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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. 8. THOMAS CORNWALEYS TO LORD BALTIMORE.
16 Aprill 1638 Mr Tho: Cornwaleys to me from St Maries
Right Holl
I receaued yr Letr dated the 25: of May last for wch and yr therein nobly proffered favoures, I should before this time haue retourned humble thanks, had I not hoped in person toe haue kist yr hands this yeere in England. But yr Lops Service and the pretended Good of Maryland, would not permit mee toe provide for my Journy, nor yet toe follow my owne affayres when my best dilligence had beene most vrgently
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needefull for the Accomodating of them toe my best Advantage. Wch how preiuditiall it proued toe mee heere Capt: Anthony Hopson whoe with his Ship was then vpon his departure from hense can partly informe you if you suppose it worth the questioning, And what it may bee in England should my wiues tooe probable indisposition disenable her from manageing my affayres there, yr Lop: may Imagin. Yet I think non can say that my Pryvate Interrest made mee much repine at the Authorety that co?anded mee, nor negligently Execute what was expected from mee, wch though it proued nothing soe difficult or dangerouse as was Imageined, yet I suppose the Easy effecting of the busynes, doth not deminish the desert of good Desires, but may pas for noe impertinent demonstration, of my reall respects toe yr Lops Service, notwithstanding the many Sugiestions made toe you of the Contrary, of wch were I Guilty more then I supposed Honor and Contiens did oblige mee, I should not I feare haue the Humillety toe deny it, obstinasy beeing allwayse the effect of self conceited opinions, of wch I hope I am soe Innocent that if youre Lop: or any other can Accuse mee for wilfully swarueing from that vnblameable rule by wch I pretend toe Guide myself and my Actions I am soe far from Perrentory persisting in my Error, As I will not only Acknowledg my fault, but allsoe make what satisfaction the Iniured Party can Expect from my vtmost Abillety. Nor can I think but I haue reason toe Expect the like from others, And therefore I hope what Agreement soe ever yr Lop: makes with Capt: Clayborne you will eyther Include such A Satisfaction for the Damages I receaued by him, as shall bee worthe my Acceptance, or leaue mee roome toe seeke it myself. Wch I assure him I will not fayle toe doe if ever wee meete where there is hope of Impartiall Justice, as I promised his Agents when they had basely betrayde mee. On of whom now Lyes at yr mercy for
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his Life, And wch is Strange I am A Suter for his Pardon out of meere Charety towards his Poore wife and Children. Wch are reasons that would induce mee toe doe the Like for theyre Cheefe Capt: did bee stand in the Like circumstances, As I doubt not but hee will if hee gayne not A quietus from his Maty: or yr Lop: for how wee haue proceeded agaynst him heere you will see by the Act made for his Atayneture, wch comes for yr Lops Confirmation with many others among wch if there were non more vnjust, I should bee as Confydent toe see this same A happy Common wealthe as I am now of the Contrary if yr Lop bee not more wary in Confirmeing then wee haue beene wire in Proposeing. Therefore I beseeche yr Lop: for his Sake whose honor you and wee doe heere pretend, and whoe at Last must Judg wth what Sincerety wee haue discharged it, That you from whose Consent they must receaue the bindeing fors of Lawes, will not permit the Least Clawes toe pas that shall not first bee throughly Scand and resolued by wise Learned and Religious Divines toe bee noe waise prejuditiall toe the Immunettyes and Priveledges of that Church wch is the only true Guide toe all Eternall Happines, of wch wee shall shew oureselues the most vngratefull members that ever shee nourished, if in requiteall of those many favors and Blessings that shee and her devoute Servants haue obtayned for vs, wee attempt toe depriue her or them, of more then wee can giue them or take from them, with out paying such A Price as hee that Buyes it will repent his Bargayne. What are her Greevances, and how toe bee remedyed, you will I doubt not vnderstand at Large from those whoe are more knowing in her rights and Consequently more sensyble of her Iniuryes then such an Ignorant Creature as I am. Wherefore now all that belongs toe mee, is only toe importune yr. Lop: in whose powre t'is yet toe mend what wee haue done Amis, toe bee most Carefull in preserueing his Honor whoe must
