University of Virginia Library

Att a Courte helde ye 4th of Nouember 1620

Present
ye Right Honorable

         

Earle of Southampton.	Sr Edward Lawley.
Lord Cauendish.	Sr Edwin Sandys.
Sr Thomas Roe.	Sr Iohn Dauers.
Sr Williã Fleetwood.	Sr Robert Killigrew.
Sr Ferdinando Gorges.	Sr Io: Wolstenholme.

                  

mr Gibbes.	mr Barbor.	mr Casewell.	mr Iadwin.
mr Herbert.	mr Bowyer.	mr Ditchfeild.	mr Chambers.
mr Seldon.	mr Deputy.	mr Rogers.	mr Bull.
mr Bromfeild.	mr Keightley.	mr Berblock.	mr Bland.
Capt Bargraue.	mr Tomlynℯ	mr Swinhow.	mr Whitley.
mr Gulstone.	mr Stiles.	mr Mellinge.	mr Seward.
Dr Anthony.	mr Sheppard.	mr Meuerell.	mr Martin.
	mr Cranmer.	mr Paulson.	mr Barkham.
	mr Wellℯ.	mr Palmer.	& mr Arundell.
		mr Robertℯ

My Lord of Southampton signified vnto this Courte that though for
many important occasions his owne leasure served him not till now
to keep Courte, yett hee doubted not butt those Comittees that hadd
any buisines heretofore recomended vnto their p̱ticularr care and
charge were now redie to give a verie good Accompt of their pro-
ceedings therin accordingly. [157]

His Lop: further signified that hee had received breife ɫres of the saffe
arivall in Virginia of all those Ships save one wch were sent the last
Springe And that three of the best of them had made a prosperous
Voyadge in six weeks or there aboutes, And that of 200 p̱sons trans
ported in ye Ionathan there died aboue 16: Of 70: in the Swann of

Barnstable not one, of 200: in the London Marchant but one onely,
And that the Dutie in her long passage had likewise lost one; And
lastly that of the number of the Cattle wch they then allso sent they
had intelligence by the reporte of one man that they had lost tenn for
wch they had againe in their passage 8 Calues, butt there was no
certificate thereof as yett returned from the Gouernor.

His Lop: haveinge desyred the Company to thinke of the preparac̃on
of Ships to be sent this next Springe Mr Deputy gave notice of a verie
good convenyent Ship called the Abigall of about 350 Tunn belonging
to mr Bland, mr Wiseman, and some others brothers of this Societie
that was now offered to goe vppon the same Condic̃ons that the Ion-
athan and London Marchant did the last Springe, vizd. to Transporte
in her 200 Persons and 50 Tunn of goods, for 700li: in hand and 600li
vppon Certificate of Arivall in Virginia wch offer the Courte thought
verie reasonable, and did generally assent thervnto.

Itt was likewise moved that for the more com̃odiousnes and for
p̱curinge of ∥people∥ the better people that the Abigall might take in
her people att the Ile of Wight: And that some other ships might be
sent from Barnstable by the help of mr Delbridge who was reported
to have deserved well of the Company for his care and paynes hith-
erto afforded, wch mr Delbridge promised still to continue to the good
of that Plantac̃on, and would vse his best endeavour to doe the Com-
pany service, And therfore desired that the Court would be pleased
for their better encourragment & enablinge of them to transporte their
Passengers, to take some present course that hee might have free
libertie to ffish vppon the Northren Seas as formerly they had done
from wch as hee conceived they were vtterlie debarred by a late
graunt from his Matie: to Sr Ferdinando Gorges and some others.

