Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

58 SPRINGFIELD. 1636-1SS6.
even the ill-will of a whole province conld shake. After reviewing
the evidence he snms np by saving : —
So then as I made it plaine to the Co't, w' I paj'cl to j'"" Indians, viz., sixes
a peck, & asked noe increase of that price nppon tlie country, soe, also, the Co't
manifested tlieir desire, y" I should not loose; & therefore it is added, if I were
forced by the Indians to rayse the price, then the Country must rise so much.
Yea the Co't did cut off all hope of raysinge anythinge into my purse, though I
were forced to rayse the price w^'' the Indians, because I am used to receive a
certain sett sum for my labo*" in tradinge (viz. 43 p bushell in Wampam at 3.
a penny) as a servant, & not to rayse any further gaines into my purse, as a
Merchant.
lu short, Mr. Pynchon could not make any money b}' raising the
price of coin under the contract ; therefore, the charge against him
fails to give a motive for his alleged short-comings.
Mr. Pynchon's first letter to Hartford, informing the authorities
of the unwillingness of the Indians to bring in corn, had given great
offence, Ijecause it contained a recommendation or suggestion as to
what policy to piu'sue. This recommendation also figured against
Pynchon at Windsor. " Can a church or any else," adds Mr. Pyn-
chon, " deu}' me liberty' to expound my own thoughts by wa}' of
advice to the magistrates ? " The case reduces itself to this
Agawam was situated upon the border of the planting-grounds.
Mr. Pynchon was the natural man to furnish Connecticut with corn ;
he made a contract with the river towns by which he could receive
no commission or s[)eculative gains whatever the price might be ;
found that the conditions were difficult to fulfil. Captain Mason,
the warrior, was then sent up with an armed force to trade, and
there was trouble, of course. AYe will content ourselves with but
one more extract from Mr. Pynchon's protest, detailing, as it does,
the results of Captain Mason's excursions : —
If the Capt had gone in a way of trade only to the Indians, at Messaro &
Paquannuk, & other places neare yo'^'' townes -w'h whome I had noe tradinge
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