University of Virginia Library

Att a Courte helde in ye afternoone
ye 13th of December 1620;

Present.

                       

	Sr Edwin Sandys.
	Sr Iohn Dauers.
	Sr Phillip Carye.
mr Iohn Wroth.	mr Earle.	mr Robertℯ.
mr Gibbes.	mr Berblocke.	mr Bull.
mr Herbert.	mr Stewarde.	mr Mellinge.
mr Smith.	mr Palauacine.	mr Cuffe.
mr Depty Ferrar.	mr Tomlynℯ.	mr Boothbie.
mr Sheppard.	mr Wheatley.	mr Couell.
mr Nicho: Ferrar.	mr Maisterson.	mr Rolph.
mr Bland.	mr Swinhowe.	mr Combes.
mr Casewell.	mr Challoner.	wth divers others.

Sr Edwin Sandys signified vnto this Courte that my Lo: of South-
ampton vppon some important occasions could not be present this
afternoone butt had all that parte of the day for many howers to-
gether taken extraordinary paines in a buisines that concerned them

very much wherof they should afterward have a good Account as-
soone as they hadd further p̱ceeded therin and brought the same to
some better issue.

Hee further signified that they had receaved further certificate of the
saffe Arivall of all their Ships sent the last Springe, as namely the
Frauncis Bona Venture wth all their people save one, the Tryall and
Faulcon wth all their Passengers the London Marchaunt with all hers
the Duty with all save one, And soe likewise the Swann of Barnstable,
butt the Ionathan in her tedious passage of 200 had lost 16: Soe that
by this last supply they had landed in Virginia in all well neere the
nomber of 800: persons for wch greate blessinge (wth the loss of soe
fewe) hee rendred vnto the almightie all possible thankℯ. [176]

Wheras itt was conceived that ther was a mistake in setting downe
an order of the Summer Ilandℯ Company att the laste Courte by
incertinge a Prouiso to exclude such from haveinge 100 Acres p̱
Share as shall not pay in their monny ratably accordinge to subscrip-
c̃on by the settinge outt of the first Voyadge that the Adventurers
shall agree vppon for the advanceinge of that Plantac̃on, Itt was now
desyred that the said clause might still stand in force least otherwise
those that did drawe backe after others had discouered the Countrie
might against all reason challenge as great an interest as they yt had
beene att all the charge and Coste, for wch considerac̃on itt was agreed
and ordered that the said clause should still remayne in force.

Gabriell Wisher haveinge presented himselfe vnto the Courte with
offer of his service for procuringe of men skillfull in divers Comodi-
ties out of Sweadland and Poland att an easie charge soe hee might
have his Mats: ɫres to the Kinge of Sweadland to that purpose itt was
aunswered that they held itt vnfitt to trouble his Matie wth soe meane
a sute; And for as much as they conceaved that the Charge of pro-
cureinge men that way howe gainefully soever would be too great
and to high a rate for them, resolved therfore to take some other
Course by recommendinge the care herof to some Marchantℯ tradinge
into those p̱ts who might provide them wth a farr less charge, In the
the meane time the Company would content themselvs wth those

they hadd allredie in Virginia whome they would supply wth more
helpinge hands, which was the thinge they cheiflie desyred.

Mr Deputie signified that itt pleased my Lord of Southamptõ to write
verie effectually to the Lord Maior of the Cittie for a certaine num-
ber of Children as was desyred by a former order of Courte: And
therfore moved that a Comittee might be appoynted to sollicite the
Lord Maior for aunswere of the said ɫre for wch purpose the Courte
nominated these followinge, vizdt: mr Smith, mr Swinhoe mr Casswell,
mr Chambers, and mr Palmer.

Mr Doctor Bohune haveinge desyred yt hee might be a Phisition gen-
erall for the Company accordinge to such Condic̃ons as were formerly
sett downe by way of Articles vnto which place [177] they had alotted
five hundred Acres of Land and twenty Tennants to be placed ther
vppon att the Companies charge. The Courte was pleased to accept
of his humble sute for that place & imployment and therfore ordered
that hee should have tenn men provided forth with to goe now with
him, and tenn more should be sent in this next springe wch should be
transported att the Companies charge and furnished as other of the
Tennantℯ be, Provided that xxtie Teñntℯ beinge thereon established
and made good for one whole year after their landinge, the said Doctor
Bohune do after if any of them Dye coveñnt to supply and maynteyne
from time to time vppon the said Land, And att his decease or other-
wise surrender of the said place, leave the like number of men and
Stock of Cattle as are by order of Courte to the said Office allowed
and appoynted. And as for other p̱ticulars touchinge his Contract
wth the Company the Courte hath referred him to the Comittees who
are desyred to treate and conclude wth him aboute the same.

Mr Deputy signified that hee had receaved good store of Silkworme
seed both out of Fraunce, Italy, and Spaine, and doubted not of much
more verie shortlie, soe that their greatest want was of men skillfull in
the orderinge of them, wherof they hadd some hope err longe to procure
some out of Fraunce by the help of mr Chamberline a man very care-
full in yt buisines In the meane time hee acquainted the Courte wth
one yt mr Darnelly had p̳cured for them beinge the servant of mr

Iespar Stallenge who had these five years togeather been brought vp
in tendinge of the Kingℯ Silkewormes vnder his said mr: wherby hee
was become very skillfull in breedinge of the wormes and in wyndinge
of their Silke, and was allso a good Gardner and that his said mr was
verie willinge that hee should goe to Virginnia to be imployed in the
service of the Compa: for three years (wch time hee had yett to serve
of his Apprentiship) vppon Condic̃on that the Company would please
in Considerac̃on of his said time to give his said mr xxli wch offer the
Courte thought verie reasonable [178] and beinge putt to the question
was generally assented vnto Provided that in those three years hee
would vndertake to instruct others that should learne of him suffi-
ciently in the premises.

