as much for Her Brother, I hope my Carriage to her & the Care I shall take to see her want for nothing will giue her reason to think better on me, The Maid that came wth her waits vpon her & shall remaine wth her according to yr Lopps Co?ands--I shall pay vnto Mr Fitzwilliams whoe is come in Mr Fitzherberts place 6 barrells of Corne& likewise giue him all the encouragmt fitting; I wonder very much att Mr Fitzherberts discourses Concerning Maryland & our manner of liuing here, when he of all men neuer had the least occation to abuse the Countrey & his friends soe, as for what he writt yr Lopp of my being in danger of staruing I think my Table neuer gaue him cause to complaine of vs though I confesse he had good things & would as plentifully take of any liquour of wch he had enough in my house & more then I thought fitting for a person of his coat to take
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sometimes,--I receiued by This ship Copys of your lopps letters to the Chanr & his lady wch I haue perus'd & shall keepe them to my selfe & carefully obey yr Lopps Co?ands in all things, I doubt not but that my Carriage to them since my coming into These parts has giuen sufficient testimony of my respect to them vpon all occations, yr Lopp of the 28th of Octor I receiued by Capt Miles Cook & duplicats & second Bills of lading for the things sent by Capt Tully, I likewise receiued papers about that busnesse of Tullys being stop't att Plimoth; I had alsoe by this The Mill stones Brass & Iron worke for wch I humbly returne yr Lopp many Thanks, & since yr Lopp has beene pleasd to be Att The Charge yr selfe, I will now build her vpon my owne Accompt & keepe her to my selfe, Mr White being a person as I find not fitt for the encountring the trouble & difficultys people haue to bring any thing to effect in This Countrey, he has beene euer since his arriuall in This Prouince wth me & I haue giuen him his diett Thinking he mought haue beene of vse to me, but as yett not much, the life he leads here does not seeme to please him soe much as that he lead in Italy Mr Sewall will inform yr Lopp more of him & other persons,--I receiued likewise halle a Bushell of Garden Beanes a pr of Garden sheeres & harnesse for Three plough horses, & other necessarys for a plough. I alsoe had 2 hdds of mault of Capt: Cooke but had not occation for any more nayles then what yr Lopp was pleasd to send me wch I likewise had, & returne many humble Thanks for them, That buisnesse wch the Secretary writt to yr Lopp about concerning the setting vp of a Saw Mill vpon an Island on the Easterne shoare as yet nothing is done in't & I beleeve it will be noe more thought on for my owne particular I am not in a Condi??n as yet to venture vpon such
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a chargeable designe as a Saw Mill will be afore it yeelds any profitt, perhapps I may putt 4 or 5 Saws into my Water mill if I can doe it wth little more Charge wch I am Credibly informd I may, I shall the p?nt yeare acquaint yr Lopp how I proceed in't,--Wee heare nothing as yett of the Pattent wch some Bristoll Merchants has of that neck of land betwixt Rapa & Patowmeck but its say'd when all ships are gone it will he produc't, & the reason I heare of this is that noe news shall he carried home this yeare how the people relish theire New Gouernrs but will leave it till the next & by that time its hop't they may be quiett & well satisfied wth it. I haue endeauourd to see if I could find as many responsable men that would engage to take a 100 or 200 neigros euery yeare from the Royall Company at that rate mentiond in yr Lopps letter but I find wee are nott men of estates good enough to vndertake such a buisnesse, but could wish wee were for wee are naturally inclin'd to loue neigros if our purses would endure it;-- I acqnainted Mr Fitzwilliams of his abrupt parting att London wth out takeing leaue of yr Lopp wch he does acknowledge & asks yr Lopps pardon for't he will I suppose write as much by this ship:-- By This ship I receiued one Warner a Miller & his wife she being since dead a little after she came a shoare was brought to bed & the Child died alsoe; I shall puntually obey yr Lopps Co?ands as to him. I receiued likewise drawne in the behalfe of Capt Tilghman, but that busness was taken vp by me & the Rest of the Councell by reason he had askt pardon & was sorry for what he had sayd,-- I have sent yr Lopps letter to Collr Smith with in one from my selfe, I shall desire yr Lopp will take notice to him & her the next shipping of the fauours I receiu'd from them in my time of sicknesse, I was sick att theire house 6 weekes & she took very great care
