116

CHAP.
XI.

END OF FORSTER'S GOVERNMENT.

These Jurymen abouewritten were empanelled at Leiftent Rawlinges house and there passed vpon the prisoner and found 1650-1658. him guilty of murthering the body of John Harper, and deliuered vp their verdict in the presence of Capt" Josias fforster Gouernor, and Mr Richard Norwood Mr John Waynewright Mr Thomas Richard Mr John Rawling and Autho Jenour Secret. in these words ffoll. Wee find the prisoner Guilty.

[Sentence was passed accordingly, but is not recorded.]

97. There are entries of December 15 and 20, 1658, but the foregoing is the last in which Captain Josias Fforster is referred to as the Governor. At the next entry following, dated January 5, 1658, we find his successor, Capt. William Sayle, whose appointment dates from June, installed in office.

SILVER BEAKER BEQUEATHED TO DEVONSHIRE PARISH BY CAPTAIN ROGER WOOD, 1654, TO BE USED FOR SACRAMENTAL PURPOSES ONLY (SEE VOL. I. P. 543),

ONE-THIRD OF FULL SIZE.

CHAPTER XII.

LAST GOVERNMENT OF CAPTAIN WILLIAM SAYLE, APPOINTED
JUNE 30, 1658: RELIEVED, JANUARY 12, 1662.

CHAP.
XII.

Early in 1658-1662.

He

CAPTAIN WILLIAM SAYLE, or Saile, now for the third time
at the head of affairs, appears first in these Records as a
councillor in 1630, and was sheriff in 1638. Early in
1641 we find him Governor, but, in Norwood's opinion,1
altogether governed by the Independent clergy; he got
credit, however, afterwards with the loyal party for a
moderate and temperate carriage towards them.2
took an active part in 1647 against Governor Turnor and
the Royalists, and was even suspected of a design to sub-
due the colony to the Commonwealth by force of arms.
The ill-starred expedition to Eleutheria perhaps made
him enemies; for, notwithstanding these evidences of his
leaning to the Puritan and Commonwealth side, he was
accused of being a Royalist, and his relations of friend-
ship with some of that party were made the pretext of
serious charges against him, from which, however, he was
able to clear himself. He resided some time in Eleutheria,
but left that place in 1657, and returned to Bermuda. He
was selected by the Lords Proprietors of the Carolinas,
after the Restoration, to command their expedition for
the settlement of that plantation, and he probably died
there. His will, dated Sept. 30, 1670, is recorded in
Bermuda.

1. Sept. 7, 1658. A Petition is presented to the Privy Council by several inhabitants and others, proprietors in the island of Bermudas. They state that they 1 Vol. i. 570. 2 Ib. 608.

& Ib. 701.

4 Ib. 737.

118

СНАР.

XII.

SERIOUS CHARGES AGAINST SAYLE.

addressed his late Highness, complaining of the Company for choosing Capt. William Sayle their Deputy-Governor, 1658-1662. and others as officers [in June last], who had been in arms against the Commonwealth and disaffected to it. This was referred to the Committee for America for their report. The vessel to carry Captain Sayle being ready to set sail, they pray for an order to the Committee to report thereon. Signed Phillip Lea, on behalf of himself and petitioners. (Col. Entry Bk. 13. No. 50.)

2. Sept. 14, 1658. The Committee for America report that the articles exhibited against Capt. Sayle are for the most part proved.

In particular it doth appeare vnto vs that at the time of the Rebellion in the Island, when the good people were imprisoned, the said Capt Sayle vnder p'tence of mediateing with the enemy for their advantage, did exasperate them the more, for the better compassing his designe of carrying the good people to Eleutheria.

And also that at the time of ye said Rebellion, the said Capt. Sayle was very conversant and intimate with the Chiefe actors therein, and although he had walked in ffellowship vnder Mr White the Pastor of that congregation, did in that time desert them, and closed with Mr Viner and Mr Hooper, scandalous ministers, and the head of that faction, and that at his departure from the said Island, he left his estate in the hands of the present Governor Trymingham, and principall head of that Rebellion.1

He had said that the execution of the late King was a treacherous and murderous act. They find also that Mr. Somersall made sheriff, Henry Tucker made Secretary and Councillor of State, and Hugh Wentworth Capt. of Paget and Warwick tribes, were disaffected to the Government and highly active in the rebellion there.2 They conceive the island to be of great importance to the Commonwealth, and are of opinion that Capt. Sayle is altogether unfit to be entrusted with the government;

1 The Committce cannot have supposed that Trimingham was still Governor in 1658, therefore must have meant the then governor Trimingham.' 2 See letter of September 13.

