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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. 2. THOMAS SMITH'S ACCOUNT OF HIS CAPTURE.
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[Superscription.]
Mr Tho: Smiths relation of his voyage when hee was taken by the Marylanders 1635
The rela?n of Tho: Smith of his voyage to Potuxant Riuer in the Pinace the Long Tayle wherein hee was taken by the Marylanders.
The 26th day of March 1635 I being sent in the Pinace the long taile by Capt William Claiborne to trade for corne and furs, the said Capt Claiborne haueing deliuered mee a Coppie of his mats letter lately sent vnto him for the conferma?n of the Co?ission formerly graunted vnto the said Capt Claiborne for trade in the Collonies of America.
The 4th day of Aprill I arriued at Mattapany. The 5th day Capt Hen: ffleet and Capt Humber wth a Company of men came ouer land thither and demaunded by what power I traded I tould them by vertue of his mats Comission and letter graunted to Capt Claiborne of wch I had coppies of each they demaunded the sight of them wch I shewed them they peruseing of them Capt ffleete replyed that this paper did not any way license the said Capt Clayborne to trade any further then the Ile of Kent and that I must goe for Maryland wth the Pinace, but Capt Humber replied it was a false Coppie and grounded vpon false informa?n, and soe turned himselfe to Capt ffleete said come let vs board them wch they did
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notwthstanding I tould them they had best take heede what they did it was not good iesting wth paper wch came from his matie.
Capt ffleete, Capt Humber wth the rest of theire Companie entred the vessell the Longtaile and turned our men on shore wthout any armes to defend themselues from the natiues notwthstanding I entreated them not to leaue our men wthout armes ashore, to wch Capt ffleete answered they were as safe as if they were aboard.
I desired them to shew mee their Co?ission by wch they tooke vs but they would shew mee none.
The next day they sent for our men a board and turned them into theire barge: who had that night lien in the woods very dangerously the natiues being vp in armes amongst themselues.
The said Capt ffleet comaunded mee to goe for Maryland wth him in our little boate and spake with the Gouernor wch I did and by the way wee had some discourse about the accusa?n for wch Capt Claybourne was last yeare accused of by the Marylanders for complotting wth the Indians to cutt off the English that were at Yawocomoco: Capt ffleet told mee, that wch hee said of that busines was drawne from him by a wile, in comon discourse and that hee was verie sorrie for speaking any such thing, and that although it bee reported in Virginia that hee had taken his oath of those things, yet it was not soe, and that hee did not take it to bee an oath, for all that was done done was the Gouernor gaue him the said ffleet a little latine booke, and bade him kisse it saying nothing and if there were any such busines reported amongst the Indians about Capt Claiborne yet they were a people that were not to be beleeued and the said ffleet said to mee, before God I did not know it was a testament, the said ffleete told mee when Capt Cornwallis and Mr Hally brought him a writting and asked him whether
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hee would set his hand to itt, ffirst haueing caused them to put out many things that were in it soe by their perswations set his hand to it.
When wee came to Maryland I found the Gouernor was not there, Capt Cornewalles being left his deputie I went to him and told him, that Capt ffleet had taken our Vessell and turned our men a shore Capt Cornewalles told mee they did noe more then what they had order for to doe by Comission to make stay of all vessells wch they should find trading wthin the Prouince of the Lord Baltimore: the said Capt desired to see the Comission by wch I traded and haueing seene the foure Coppies hee told mee hee did wonder much at Capt Claibornes strange proceedings for said bee were this a true coppie it hath only relation to the Iland where hee liueth but said hee doubted truth of this papr first in regard they were grounded vpon false informa?n I told him I would bee deposed they were true Coppies to wch hee said my oath was as good as nothing the said Capt told mee, hee would the next morning goe with mee abord wch the next Day hee did, and when I came abord I found all the men turnd a shore againe wthout any armes to defend themselues from the natiues, haueing not long been there and had some discourse wth Capt Humber hee tould mee the vessell must goe for Maryland and there stay vntill the Gouernor came home: and if I and the rest would goe with him by land wee should bee welcome for in the boate wee should not goe, he leauing the charg of the vessell with Capt: Humber I desired to leaue one to looke to the trucke wch the said Capt denied: ffurther the said Capt told mee that if there were any such letters graunted by his matie it was got by indirect wales in regard they had noe notice thereof from the Lord Baltimore I desired wee might returne home if not all yet one wch was denied, and being all turned ashore without any peece or armes but one peece which I had myselfe.
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Within 2 daies after our being there the Gouernor came home who when our vessell was come about sent for vs to waite on his pleasure when wee should bee called being sect at Capt Cornewalles house accompanied with the said Capt and one Mr Greene sent his Marshall for mee, when I came the Gouernor told mee bee vnderstood that some of his people had made State of a vessell of Capt Claibornes of wch I had comaund of I told they had, hee demaunded of mee whether I traded for myselfe or for Capt Claiborne I told him for Capt Claiborne hee demaunded a note vnder my hand to testifie as much, wch I making a stand at, hee told mee he would keepe mee prisoner to answere it, if I would not set my hand to a note wch they made wch I did. Hee demaunded what Comission I had to trade I told him I had a Coppie of his mats Comission graunted to Capt Claiborne and also a Coppie of a letter sent by his matie for the confirma?n of the same the Gouernor told mee for his former Comission it was worth nothing because bee was not to trade wthin theire limitts, and for the Coppie of his mats letter hee said was a paper without any publick notaries hand and was worth nothing being grounded vpon false informa?n and that bee had scene one of them in Virginia and if it were true it was gotten by some indirect meanes for they had not any notice of it from the Lord Baltimore, and that bee intended to keepe the vessell wth the goods I demaunded of him how wee should get home bee told mee should not returne for Kent but bee would send vs for England or for Kecotan I told him wee were in want of corne, hee said it could not bee, I offered to bee deposed that the Coppies were true, and that I had examined them, bee said my oath is as good as nothing, the next day hee sent for all the goods a shore wthout any knowledg of myne or any of our companies and brooke open a chest wch was both locked and
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nayled, the goods being ashore I desired our Invoyce wth a certificate to shew the reason of staying the vessell wch with much a doe I had, some of our Beauer I see presently disposed of and some of the cloth I saw sold to an indian haueing spent 4 or 5 daies there and seeing noe hopes of haueing our vessell againe I desired the Gouernor wee might returne home wch with some other meanes I made by some friends hee graunted wee should goe: but hee was sorrie hee had noe boate to send vs home in: hauing at that tyme 3 boates riding at his dore. I told him if there was noe other way I would make some meanes by the indians wch hee graunted I should doe, the next day wee were sent away without either peece or victualls but one peece wch I had myselfe haueing 20 leagers to goe wthout any meanes but such as wee should find from the Indians wch with greate danger it pleased god to send vs safe home This I will bee readie to, iustifie vpon oath whensoeuer I shall bee therevnto called
Tho: Smith.
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