32
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of me I shall humbly Desire yr Lopp to thank them both for't; That wch Capt Cook spoak to yr Lopp concerning his Admiralship part of the Vessell of the St George of Bantry I haue endeauourd to gett it for him of the Chancellr whoe tells me 30?? remaines yett in his hands, wch he will pay vnto Cook I suppose according to yr Lopps Ordr,-- The Mill stones wch came in Cook were Blew & 4 foot & 9 Inches & I had all the Brass & Iron work belonging to them. I suppose Capt Cook will haue nothing for the freight for as much as I can perceiue by him as yett, he has been beholding to me for as much as that comes from time to time. He has beene very Ciuill to me vpon all occations for wch I desire yr Lopp will please to thank him. The letter wch yr Lopp sent to doctor Barber wth a flying seale I did first read it & deliuerd afterwards to him.-- I receiued more by Capt Cooke 2 bills for Harnesse for 3 horses & Iron work for a plough & alsoe a note of Things sent in a box C: C: No 1 & a pr of Garden sheeres C: C: No 2; I shall not be willing to entertaine Brickmakers or Carpenters at the Rate yr Lopp mentions, for I feare it will not turne to Accompt here wth vs, but humbly returne yr Lopp many Thanks, & for the News Books & other Papers. Now may it please yr Lopp in answer to what yr Lopp writt about my going for England next shipping wch I haue an earnest desire to if things be soe settled here that I may haue desire to returne back againe by the same shipping--for that as yr lopp writes will be most requisitt for both the reasons sett downe by yr Lopp, the Charge of such a voyage if vndertaken I shall take care to defray wth what I hope to gett here, wch is the least difficulty I find, but in whose hands to leaue the Gouermt in vntill I come back is that I am att a stand att, for if I should goe from hence in the last ship, & returne in the first as I necessarily must, my stay in England
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will be but short in England, & I haue great cause to feare, that I shall find much confusion at my returne, for as yr Lopp was please to write that it were best to make my Vncle Gouerr in my Absence on the side I know it to be very necessary & againe am very sensible how much he has disgusted all in Generall & especially those that haue beene euer faithfull to yr Lopps Interest here & such as haue shewne me any thing of Kindnesse since my Coming into this Province. He has soe much by Instruements employd by him threatened what he'll doe when the power comes againe into his hands as he giues out an other yeare it necessarily must in regard he vnd'stands yr Lopp has a desire I should goe for England, next shipping, that the people doe dread nothing more & especially such as I sayd afore had beene yr Lopps friends whoe are resolud to lay downe theire Co?issions if not sell what they haue & begon the Secretary will satisfie yr Lopp of euery particular & what he has endeauourd to doe is to draw the Affections of the people from me wch I doe not fear in the least, for I haue had as much testimony of theire Kindnesse as could be expected by me from them, & especially in my time of sicknesse in Virginia as the Secretary can informe yr Lopp. This in short is that wch to me is the onely difficulty wch if yr Lopp can accomodate soe that things may be settled att my returne as now they are, I shall most Chearefully & wth a greate deale of desire prepare for my going for England next yeare to see yr Lopp then wch nothing can bring soe much satisfaction & comfort to him whoe remaines as euer
Your Lopps Most dutiffull Sonne
Charles Caluert
April 27th 1664--
I haue sent yr Lopp Bills
of Exchange in this Box
& haue giuen some papers to
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Mr Sewall to discourse wth yr Lopp
about the Alienation office wch the last Assembly
gaue to me to offer to yr Lopp as theire humble request
wch if granted by yr Lopp will soe much gaine them that
it may bring more then doubling the Rents soe would haue come to
I shall take care of the Secreatys Office vntill Mr
Sewall comes Back or that I heare from yr Lopp--
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