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Preserue both you and Maryland. Perhaps this fault hath beene permitted in vs as A favoure toe yr Lop whereby you may declare the Sincerety of yr: first pyouse pretence for the Planting of this desert Province, wch will bee toe much doubted of if you should take Advantage of oure Ignorant and vncontionable proceedeings toe Assume more then wee can Justly giue you. And for A Little Imaginary Honor, throw yr self vs and yr Country out of that protection wch hath hithertoe preserued and Prospered that and vs beyound Humaine Expectation; wch noe doubt will bee continued if wee Continue as wee ought, toe bee, I never yet heard of any that Lost by beeing bountyfull toe God or his Church, then let not yr Lop feare toe bee the first. Giue vntoe God what doth belong toe him, and doubt not but Cesar shall receaue his due. If yr Lop thinks mee tooe teadious in A discourse not proper toe the Part that I doe Act, my Interest in the whole Action must excuse mee, Sylence would perhaps make mee Supposed Accessary toe these dangerouse Positions, wch is soe far from my Intention, that as I now declare toe youre Lop and shall not feare toe doe the like toe all the world if it bee necessary, I will rather Sacrifice myself and all I haue in the defence of Gods Honor and his Churches right, then willingly Consent toe anything that may not stand with the Good Contiens of A Real Catholick. Wch resolution if yr Lop doe not allsoe make good by A Religious Care of what you send over Authorised by yr Consent, I shall with as much Convenient speede as I can with draw myself, and what is Left of that wch I brought with mee, out of the Danger of beeing involud in the ruein wch I shall infallibly expect. Yr Lop knowes my Securety of Contiens was the first Condition that I expected from this Government, wch then you thought soe Inocent as you Conceaved the proposition
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alltogether impertinent, But now I hope you will perceaue the Contrary. Nor were it difficult out of the Lawes sent over by yr Lop, or these that are from hence proposed toe you, toe finde Just grounds for toe feare the Introdusement of Lawes preiuditiall toe oure honors and freedome witnes that on Act whereby wee are exposde to A remediles Suffering of all Disgraces and Insolensyes that eyther the Pastion or Mallis of Suckseeding Gors shall please toe put vpon vs, with out beeing permitted soe much as A Lawfull defence for the secureing of Life or reputation though never soe vniustly Attempted toe bee taken from vs, with out forfeyteing the same and all wee haue too boote. This and many other Absurdetyes I doubt not but yr Lop: will finde and Correct vpon the peruseall of oure Learned Lawes, Among wch there is on that Confirmes the trade with the Indians for all Comodetyes toe bee exported vntoe yr Lop: by wch there is now in you an vndoubted Powre for toe ratefy yr first Conditions with the first Adventurers, wch I doubt not but yr Lop will performe toe theyre Content, whereby they may bee better Enabled and more obliged toe prosecute the good work they haue begun toe God's Honor and yr Lops Proffitt. for my part I will not deny myself toe bee perhaps on of the meanest deseruers among them, vnless desires might pas for merritts and then I durst compare with him that wisheth best toe Maryland. As I haue endeavored toe manifest by all exprestions that haue come within my reach, nor will I yet desist from doeing soe, if I may bee soe happy as toe see this differens betwixt the Church and Government well reconsiled agayne. And yr Lop at Peace with the first Adventurers whoe are I perceaue noe whit satisfyed with theyre Last Conditions for the Trade, Theyre harts haueing it seems not seconded theyre hands in the Agreement, but some for loue some for
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feare some by Importunety and the rest for Company consented toe what they now repine toe stand toe, nor can I blame them for tis impossible they can bee sauers by it. Wch made mee refuse toe beare them Company, and therefore am I now the only Supposed Enemy toe yr Lops Proffitt, wch I disclayme from vnless there bee an Antipothy betwixt that and my Subcistance on this Place. yr Lop: knowes I came not hither for toe plant Tobacco But haue toe my noe Little Preiudice hithertoe imployde myself and Servants in Publick works. The building of the mill was I Assure yr. Lop: A vast Charge vntoe mee, for besides the Labor of all my owne servants for two yeeres, I was at the Charge of divers Hirelings at 100: weight of Tob: the monthe with dyet when Corne was at 2: and 300 weight the Barrell, all wch besides divers materialls for it at Excessive rates is all vtterly lost by the Ignorance of A fooleish milwright whoe