640 APPENDIX XII. APP. XII. conditions therein expressed: as namely-1. That the Disputation is to be Regular; that is to say, I am (in the first place) to prove the whole charge, without any interruption from any one of you. That then any one or more of you may (without interruptions from me) answer my arguments, or give your assent. 2. That the disputation is to be peaceable: that is to say one person only (at a time) is to answer, That the Disputation may not end (as usually such kind of Disputes have done) in an unprofitable confusion, but to the satisfaction of the numerous and judicious Hearers and that at the end of all They may judge (according to the scriptures of Truth) between you and me Let me hear pray the Reader to take notice that not any thing said by me (touching the Regular and Peaceable Disputation) was gainsaid by any of them, whose silence was (by all the Hearers) taken for their full consent: yet notwithstanding herein they declared themselves most unfaithful, for they frequently interrupted me, more especially by casting in impertinent objections, ere I had half answered this or that scripture which some one or other of them had proposed, thereby in design (as I thought) to obstruct the special matter, ready to be uttered for the satisfaction of the attentive hearers: which urged me (as I must confess) inadvisedly to say that what I had, and should then have declared, I would cause to be printed, that full returns might be given to the objections made, and scriptures wrested by them: saying If I could not be heard I would be read: herewithal, I cannot deny, but that I have in the returns inserted sundry things from judicious authors (for confirmation) or further explication which I might not then have alledged, though I had not met with any interruption at all, and forasmuch as some of them have (as I am informed) since said that their business was not managed aright by them, and that some things were forgotten to be spoken, not only these but all other things which might seem for their advantage I have (in their due places) set down and answered: upon the whole I do assure the Reader I should not have given myself this trouble: had they not (by their manifold interruptions) provoked me to make that inconsiderate open promise as above, concerning which many of the hearers have since been my frequent Remembrancers, and probably others may be ready (on default of performance) to reflect slauderously upon me, whose reviling rudeness is but too well known, and so farewel. SAMPSON BOND. This insueing Discourse had been printed sooner, had not M John Forster (the Printer) been disenabled by a tedious sickness of which he died. TESTIMONY TO BOND'S PIETY. 640a 1670. I am indebted to Mr. Noel Sainsbury for the following in- APP. XII. teresting Letter, recently found among the Shaftesbury Papers, in the Public Record Office, § IX. No. 26. The writer, Captain William Sayle, had left Bermuda in the previous month of February, and consequently before the proceedings against Rev. Sampson Bond, which are recorded at p. 330 et seqq. The testimony borne to his piety and zeal is, however, so honourable to the man, that justice requires its insertion, after the many unfavourable traits in his character which have come before us. Captain Sayle died towards the close of the year. The original is endorsed in the handwriting of John Locke, whose intimate relations with Lord Ashley are well known, and who was the author of the Constitution of the Carolinas.' Lord Ashley's portrait may be seen at Charter House School. William Sayle to Lord Ashley, June 25th, 1670. Much Hond and Noble Lord, I hope yo' lord hath recd an accott (Long before this tyme) of Gods providences and dealings with yo' Servant and Colony here in Carolina from my selfe, Mr. West, &c. Though we are (att present) under some straights for want of provision (incident to the best of New Plantacons) yet, we doubt not (through the goodness of God) of recruits from sundry places to wch we have sent. But there is one thing wch lyes very heavy upon us, The want of a Godly and orthodox Minist, wch I and many others of us have ever lived under, as the greatest of ou' Mercyes; May it please yo' Lord" in my late Country of Barmudas, there are diverse Ministr of whom, there is one Mr. Sampson Bond, heretofore of Long standing in Exeter Colledge in Oxford, and ordayned by the late Byshop of Exeter, the old Do' Joseph Hall; And by a Comission from the Earle of Manchester and Company for the Sumer Islands, sent There in ye yeere 1662 for the term of three yeeres, under whose powerfull and soul-edefying Ministry I have lived about eight yeeres last past; There was nothing in all this world soe grievous to my spirit, as the thoughts of parting with his Godly society and faythfull Ministry; But I did a little comfort my selfe, that it might please ye Lord by some good meanes or other to enclyne his heart to come after us, who hath little respect from some who are now in Authority in Barmudas, wch is a great discouragmt to him; wch Is taken notice off in other places, and he is invited to Boston in New England, and to New Yorke by the Governor there, with tenders of Large incouragements, If he will come to ye one or other place2; I have likewise writt most earnestly to him desiring that he would come and sit downe with us, Assuring him it is not only my urgent Request but withall the most hearty request of ye Colony in Generall, who were exceedingly affected with him and his Ministry all the tyme they were in Barmudas, And we shall all have assured 1 See Vol. I. p. 737. 2 See p. 289. 