At my arrivall I found the island under three Governors my sonne Henry Willoughby Col. Henry Hawley & Col. Sam. Barwicke the two
latter planters who to ingratiate themselves with the people (though generally hated) endeavored to obstruct all business tending to the King's honor and to the Countryes safty when anything was proposed that might put the Country to charge This caused such a division betweene the loyally affected (who sided with my sonne Harry) and the factious and seditious spiritts that nowe begin to appeare (of which Barwicke, Lambert, Sir John Yeamans, Col. Sharpe Lt. Col. Edwd. Thornbury, Lt. Col. John Horne Col. Philip Bell now of my Council are the head and almost all, that had my arrivall beene protracted tenn dayes longer they had all beene together by the eares.Sr John Yeamans another of this Assembly I at my first arrivall resolveing to appeare indifferent (making him a judg of one of the Courts) the last Assembly then sitting brought an accusation against him for hireing a witness to take away a man's life and made their request to me that noe such person might be employed in Judicature Upon which I sent for Sr John and advised him of it and of my kindnes to him and would he have abided test I profered to stand by him which hee refused and desired me to propose another for which I since understand he had reason, he haveing beene formerly convict of the crime and the man yet alive whose life hee endeavoured to take and for noe other reason but that he had a mind to the other gentleman's wife His sonne young Lieut. Coll. Yeamans was one of the Assembly the first day they sate told a Judge of this Island before much company that they (meaning the Assembly) would call mee to an account for shipping of the Country sugar though as yet I have not receaved one ounce.