CHAPTER XXIII.

My son Captain Robert Gorges sent by authority of the Council for those Affairs, as their Lieutenant General.

THE several complaints made to the Council of the abuses committed by several the fishermen, and other interlopers, who without order from them frequented those coasts, tending to the scorn of our nation, both to the ordinary mixing themselves with their women, and other beastly demeanors, tending to drunkenness, to the overthrow of our trade, and dishonor of the government.

For, reformation whereof, and to prevent the evils that may ensue, they were pleased to resolve of the sending some one into those parts as their Lieutenant, to regulate the estate of their affairs and those abuses. Hereupon my son Robert Gorges, being newly come out of the Venetian war, was the man they were pleased to pitch upon, being one of the Company, and interested in a proportion of the land with the rest of the Patentees in the Bay of the Majechewsett, containing ten miles in breadth and thirty miles into the main land; who, between my Lord Gorges and myself, was speedily sent away into the said Bay of Massechewset, where he arrived about the beginning of August following, anno 1623, that being the place he resolved to make his residence, as proper for the public as well as for his private; where landing his provisions and building his storehouses, he sent to them of New Plymouth (who by his commission were authorized to be his assistants) to come unto him, who willingly obeyed his order, and as carefully discharged their duties; by whose experience he suddenly understood what was to be done with the poor means he had, believing the supplies he expected would follow according to the undertakings of divers his familiar friends who had promised as much. But they, hearing how I sped in the House of Parliament, withdrew themselves; and myself and friends were wholly disabled to do any thing to purpose. The report of these proceedings with us coming to my son's ears, he was

[* The spot on which Robert Gorges fixed as the seat of his Plantation, was Wessagusset, or Weymouth, where Weston had previously attempted a settlement. Publishing Committee.]

*

advised to return home till better occasion should offer itself unto him.

Here follows my son Captain Gorges's Patent.

To all to whom these Presents shall come, the Council for the Affairs of New-England in America send Greeting:

WHEREAS it hath pleased the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by his royal grant bearing date the third day of November, in the eighteenth year of his Majesty's reign over this his Highness's realm of England, &c., for divers causes therein expressed, absolutely to give, grant, and confirm unto us, the said Council and our successors, all the foresaid land of New-England; lying and being from forty to forty-eight degrees of northerly latitude, and in length by all that breadth aforesaid, from sea to sea throughout the main land, together with all the woods, waters, rivers, soils, havens, harbors, islands, and other commodities whatsoever thereunto belonging, with all privileges, pre-eminences, profits and liberties by sea and land, as by the said grant, amongst other things therein contained, more at large appeareth-Now know all men by these presents, that we the Council of New-England, for and in respect of the good and special service done by Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Knight, to the Plantation, from the first attempt thereof unto this present, as also for many other causes us hereunto moving, and likewise for and in consideration of the payment of one hundred and sixty pounds of lawful English money unto the hands of our Treasurer by Robert Gorges, son of the said Sir Ferdinando Gorges, Knight, whereof, and of every part and parcel whereof, the said Robert Gorges, his heirs, executors and assigns are forever acquitted and discharged by these presents, have given, granted and confirmed, and by these presents do give, grant and confirm unto the said Robert Gorges, his heirs and assigns forever, all that part of the main land in New-England aforesaid, commonly called or known by the name of Messachusiack, situate, lying and being upon the northeast side of the Bay called or known by the name of Messachuset, or by what other name or names soever it be or shall be called or known, together with all the shores and coasts along the sea for ten English miles in a straight line towards the northeast, accounting one thou