6406 1670. TESTIMONY TO BOND'S PIETY. APP. XII. Cause to Bless God for him, so long as we shall live, might he be gained to be our settled Minist St John Yeomans was soe much affected with him, That he promised me he would procure a Comission from the King to make him our Minist' and to the uttmost endeavor to procure him a Considerable sallary for his incourage But I can heare of nothing done by him herein, wch hath imboldened me (in the name of all ye rest) most humbly to beseech yo' Lord" to put on bowells of great Goodness and Compassions towards yo' Colony here, in procuring (wch yo' Lord" may easily and speedily doe) a Comission and Competent sallary for him for about five or seven yeeres, (till the Lord shall enable us to mayntayne him onselves) to be paid to him or his assignes in London, Barbadoes, or elsewhere; I doe most faythfully assure yo' Lord that this Mr. Bond is so well knowne, well reported off, and so beloved in most the Carabee Islands, That were it knowne abroad that he were yo Minist here It is the iudgmt of sundry prudent persons, It would (in a little tyme) gaine many hundreds of Considerable persons to this place; oh, that It might not be deemed too much boldness in me, to beseech yo' Lord with ye desired Comission to hono' him with yo' Lett' weh If it be sent to yo' Comissio" att Barbadoes, It will soon be dispatcht to him; I shall not (att p'sent) give yo' Lord" any further trouble, takeing my leave with my fixed purposes to the uttmost during life to further this yo' Lords (hytherto) Blessed Designe, ever praying for an encrease of those yo manifest favors of all kinds and degrees of eminent Gifts and graces from God, and likewise for an encrease of yo' most deserved Hon' and Noble dignityes from his sacred Maiesty. Resteth yo❜ Lord in all humility and ffaythfullness to Hono' obey &c ffrom Albemarle Point in Ashley River, June 25th 1670 WILLIAM SATLE For the Right Honourable Anthony Lord Ashley at Little Exeter House in the Strand [Extract] Lord Ashley to Governor Sayle. In answer to your desires concerning Mr. Samson Bond wee writ formerly both to him and you, to let you know that if he would come to Carolina he should have 500 Acres of land £40 per ann and an house, but though wee allow him this salary and allotment of land to be the Preacher among you, yet wee give neither him nor you authority to compell any one in matters of religion, having in our Fundamental Constitutions granted a freedom in that point which wee resolve to keepe inviolable I am Your very affectionate friend Exeter House 10 April '71. ASHLEY. [P. R. O. Shaftesbury Papers. Section ix., No. 55, pp. 15–17.] XIII. The Governor of Bermudas concerneing yo Revenue. JAMES R. Trusty and Well beloved Wee Greet you well. Whereas for the better Support and protection of our Severall plantations and Dominions in America, Wee have Established here such Councills as may provide as well for the particular Wellfare of every one of them, as for the preserving Our Royall Authority and the Governement derived from thence in our said Severall Collonies and plantations. And thereupon takeing notice That it is a Matter of the greatest Importance, and highly necessary for the good of our Subjects, that all such Rents, Revenues and proffitts as belong and Accrue unto us, as well in Acknowledgemt of Our Royall Dignity as for the better carryeing on Our Service and Support of Our Governement in those parts should bee closely inspected and brought into a certaine Method and direct way of Account. And for the avoyding of such neglects and occasions of Mismanagement as may happen upon the place for want of a due Inspection, Regulation and constant care of some person whose proper duty and appointment may inable and impower him to bee usefull unto us and our Ministers here by calling to an Account such as shall bee any wayes concerned in the collecting, Receiveing or Accounteing for any of our Rents, Revenues and proffits whatsoever ariseing within our Islands of the Bermudas or our Summer Islands. Wee have therefore given strict Order to Our Trusty and Well beloved William Blathwayt Esquire, Our Surveyor and Auditor Generall of All Our Revenues in America carefully and diligently to pursue Our Service and perform his Duty in Relation to Our Revenue in those Our Islands Comitted to your Governemt, And to the end that the Trust reposed in him may bee duely executed without any impediment or interruption whatsoever, Wee doe hereby strictly Comand you and the Comander in Cheife of those Our Islands for the time being, And it is as a principle Instruction to those you have allready received from us, That you give to him the said William Blathwayt, and such as shall bee imployed by him in the Affairs aforementioned all such assistance as may tend to the most Easey Execution of his said duty. And that you take especiall VOL. II. TT APP. XIII. 1686. 642 APP. 1686. APPENDIX XIII. care, that speedy and Effectuall Iustice be Administred in all Causes that Concerne Our Revenue. And that you doe alsoe direct and give in Charge to All persons whatsoever to whom it may belong to Act or intermedle with any part of Our said Revenue and profitts ariseing within your Governement. That setting all Excuses aside, They doe punctually and readily pursue such directions as they shall receive from Our said Surveyor and Auditor Generall accordeing to the powers and Authority graunted unto him in that behalfe. And that they doe from time to time and by all opportunities transmit unto him the perticuler Accompts of Our said Revenues of what Nature soever they bee. To the End the same may bee represented by him unto Our High Treasurer, and Our Service thereby effectually carryed on. And that you give all such persons and others whom it may concerne to understand, That as wee are graciously inclined to apply such of Our Revenues as accrue within Our said Islands to the imediat use, support and Security thereof. Soe wee are Resolued to hold a Strict hand upon the Execution of theire Respective Duties above-mentioned. And that theire Neglect therein will draw upon them the Consequences of Our just Displeasure. And theise Our Comands together with the Letters Pattents graunted unto the said William Blathwayt, Wee doe hereby direct and require to be entered in the Publique Register of those Our Islands, that noe person may pretend Ignorance thereof. And that the same bee deemed good and Effectuall in the Law to all intents and purposes whatsoever within Our said Islands under your Governement. And soe Wee bid you Farewell. ffrom Our Court at Whitehall, the 23rd Day of Novber 1686 in the Second yeare of Our Raigne. By his Maties Command ROCHESTER. |