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 I. 
I. A Justification for Planting Virginia Before 1609
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1

Records of the
Virginia Company of London

I. A Justification for Planting Virginia
Before 1609

Tanner manuscripts, XCIII, folio 200 (old folio 352)
Document in the Bodleian Library, Oxford University
List of Records No. 1
A Iustification for planting in Virginia

It was proposed;[1] that some forme of writinge in way of Iusti-
fication of our plantation might be conceiued, and pass, (though not by
publique authorytye) into many handes. The motion seemed to have
these inducements.

    1.

  • First, yt it mought give adventurers, a clearnes and satisfaction, for
    ye Iustice of ye action, and so encourage them, and draw on others.

  • 2.

  • That ye Spaniard might out of this intimation reasonably collect, yt
    wee vnderstood our owne case to be such, yt the state would neyther feare,
    nor be ashamed to proceed in yt persecution ther of, if any Course should
    bee held agaynst yt: and yt this Iustification of our owne title, would
    deterr, or at least retard ye Spaniard from suddayne attempting vs.

    And though it were sayd then; That this was a lowe and impotent way to
    convey it by such a close scedvle; yet [xx] seemt, not to want example of
    other things carried in yt manner: and yet to haue wrought ye same effect,
    as a more publique declaration of ye state could doe.

    They wch differed from him had these motiues;

    1.

  • That it conduc'd not to his first hope of encouraging, or inciting
    adventurers: for, they in this poynt needed it not, nor require yt. That


    2

    ther is much of a Confession, in euery unnessary Apology: yt to moue
    scruple, especially of Conscience, wher ther is afore quiettnes and no
    doubting rather shakes and deterrs, then settles, or confirmes. And yt
    already some of best Iudgement, startle vpon ye first noyse of yt. That

  • 2.

  • That ye Spaniard hath already seene more publique, and authentique
    testemonyes, of ye States good affection to ye Iourny, by establishing it
    vnder ye great seale: and by ye seconding, and Iterating supplyes, then
    this way can giue him:

    Besides it is more then probable yt his Ambassador will forthwith expos-
    tulate wth his Matie about this writing, and then it is not conceau'd how
    far his Matie wilbe pleasd to avow yt, wch may intimate disavowing:

    Besides yt it seemed not to worke these good effects wch were pretended,
    it hath these euident dangers in yt.

    1

  • It will rather hasten ye Spaniards rage, then retard yt; because he will
    see it, to grow euery day harder for him to defeat vs.

  • 2

  • It will rayse vndisputably, two pen-adversaries of diuers sortes: The
    first are perfect Spaniards, who will defend yt title vpon ye Donation, of
    Alexander, wch is so grounded vpon the principles of theyr religion yt
    some of ther best authors haue pronounced yt Heresy to doubt yt. And
    wee, (though wee want not inducinge and Convenient arguments from
    God, and Nature and Nations) yet haue no such convincinge and obliga-
    tory * * * * * * irs,[2] especially towards them, and their ground.
    [2] The second sort wilbe neutrall writers, but of Spanish affections:
    who because they cannott thereby hurt ye Spaniard already established
    there, but may slacken vs, if they can cast scruples into our Conscience
    §[3] will wright agaynst ye lawfullnes of plantation in these, as well by ye
    Spaniard, as by vs, or any, wch must necessaryly grow to disputution of
    so much intricasy, perplexity, and replication, as shall conduce vnto
    theyr end of slackning ws. if no farther. For when at first discouery of
    these partes, ye Spaniard did subiect ye Consideration of yt to Casuists,
    and Confessors, it became so indeterminable, yt he was forced to resolue
    roundly vpon ye worst way, least he should haue none, to prosecute ye


    3

    Indians as Barbar's, and therby Naturally slaues. When after 50 yeares
    his Fryars declyn'd him from yt seuere and vnIust course, and he labourd
    by men of all learninge to prouide himselfe of a more acceptable title, all
    ye reasons, wch were prepard to him, by men of discourse, from ye Indians
    transgressing ye Law of Nature; from his [ciuilians] for their denying com-
    merce: from his Canonists, by ye Donation: and from his Deuines, by
    preparation of religion, were so incohœrent and so resisted by one another,
    as many bookes written in his defence, were suppressed in his owne
    Kyngdome, and at this day, from all ye authors extant, in yt pointe,
    (though they admitt ye purpose of ye donation, yet departing from ye
    very lettre) can be gathered for him no title, of Dominion or property,
    but only a Magistracy, and Empire, by wch he is allowed to remoue such
    impediments, as they had agaynst ye knowledge of Religion.

Because therfore, we shalbe putt to defend our title, not yet publiquely
quarreled, not only comparatiuely to be as good as ye Spaniards (wch we
doubt not is easy enough, when it shalbe impugned,) (agaynst wch not
wth standinge to gouerne them, ther arises ye Donation, and yt wee
seek Dominion) but absolutely to be good agaynst ye Naturall people:
some thought it better to abstayne from this vnnessisary way of proui-
cation, and reserue ourselues to ye defensiue part, when they shall offer
any thing agaynst vs: wch will more easyly and satisfactoryly be donne,
and we are like enough to bee too soone putt to yt by them, when they
see ye proportion and forwardnes of this present supply.

§ if ye first way fayle (because I doubt not of ouerthrowing ye Dona-
tion) then this will follow, wch if we could mayntayne yet wth such
subtelty of distinction, as ye merchant wilbe vncapable of satisfaction
therby[4] §


4

[Indorsed:] ∥Reasons against publishing the King's title to Virginea.∥

 
[1]

Blank space in the manuscript.

[2]

The manuscript is so torn as to be illegible.

[3]

See note at the end of the document.

[4]

This paragraph is written in the margin.