LETTER FROM THE COMPANY, 1658.

119

CHAP.

XII.

and Somersall, Tucker, and Wentworth unfit to be in any command or public trust. They recommend that the commission of the Company to Capt. Sayle, who is about 1658-1662. to depart, be forthwith recalled. Signed by John Mill, Tobias Bridge, Martin Noell, and R. Sydenham. Treasury Chambers, Sept. 14, 1658.

(2) To this is annexed a paper of charges against each of these persons, with the names of the witnesses ready to prove them, received Sept. 15, and also the names of those ousted by the Company, who have been ever eminent in the island and are sufferers for their fidelity to the Commonwealth, viz. Captains Stephen Paynter, Horatio Mallory, Fflorentia Seamer, Godheard Asser, Mr. Anthony Joijner (Jenour), Capt. Phillip Lea.

(3) Sept. 23, 1658. The Lords of Council Disbrowe and Jones report. They have examined into the charges against Capt. Sayle, who was sent for from the Downs, whither he had gone on his voyage to the Somers Islands, and see no cause to stop him, but recommend that he be dismissed from further attendance, with a strict admonition to demean himself with circumspection and faithfulness to his Highness' interest and service. (Colonial Entry Book, vol. 13, p. 165.)

Gent.

3. The Company to the Governor and Councell
Sept 13 1658.

(1) At a generall Quarter Court held the 30 June last past wee did elect and make choice of severall persons to be officers for the Somer Islands an account of which wee thinke fitt in the first place to giue you; and afterwards to proceed to other particulars

ffor Deputie Gouernor wee have elected and chosen Capt William Sayle and by our commission vnder our comon seale haue constituted him Gouernor and Cap Genall of the Somer Islands, vnto whom in all lawfull things which hee shall comand by, vertue of his office, wee require all persons in the Islands to be obedient

120

CHAP.

XII.

COMMONWEALTH MEN APPOINTED.

(2) The Councellors and Justices of the seuerall Tribes by vs elected to be assistant to our present Gouernor in the p.se1658-1662. cuting and p.forming of our comands conteyned in these gen'all Letters and all such other commands, orders and Instructions which they shall from tyme to tyme receiue from vs, are these which follow.

ffor Sandys Tribe Mr Samuell Whitney
Warwick Tribe Mr John Wainwright
Deuonshire Tribe Mr Rich. Norwood
Padgets Tribe Mr Nicholas Thornton
South.ton Tribe Mr Thomas Richards
Hamilton Tribe Mr John Milner
Pembroke Tribe Mr Henrie M.

Smiths Tribe Mr Christ. Smith

and in consideration of the good service done vnto the Company by Mr Stephen Paynter, wee haue ordered that he shall be a councellor during life, ffor Sheriffe in the Somer Islands we have made choise of Mr John Sumersall And wee pray the Gouernor and Councell to invest him in the said comand with all Imunities therevnto belonging, for weh purpose wee have graunted our

comission

ffor Secretary Mr Henrie Tucker

ffor Capt of Southampton ffort Capt florentia Seymer, ffor Capt. of Padgets ffort Capt George Tucker to be comander for one yeare, vpon the expiration of which and the proposall of the said George Tucker That in case it shall appeare vnto vs that his brother Mr ffrancis Tucker is euerie way fitt and qualified for the said comand, according to the character of him giuen to vs in court, That he be admitted to succeed him the said George Tucker in the said comand, Wee have thought fitt and ordered That the said Francis Tucker shalbe admitted to succeed his said brother Mr George Tucker in the said comand accordinglie, ffor Commander of Smiths ffort Capt Goddard Asser, ffor Comander of the Castle commonly called the kings castle Capt Will Sayle of present Gouernor

ffor Marshall Mr John Bristow

To these we haue granted our commissions according to their respectiue charges

(3) We have likewise chosen for Captaynes of the Trayned Bands