set it vpon A Streame that will not fill soe much in six weekes as will grinde six bushells of Corne, soe that myself nor the Colony is any whit the better for all the payns and Cost I haue beene at aboute it; yet doe I not deserue the les of Maryland, for I spared noe Cost nor labor for toe make good toe the vtmost what was Expected from mee, nor will I yet desert it for if I bee not tooe much discouraged by youre Lop I intend toe bestow on 100b or 2: more in remoueing of it toe a better Streame, if I can but see such A number in the Colony as will mayntayne A mill with Greeste in the meane time I am building of A house toe put my head in, of sawn Timber framed A story and half hygh, with A seller and Chimnies of brick toe Encourage others toe follow my Example, for hithertoe wee Liue in Cottages, and for my part I haue not yet had Leysure toe Attend my pryvate Conveniensy nor Proffitt wch is not a Little necessary for mee, haueing run myself and fortune
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allmost out of breathe in Pursute of the Publick good as I doubt not but it will appeere heereafter toe all impartiall Judgments, for I think allready few in the Colony will deny but that the Generallety was Les in debt, necessary Goods more Plentifull and better Cheape, when I only supplyed them, and that at the worst hand with goods bought at the Virginian rates, then now they are, when the Country doth abounde with many Dealers. for wch though I am sorry in respect of the Publick Penury, yet I cannot but Acknowledg it as A great favor of Allmighty Gods toe mee, since by it is manifested that had I had noe better motiue then the gayne I made, I should never haue put myself toe the Charge paynes and dangers that I under went in the busines. Though I know the Contrary was generally beleeued in England, where I was soe much behoulding toe the Charety, or rather Iniured by the mallis of some good People, as toe bee reported for A most vncontionable Extortioner of wch Sin were I guilty I feare I should not soe willingly desist from farther dealeing as now I doe, for seldome or never have I heard or seene Covetousnes decrease with Age, And yet I thank God I finde noe propention toe continue the troble, though I neyther perceaue my Debters or Creditors weary of my dealeing, but myself weary of the busynes And am therefore vnwindeing myself from these mecannick negotiations as fast as I can recover in my debts, That others may haue roome toe win what I haue lost by Maryland, nor will I Grudge toe see the Suckses answer theyre Expectation, Provided that the Place may thriue as well as they, for I profes myself soe reall A well wisher towards it, That all Pryvate respects are vndervallued if they Stand in Competition with the Publick good. Though I think non hath had les encouragement toe continue theyre good wills toe that or youre Lops Service then myself. It
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beeing thought tooe much after all the Labors and Dangers that I haue run through, and all the Costs and Charges that I haue been att, that I should share in any Proffitts that the Place affords, though for the mayntayneing of myself and famely vpon the Place I haue hithertoe yeerely Exhausted soe great A part of A Poore younger brothers fortune, as if I continue it with out some releeue it must needes in time make me vncapable of doeing good toe that or myself. Toe prevent wch I was this yeere determined toe haue waighted vpon yr Lop in England, and on way or other toe haue Concluded this fateall difference aboute the Trade. for my Lord I may properly vse the words of the Ghospell, I cannot Digg and to Begg I am Ashamed, if therefor yr Lop nor yr Country will afford mee noe other way toe support the great Expenses that I haue beene and dayly am at for my Subcistans heere, but what I must fetch out of the Grounde by Planting this Stincking weede of America, I must desert the Place and busynes, wch I confes I shall bee loth toe doe, soe Cordiall A lover am I of them both, yet if I am forst toe it by discourteous Iniuries I shall not weepe at parting nor despayre toe finde heauen as neere toe other parts as Maryland. But I will first doe my Endeavor toe Compose things soe as non shall say heereafter that I lost A right I bought soe deere through negligens or Ignorans. Other mens Imaginations are hoe infallible presidents toe mee, nor will the multitude of names nor Scales, moue mee toe bee A foole for Company, for what in them was only Inadvertens, non would tearm less then foolery in mee, whoe might or ought toe know by experiens, that it is impossible toe Comply with the Conditions mentioned in the Lease and bee A Sauer by them. And yet for my refuseing toe doe like the rest I doubt not but I am Sugiested the only Antagonist toe yr Lops Proffitt. When if
