[79] 



' low rate to your great damage. Gentlemen, as to Rhode- 

 ' IJland, I have not concern'd my felf as to any relief for 

 i you, having nothing in writing to fhow to them, yet upon 

 i difcourfe with fome Gentlemen there, they have fignified 

 ' a great forwardnefs to promote fuch a thing. I lying 

 ' under great reflections from fome of yours in the Eaft- 

 ' ward parts, that I was a very Covetous Perfon, and came 

 i there to enrich my felf, and that I kill'd their Cattel and 

 ' Barrel'cl them up and fent them to Bofton, and Sold them 

 ' for Plunder, and made Money to put into my own Pocket; 

 ' and the owners of them being poor People beg'd for the 

 ' Hides and Tallow, with tears in their eyes; and that I 

 'was fo cruel as to deny them; which makes me judge 

 ' my felf uncapable to Serve you in that matter: yet I do 

 ' allure you that the People are very charitable at the If- 

 1 land, and forward in fuch good actions, and therefore ad vile 

 ' you to defire fome good fubftantial Perfon to take the man- 

 i agement of it, and write to the Government there, which I 

 ' know will not be labour loft.^' 3 As for what I am accufed 

 ' of, you all can witnefs to the contrary, and I mould take it 

 ' very kindly from you to do me that juft right, as to vindi- 

 ' cate my Reputation; for the wife man fays, A good Name 

 ' is as precious Oyntme?it. When I hear of the effect of the 



152 Williamfon fays Church "mag- others, encouraging their expectations 



nanimoufly collected a confiderable con- of ftill further relief." \_HiJi. Me. i: 



tribution in Plymouth Colony, which he 626.] If his authority is this letter of 



tranfmitted to the Eaftern Provinces, Church, — and I know of no other on 



accompanied by an addrefs to Major which he could have relied, — he over- 



Froft, John Wheelwright, Efq , and ftates the facts. 



75 