Whervppon Sr Edwin Sandys did intimate vnto the Courte yt hee was
informed yt Sr Ferdinando Gorges had p̱cured vnto himselfe and
others a new Patent (now passed his Mats: great Seale,) wherin cer-
taine words were conveyed that did not onely contradict a former
order of the LL͠s: of the Counsell, wch their Lps: after a full hearinge
of the allegac̃ons on both sides and sett downe in Iune last by wch

this Company had yeilded some p̱t of their right to doe them good,
[158] and therby promised to ffish, onely for their necessities and
transportation of People in tender regaurd of the infancie of that
Plantac̃on butt by this new graunt the Adventurers of the Northerne
Collony had allso vtterlie excluded them of the Sotherne from fish-
inge att all vppon that Coaste without their leave and lycense first
sought and obteyned, wch was contrary & manifestlie repugñnt to
that comunitie and ffreedome wch his Maty: by the first Patent as is
conceived hath beene pleased to graunt vnto either Collony.[584]

The Courte therfore seeinge no reason why they should loose their
former right graunted vnto them by the first Patent the Sea allso
beinge to all as ffree and com̃on as the Ayre, and fyndinge less reason
why Sr Ferdinando Gorges should now appropriate and make a
Monopolie of yt fishinge wch had allredie cost this Company 6000li:
and was the onely means lefte (now the Lotteries were allmost spent
and other supply began to faile) to enhable them to transport their
people and susteyne their Plantac̃on wthall: did wth a generall Con-
sent resolve forthwith to petic̃on to his Matie: for a redresse herein,
and to pray a further Declarac̃on of his highnes gracious pleasure
and intention concerninge that Clause of prohibition and restrainte
incerted in the New Pattent, wherby they were defeated of their
libertie of ffishinge, Whervppon they appoynted theise Comittees to
drawe the said petic̃on and to make itt in substance agreeable to those
three poyntℯ Sr Edwin Sandys had deliu9ed in open Courte, And for
that Sr Thomas Roe said that hee was the next day to goe to the
Courte they desired him to p̢sent the same to his Maty:

Sr Edwin Sandys desyred the Company to consider how behoufull itt
was to sett forth a printed publicac̃on that might in effect conteyne
these fower poynts.

First to solicite the Iustices of Peace generally for sendinge to this
Company all such younge youthes of 15 years of age and vpward as
they shall finde burthensome to the Parish wher they live wth the

Sume of ffive pounds in monny towards a farr greater charge wch the
Company must be att for their apparrell and transportac̃on into Vir-
ginia wher they shalbe entertayned in good manner as servantℯ and apprentizes vnder the Companies Teñntℯ.

The Second poynt to be in the behalfe of the Lottarie now of late
very much disgraced that itt may be deliuered of many fowle asper-
sions vniustly cast vppon itt by malignnã tounges: notwithstand-
inge [159] itt is evident that the monney thereof arisinge hath sent
allredie to Virginia 800 Personns to the great advancement of that
Plantac̃on.

Thirdly to hasten the dispatch of these things against Ianuary next.

Fourthly to putt such Aduenturors in mynde of their subscripc̃ons as
have not as yett paid in their monneys as likewise to intimate vnto
them what authoritie and power the Company hath by his Maties:
gracious ɫres Pattents to recouer the same by suite if they shall will-
fully stand outt in poynt of Lawe and soe compell them to vse
extreamities.

Mr Delbridge moved that the Courte would be pleased to admitt one
mr Reynolds to be ffree of this Company for wch favour hee would pay
his xijli xs. wch request the Courte thought verie reasonable and
ordered that hee should have a bill of Aduenture given him vnder
ye Compa: Seale.

My Lord of Southampton prayed the Comittees that were appoynted
to make some necessary p̳visions for the setting vpp of the Staple
Comodities in Virginia and §as§ likewise those wch were desyred to
take some extraordinary paynes for the stablishinge of good gouer-
ment there that they would please att the next Courte to give an
Accompte of their proceedings in their p̱ticularr charges. In like
manner the Comittees appoynted to examine Sr Thomas Smiths
Accompts are desyred then allso to certifie what they have done in
that buisines.

Itt was allso desyred that the Comittees appoynted to treat wth
Mr: Englebert who ∥would∥ please to lett the next Courte vnderstand
how farr they hadd proceeded with him on the behalfe of the Com-
pany touchinge his demaunds for his intended service in Virginia,
vizd Sr: Iohn Dauers, and mr Gibbes.

