CCCLXIX. Captain John Bargrave. A Letter to the Lord Treas-
urer Middlesex[249]
June 9 (?), 1623
Papers of Lord Sackville, No. 6204
Document at Knole Park, Kent
The Kinge, the State, the plantacion, and my poore selfe, will all have
cause to thank you for procureing this Commission. Expedition will nowe
bee the life of it, That it may be putt into accion, by Bartholmew day,
else this yeare will bee lost as the last yeare was; your Lordship hath
tendered the importacion of the Spanish Tobacco to the Companie, they
(as they doe all thinges els) applie it to the benefitt of a few, for want of a
Stock. I make noe doubt but if this Commission be expediated, but there
wilbe a Stock procured time enough to farme the Tobacco for the publique
soe as the benefitt gayned shall returne to the good of the Kinge, and the
plantacion. Good my Lord in all your grauntes that carrie profitt with
them, use the name of the Publique; The word Companie governed by
populer voices, is it that covereth all their secrett practises. And it is a
shame that the Common weale of Virginia, dependinge on the Monarchie
here, should be governed soe, as this little treatise here inclosed will show
you. All the examples that I produce to expresse the injuries done, were
for the most part in Sir Thomas Smith's government, because from it the
planters have learned their inhumanitie and injustice which they nowe use,
both against the new comers and adventurers, offeringe the same measure
which hath bene measured before to them. But if I should call in question
the present governors, whoe beinge not ignorant that the populer goverment
doth directlie take away the power of the monarchie and shew what
mischeife they have done by their profuse throwinge out libertie, amongst
the planters, whereby they have made them forsake their former discipline,
strength and vertue to defend themselves against the domestick enemie,
and yet beinge fore warned of these thinges it should appeare that they did
it knoweingely and wittinglie against the soveraignitie in England, extreame
libertie beinge worse then extreame Tirranie, as it appeared by the troubles
in Rome after Neroes death, and the Romans (when their estate was most
populer) never punishinge their governors more for anie fault, then the
neglect of discipline; this might make our governors nowe as much to bee
blamed as the former weare, but I delight not to bee an accuser, unles
necessitie enforce it, although all the remainder of my estate sent into
Virginia is nowe lost therby. And soe I rest
Your lordships to commaund
John Bargrave
[Indorsed by Willis:] Received 10 June 1623. Captaine Bargrave