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the thing were rightly vnderstood you would Acknowledg that I haue done you more right then myself, by not Subscribeing toe what I should never haue intended willingly toe performe, there wanting not meanes by the neighbourhood of virginia toe haue Easely Avoyded it. Soe that the Event would haue been insteade of the Expected Proffit, the los of the best part of the trade, wch would haue been drawne out of yr Territoryes by yr own Subjects, whoe beeing there by forst toe shelter themselues vnder another Government, and findeing perhaps A Little Sweetnes in it, would quickly grow toe such an Avertion agaynst this Supposed oprestion, As nothing would bee more hatefull toe them then you and yr Authorety, And Consequently non soe forward toe depres both that and you, as those that otherwise would bee Zealous Defenders of you both. Had my owne right hoe referens toe these reasons my Single opposition would haue Appeered more meritorious then blameable, nor would that alter the Case did you but vnderstand how little my pryvate Proffit would haue beene preiudised by it. All the Inconveniens that I can reflect on toe myself, would haue beene my fetching the Truck, and carrying what beaver I could get, from and toe Virginia without bayting at St. Maryes. for I think non of the Adventurers would haue grudged mee A little share with them, or at Least denyed toe wink at my proceedeings if they had met mee, but rather perhaps haue done the like themselues, and where then had beene yr Lops pretended proffitt. But these are my Lord wayse soe Contrary toe my disposition, as I scorn toe profes the practiseing. I protest toe yr Lop that I am Ashamed toe heare Strangers sometimes take notis of what I haue done and suffered for you and youre Country, and yet toe conclude that neyther my person nor my Estate is secure from Iniury if I
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venture for toe trade in Maryland, without beeing behoulding toe my Servants Secresy, or goeing with as much Cawtion as if I stoale what I gott. wch poore kinde of proceedeing is so distastfull toe mee that though I haue beene (for Avoydeing greater Inconvenienses) contented for A time toe stoope vnder the burthen, yet am I soe weary of the weight as deemeing it tooe vnworthy of my Longer Patiens that I am resolued toe desert the Place, if neyther the right of my first Adventure, nor the Suekceedeing Exprestions of my fidellety toe yr Service and yr Countryes good can merrit soe much favoure from yr Lop as toe permit mee freely for toe rent at least soe much yearely as I ventured before I knew whether I should win or loose by the Bargayne. The Proffit of tradeing 60: pounde pr: yeere wch is the sum I shall bee satisfyed with all, if you shall not think fit toe enlarge it out of yr owne noblenes as an Encouragement toe my future deserts, will vndoubtedly never make mee rich, nor am I ambitious of it, I neuer yet pretended for toe get by Maryland, all I desire is but A help toe keepe mee from Sinking, as you may see by the reasonablenes of my request, wch yet if yr Lop please toe grant without farther troble toe y??elf or mee, I shall take it as the greatest exprestion of yr Lops favoure towards mee that ever yet I could boast of. And accordingly by A reall desire to deserue the Continueance Endeavor toe expres A respectiue Acknowledgment of yr readines toe doe mee right wch if I can gayne A fayre way and youre Lops favoure toe boote, it were tooe greate A disrespectiuenes in mee for toe Attempt the Contrary. If now therefore the Suckses answers not my Expectation I cannot help it whoe haue done my part toe let you see how desireous I am toe Avoyde all Publick disputes with you or yr. Authorety, whilst I am A poore member of yr Colony. What Course the rest of the first Adventurers will steere I know