sand seven hundred sixty yards to the mile, and thirty English miles (after the same rate) unto the main land through all the breadth aforesaid, together with all the islets and islands lying within three miles of any part of the said lands (except such islands as are formerly granted), together also with all the lands, rivers, mines and minerals, woods, quarries, marshes, waters, lakes, fishings, huntings, fowlings, and commodities and hereditaments whatsoever, with all and singular their appurtenances, together with all prerogatives, rights, jurisdictions and royalties, and power of judicature in all causes and matters whatsoever, criminal, capital and civil, arising, or which may hereafter arise within the limits, bounds and precincts aforesaid, to be executed according to the Great Charter of England, and such laws as shall be hereafter established by public authority of the State assembled in Parliament in New-England, to be executed and exercised by the said Robert Gorges, his heirs and assigns, or his or their deputies, lieutenants, judges, stewards or other officers thereunto by him or them assigned, deputed or appointed from time to time, with all other privileges, franchises, liberties and immunities, with escheats and casualties thereof arising, or which shall or may hereafter arise within the said limits and precincts, with all the interest, right, title, claim and demand whatsoever, which we the said Council and our successors now of right have or ought to have and claim, or may have or acquire hereafter, in or to the said portion of lands, or islands, or any the premises, in as free, ample, large and beneficial manner, to all intents, constructions and purposes whatsoever, as we the said Council by his Majesty's said letters patent may or can grant the same, saving and always reserving unto the said Council, and their successors, and to the Court of Parliament hereafter to be in New-England aforesaid, and to either of them, power to receive, hear and determine all and singular appeal and appeals of every person and persons whatsoever, dwelling or inhabiting within the said territories and islands, or either or any of them, to the said Robert Gorges granted as aforesaid, of and from all judgments and sentences whatsoever given within the said territories,—to have and to hold all and every the lands and premises above by these presents granted (except before excepted) with their

and every of their appurtenances, with all the royalties, jurisdictions, mines, minerals, woods, fishing, fowling, hunting, waters, rivers, and all other profits, commodities and hereditaments whatsoever, within the precincts aforesaid, or to the said lands, islands or premises, or any of them in any wise belonging or appertaining, to the said Robert Gorges, his heirs and assigns forever, to the only proper use and behoof of the said Robert Gorges, his heirs and assigns for evermore; to be held of the said Council, and their successors, per Gladium Comitatus, that is to say, by finding four able men, conveniently armed or arrayed for the wars, to attend upon the Governor for any service within fourteen days after warning, and yielding and paying unto the said Council one fiftieth part of all the ore of the mines of gold and silver which shall be had, possessed and obtained within the precincts aforesaid, for all services and demands whatsoever, to be delivered into the Tower of London in England, to and for the use of his Majesty, his heirs and successors from time to time. And lastly know ye, that we the said Council have deputed, authorized and appointed, and in our place and stead have put David Thomson,* Gent., or in his absence any other person that shall be their Governor, or other officer unto the said Council, to be our true and lawful attorney and attorneys, and in our name and stead to enter into the said lands, and other the premises with their appurtenances, or into some part thereof, in the name of the whole, for us and in our names to have and take possession and seisin thereof, and after such possession and seisin thereof, or of some other part thereof had and taken, then for us and in our name to deliver the same unto the said Robert Gorges or his heirs, or to his or their certain attorney or attorneys, to be by him or his heirs appointed in that behalf, according to the true intent and meaning of these presents, ratifying, confirming and allowing all and whatsoever our attorney or attorneys shall do in or about the premises, or in part thereof by virtue of these presents. In witness whereof, we have affixed our common seal, the thirtieth day of December, in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, James, by the grace of God, of England,

[* This is the person after whom Thompson's Island, in Boston harbor, is named. Publishing Committee.]

France and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, &c., the twentieth, and of Scotland the fifty-sixth.

LENOX HAMILTON.

ARRUNDELL SURREY.

BARN. GOACH.

ROBERT MANSELL.

WI. BOLES.

CHAPTER XXIV.

Captain John Mason the means of interesting the Scottish nation into that of New Scotland.

CAPTAIN John Mason was himself a man of action, and had been some time Governor of a Plantation in the Newfound-land. His time being expired there, he returned into England, where he met with Sir William Alexander, who was Master of Requests to his Majesty for the realm of Scotland, but since Earl of Sterling, who, hearing of Captain Mason's late coming out of the New-found-land, was desirous to be acquainted with him. To that end he invited him to his house, and after he had thoroughly informed himself of the estate of that country, he declared his affection to plantation, and wished the Captain to be a means to procure him a grant of the Planters thereof for a portion of land with them; who effected what he desired. The Captain, understanding how far forth I had proceeded in the business of New-England, advised him to deal with me for a part of what we might conveniently spare, without our' prejudice, within the bounds of our grant. Sir William Alexander, intending to make himself sure of his purpose, procured his Majesty (for what could they not do in those times in such cases?) to send to me to assign him a part of our territories. His Majesty's gracious message was to me as a command agreeing with his pleasure to have it so. Whereupon an instrument was presently drawn for the bounding thereof, which was to be called New Scotland, which afterwards was granted him by the King under the seal of Scotland. Thus much I thought fit to insert by the way, that posterity might know the ground from whence businesses of that nature had their original.