Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Sources
All these lawes being thus concluded and consented to as aforesaide[413]
Captaine Henry Spellman[414] was called to the barre to answere to
certaine misdemeano^{rs} layde to his chardge by Robert Poole,
interpretour, upon his oath (whose examination the Governo^r sente into
England in the Prosperus), of w^{ch} accusations of Poole some he
acknowledged for true, but the greattest[415] part he denyed. Whereupon
the General[416] Assembly, having throughly heard and considered his
speaches, did constitute this order following against him:
AUG. 4^{th}, 1619.
This day Captaine Henry Spelman[417] was convented before the General
Assembly and was examined by a relation upon oath of one Robert Poole,
Interpreter, what conference had passed between the said Spelman[418]
and Opochancano at Poole's meeting with him in Opochancano's courte.
Poole chardgeth him he spake very unreverently and maliciously
against[419] this present Govern^r,[420] wherby the honour and dignity
of his place and person, and so of the whole Colonie, might be brought
into contempte, by w^{ch} meanes what mischiefs might ensue from the
Indians by disturbance of the peace or otherwise, may easily be
conjectured. Some thinges of this relation Spelman confessed, but the
most parte he denyed, excepte onely one matter of importance, & that was
that he hade informed Opochancano that w^{th}in a yeare there would come
a Governo^r[421] greatter then[422] this that nowe is in place. By
w^{ch} and by other reportes it seemeth he hath alienated the minde of
Opochancano from this present Governour, and brought him in much
disesteem, both w^{th} Opochancano[423] and the Indians, and the whole
Colony in danger of their slippery designes.
[413] Aforesaid, Bancroft.
[414] Spelman, McDonald.
[415] greatest, McDonald.
[416] gen^l, Bancroft.
[417] Spellman, Bancroft.
[418] Spellman, Bancroft.
[419] ag^{st}, McDonald.
[420] Governour, Bancroft.
[421] Governour, McDonald, Bancroft.
[422] than, McDonald, Bancroft.
[423] Opochancanos, McDonald.
The general assembly upon Poole's testimony onely not willing to putt
Spelman to the rigour and extremity of the lawe, w^{ch} might, perhaps
both speedily and deservedly, have taken his life from him (upon the
witness[424] of one whom he muche excepted against) were pleased, for
the present, to censure him rather out of that his confession above
written then[425] out of any other prooffe. Several and sharpe
punishments were pronounced against[426] him by diverse of the Assembly,
But in fine the whole course[427] by voices united did encline to the
most favourable, w^{ch} was that for this misdemeanour[428] he should
first be degraded of his title of Captaine,[429] at the head of the
troupe, and should be condemned to performe seven yeares service to the
Colony in the nature of Interpreter to the Governour.
[424] witnes, McDonald, Bancroft.
[425] than, Bancroft.
[426] ag^{st}, McDonald.
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