Sr Edwin Sandis desired this Courte to take into their considerac̃on
howe materiall and necessary itt was as well to suppress hereafter
the inordinate excessive plantinge of Tobacco so generally distasted
hitherto [160] as allso to encourage and harten them on the more ernestlie to plant such Staple Comodities as they are principally
directed to apply to giue notice to the Collony in Virginia that the
Company here will hereafter expect to be § re§paid for such servantℯ as
they shall send ouer to them for Apprentizes in no other Comoditie
butt Corne, Silk Coddℯ, Silkgrass, Hemp Flax and such other Staple
Comodities, wherin hee that shall excell and abound moste by his
good husbandry shalbe respected and rewarded therafte wth the first
choyce of such youths and servants as shalbe sent thither for their
vse this next Springe, ffor wch cause hee wished that a Comittee of
Marchants skillfull in these p̱ticularr Comodities might be appoynted
to sett such indifferent good rates and prizes vppon them now att first
as might not onely make the Company here savors therby butt give
the Planters allso better encouragment to improve and raise the same
aboundantlie by their industry & labour Whervppon the Courte
nominated these Comittees vizd.

         

mr Abraham Chamberlin.
mr Deputie.	mr Edwardℯ.
mr Mellinge.	mr Cranmer.
mr Wiseman.	mr Blande.
mr Keightley.	& mr Casewell, who are

desyred against the next Courte to returne their answere.

A moc̃on made that mr Markham Bookeeper might have some reward
for his paines extraordinary in the service of this Company for wch
hee was referred to the Courte by the Auditors to examine and make
reporte therof accordingly.

Mr Spruson is desyred to bringe his Accompts concerninge the North
erne Fishinge vnto the next Courte to be Audited wherof mr Webb is
likewise willed to give Sr Thomas Smith present notice.

Vppon the humble Petic̃on of Sr Richard Worsleep knight Baronett
Nathaniell Basse gent, Iohn Hobson gentleman, Antho: Oleuan
Richard Wiseman, Robert Newland, Robert Gyuer and William
Wellis Associates and fellow Adventurers wth Capt: Christopher
Lawne deceased the Courte was pleased to graunt vnto them and their
heirs a confirmac̃on of their Old Pattent with all manner of pryve-
ledges therin conteyned, and that the said Plantac̃on shall from hence
forth be called the Ile of Wightℯ Plantac̃on, Provided that the heirs
[161] of the said Christopher Lawne be no way p̢iudiced therby; And
in regard of the late mortalitie of the personns transported heretofore
by the said Captaine Lawne the Courte hath likewise given them till
Midsomer 1625 to make vp the nomber of their said p̱sonns
menc̃oned in their former Pattents.

Wheras by a former order of Courte in Ivne last vppon the humble
petic̃on of William Wellis in the behalfe of the Executors of Christ:
Lawne deceased in regard of the great losse and charge that the said
mr Lawne in his life time hath bin putt vnto and susteyned in his
pryvate Plantac̃on Itt was agreed to allowe him the passage of two
men wch they agreed esteemed to be twelue pounds, wch monny was
thought fitt should be paid by mr Webb Husband of the Company butt
of the monney paid him by two Passengers transported in the last
Ship to Virginia.

Mr Golde parte Owner of the Falcon made a request vnto the Com-
pany that the remaynder of the fraight of the said Ship might be paid
vnto him, seeinge ther was notice given by word of mouth that shee
was aryved in Virginia, Whervppon the Court thought fitt that accord-
inge to his Charter parte itt should be payd wch was vppon Certificate
vnder the Gouernors hand of the Arivall of the said Ship and deliuery
of ye Goods and Cattle transported in her.

Captaine Mathew Somers haveinge peticoned that hee might enijoy
the inheritance of his Uncle Sr George Somerℯ Lands in Virginia the
quantitie of 30000 Acres alotted vnto his said vncle in recompence of
his service and disbursments beinge as hee alleadgeth 1100li; The
Courte ordered that if hee could make itt appeare that so much was
due vnto his said Uncle (as hee had informed) hee should have right
done vnto him accordinglie.

The rest of the Petic̃ons were referred to the next Courte to be read
and ordered. [162]