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not, for I am Left toe guide my Bark Alone nor would I willingly bee otherwise, vnles wee could vnite oure Harts as well as Purses, wch not beeing fesible, I despayre of ever doeing good in partnerships, and am therefore resolued toe haue noe more Interest in Co?on Stocks. yet will I not bee much preiuditiall toe those that will, for what I promice eyther for price or quantety shall not fayle toe bee most punctually performed, only I love toe bee the manager of my owne Affayres, wch favoure if youre Lop please toe grant mee I shall not care for other Approbation. Newes I know yr. Lop lookes for non but what Concernes the Co?onwealth of Maryland in wch what I am defectiue I doubt not but yr. Secretary will Supply whoe is as quick as I am Slow in writeing, and therefore in that part A verry fit Subiect for the place hee bears, And if hee proues not tooe Stiff A maintayner of his owne opinions, and Somewhat tooe forward in Sugiesting new busineses for his owne imployment, hee may perhaps doe God and yr Lop: good Service heere I should bee Sorry toe Change Mr Hawley for him, whoe I perceaue stands not soe perfect in yr Lops: favoure as I could wish him wch perhaps some takeing Advantage at, and willing for toe fish in trobled waters, may by discourteous proceedeings towards him make him weary of vnproffitable Maryland, And fors him toe A Change more for his peace and Proffit. As Doubtles virginia would bee toe him if hee make good what bee hath vndertaken, of wch I see hoe other Likelihood if hee haue not left his worst Enemies behinde him, Among wch number I am Sorry toe see such probabillety of yr Lops beeing on as I perceaue there is. What reasons you haue for it is vnknowne toe mee, nor doe I presume toe Judg where the fault is, All that I wish as A Poore friende of his, is that yr Lop rightly vnderstood him for from thens I verrely beleeue doth flow those Jealosyes that I
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preceaue are risen betwixt you, wch beeing increast by misapprehentions of Contentious Spirits must certaynely if not in time prevented by some Charitable reconsiliation breake forth with such vyolens as will endanger the noe little preiudice of on or both of you. I Assure yr Lop: did I know any Just Cause toe Suspect his Sinserety toe Maryland, or the designe wee come vpon, I should not bee soe Confydent of his Innosence in deserueing toe ill from you or this Place. I cannot my Lord Suppose A little verball vehemensy vttered in the defens of A mans owne Supposed right, Suffitient toe Conclude him guilty of looseing all former respects toe greater obligations, wch if it bee soe greate A Crime I am toe seeke where I should finde on that would bee free when hee Supposeth his right vniustly questioned. I must confes I cannot pleade not guilty, and yet I doubt not but my greatest Enemies doe really beleeue mee for toe bee as I am A most vnfayned friende toe Maryland. And soe I am confident will Mr Hawley Appeere if you will glue him time and ocation for toe manifest it, and not by vyolent discourtesyes vpon vncertaine suppositions fors him toe Change his good intentions yr Lop: knowes how many difficultyes hee past in England, nor hath hee beene exempt from the like in these parts, and therefore hee is not too bee blamed for laying howld of some probable way toe repayre his many misfortunes, there beeing noe Antipothy betwixt that and the continueing of his respects vntoe yr. Lop. Well may the dischargeing of the office hee hath vndertaken invite him sometimes toe Looke towards Virginia, but certaynely not with preiudice toe Maryland, from whens hee receaues the greatest Comforts that the world affords him both for Sowle and body the on from the Church the other from his wife. whoe by her comportment in these difficult affayrs of her husbands, hath manifested as much virtue and
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discrestion as can bee expected from the Sex she owes, whose Industrious huswifery hath soe Adorned this Desert, that should his discouragements fors him toe withdraw himself and her, it would not A Little Eclips the Glory of Maryland. Thus haue I my Lord at large According toe my Capacety commended toe yr noble Consideration such Greevanses as for the present I am most sensible of, toe wch I hope toe receaue soe satisfactory an answer from yr. Lop: as will Encourage mee toe A resolution of fixing my Earthly Tabernacle in Maryland. Though I am now prepareing for A visit the next yeere intoe England, where I will Supply what is heere wanting concerning the affayres of Maryland. wch now wants A Commander for Martiall Cause I haveing vpon my determination of goeing this yeere for England Surrendered it vp and am loth for soe short A time toe take it Agayne, nevertheles at yr Lops request, I shall if the Governor commands mee see that the Publick shall not Suffer for want of Such poore Instructions as I can giue them, whilst I am resident among them, or that some other more able man discharge mee of the Care. In the mean time as I haue ever been A Reall Defender of yr. Lops right, Soe may you bee Confydent that I will continue. As beeing desirous in all Just wayes toe manyfest myself
Youre really respectiue freind and Servant
Tho: Cornwaleys
from St Maryes this 6th of Aprill 1638.
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