Hee further signified that the first p̱t of the french Booke concern-
inge the makinge of fitt roomes to keepe Silkwormes and the manner
of plantinge Mulberie Trees to feed was now allmost fynished as like-
wise the valuac̃on of the seuerall Comodities to be had in Virginia
ordered heretofore to be affixed vnto the saide booke would in few
daies be together ready to be printed.[675]

Itt was moved that for the better encourragmt of such of the old
Planters as had exceeded others in buildinge of fitt houses for Silk-
wormes and in plantinge Mulberie Trees and Vynes accordinge to a
former dyrecc̃on in that behalfe, might have the advantage before
others in the first and best choyce of such Apprentizes as should
shortlie be sent vnto them the rather to stirr vpp others hereby to
contend for the like favour & reward hereafter, and for recompence
of the great charge the Company here shall be att to furnish the said
Apprentices well in deed, and for sendinge them ouer to the Planters,
Itt was likewise moved that their Maisters might be enioyned to repay
them againe within one yeare[677] (no whitt in tobacco) but in a good
quantity of Corne, Silke, Silkgrasse and other such Comodities and
that at the same rates, as were perticularly sett doune vnto them in a
booke conteyninge their severall valuac̃ons. And that significac̃on
hereof might be given in the Counsells letters to the Gouernor, wth

further intimac̃on of a Charter intended to be passed att the next
Quartr Court to that effect: wch proposic̃ons the Court did generally
agree vnto and ordered for performance of the same accordingly.

Sr Edwin Sandys moved, that whereas the bringing over of Sassaphras
in so great aboundance, had brought the price thereof to so lowe a
rate, as it was now worth little; ffor remeady whereof [(] if the Court
so thought fitt) they would make an offer to the Company in Virginia
to compound wth them for the same: wch being brought over in a lesse
quantity and all into one warehouse might be araysed to a better value,
whereof the benifitt should be duely answeared to them againe [in]
ordinance Powder Shott, and other such munition, for their better
[179] Strength and safety: And that they would signifie so much in ye
Counsells letter to the Gouernor wch motion was well approved of,
and therevpon it was ordered that it might be effected accordingly.

It was likewise moved that some might be appointed to drawe the
said Counsellℯ letter vnto the Gouernor wch was to goe wth the Shippe
now bound for Virginia: wherevpon the Courte entreated Sr Edwin
Sandys to take some paines therein as he had often formerly donne
in the like kinde at wch request he was pleased to vndertake the dis-
patch thereof.

Captaine Roger Smith being desirous to goe this present voyage to
Virginia, moved that he might have the charge of some of those
people that were now sent to §be§ the Companies Tenantℯ. And
further that the Company would please to bestowe vpon him some
meanes to make him the better fitt for the said voyadge: ffor asmuch
therefore as the said Captaine Smith was recomended to be a gentle-
man very sufficient for that imployment, and in regard of his good
experience already (havinge been heretofore in Virginia about some
three yeares) might thereby doe the Company great service: The
Court was pleased for his better encouragement to giue him 30li:
freely to furnishe him wth necessaries and ordered that he should
have the com̃and of 50 persons nowe transported to be Tenantℯ vpon
the Companies land.

The said Captaine Smith further moved in the behallf of a younge
Scholler desirous to goe wth him this present voyadge that he might
be admitted preacher to the people now sent: The Courte herevpon
agreed to give him a text to preach vpon about a fortnight hence in
the handling whereof if they found him a sufficient Scholler, he
should be entertayned accordingly.

Captain Maddison having been heretofore twelue yeares togeather in
Virginia, and there imployed by Sr Thomas Dale (the Gouernor) in
discovering the said Countrye and severall Rivers therein: did nowe
petic̃on that he might retourne to the Colony and proceed in a further
discouering of Comodious places for habitac̃on wthin the Land The
Court herevpon ordered that he should be treated wth by the Com-
ittees both for the manner of his discovery as also to make it to
appeare what the Charge thereof wilbe vnto the Company.[684] [180]

A motion beinge made on the behalfe of Captaine Som̃ers for con-
firminge vnto him such lands as was due vnto his vncle Sr George
Sum̃ers for his adventure wch appeared by Accountℯ to be 470li: and
whereas further also, there was demaunded a proporc̃on of land for
the personall adventure of the said George Sum̃ers and in requitall of
his other good service: To the first request the Court made answeare
that it could not be denied him: but for the second it was not in the
power of any other but a Quarter Court, to give any proporc̃on of
land, vpon merite.

Mr Deputie signified that my lord of Southampton (being to goe out
of Towne and like to be a long time absent) desired that Sr Edwin
Sandys might be authorized by order of Courte to giue his hand for
receiptℯ of money to the vse of the Company: wch was generally
assented vnto and ordered that wth their good approbac̃on he should
be herevnto authorised accordingly.