University of Virginia Library

CIX. "Treasuror, Councell, and Company for Virginia."
A Broadside
May 17, 1620

By the Treasuror, Councell and Company for Virginia.

THE Treasuror, Councell and Company for Virginia, to the Gouernour
of Virginia, and the Councell of Estate there residing, Greeting. We haue
to our great griefe receiued aduertisement of the mortality, which this last
yeere hath there wrought vpon the People, to the consumption of diuers
hundreds, and almost the vtter destruction of some particular Plantations.
And although we cannot herein but with much humility acknowledge the
iust finger of Almighty God, by this seuerity of chastisement, to recall vs
and you from those grieuous transgressions, which draw downe, euen from
clemency itselfe, such necessary punishments; and accordingly aduise you,
together with our selues, to humble vs in due contrition, before his mercifull
hand; and by future amendment, in better attending the Diuine worship,
and more carefully obseruing his holy and iust Lawes, to worke a recon-
ciliation, and to entreate the renewing of his most gracious fauour towards
vs. Yet obseruing on the other side, that this mortality hath proceeded
from a disease in it selfe not mortall, and accordingly hath most wrought
vpon the new Plantations, who (contrary to our hopes and intended pro-
uisions) were destitute of those meanes, which should haue relieued and
cherished them in their weakenesse and sicknesse, of which the ancienter
Inhabitants being prouided, did recover: We therfore, according vnto our
place and Christian duty, taking into our carefull considerations the
redresse and preuention of these defects in all future times: That both the
Colony may better attend the seruice of God, and that the people now sent,
and which hereafter shall come, may be the better prouided against that,
and the like sicknesses, (seing in the health of the People, consisteth the
very life, strength, encrease, and prosperity of the whole generall Colony)
doe with mature deliberation and vnanime consent, ordaine and establish
as hereafter followeth.

First, we ordaine and require, that in conuenient time, after the sight
and publication hereof, the foure ancient generall Burroughs, called Iames
City, Henrico, Charles City, and Kicowtan, (which hereafter shall be called
Elizabeth City, by the name of his Maiesties most vertuous and renowned
Daughter,) as also the other seuerall particular Plantations, shall each of
them, at their common charge, labour, and industry, frame, build, and
perfect, with all things thereto belonging, a common house, to bee called
a Guest house, for the lodging and entertaining of fifty persons in each,
vpon their first arriuall. Of which houses, to be raised in due and whole-
some places, each shall be sixteene foot broad within, and nine score foot
long, (vnlesse it seeme good to diuide that length into two houses:) And
in each of them shall be set vp all along on the one side, fiue and twenty
Bedsteads of foure foot broad, sixe foot long, and two foot height from the
ground in equall distance, and with partitions of Boords betweene them:
And there shall be raised in each of thẽ in conuenient places, fiue
Chimnies. These houses we also require to be strongly built for continu-
ance, with windowes well placed for wholesomnes of aire. And although
it were reason that each Burrough should beare the charge of such an house
entirely, being for the health and safety of their people: Yet for their
better encouragement, we haue, and by these presents doe grant and giue
to each Burrough, in consideration and aide of that worke, two Kine or
Heifers, to be deliuered at our charges, for the beginning of a stocke of
cattell, for their common or Burrough Land, by vs formerly granted.

And to the end that the People, both present and to come, may be
faithfully brought vp in the true knowledge and seruice of Almighty God,
and so learne to frame their liues and conuersations, as not onely, not to
prouoke the Diuine indignation, which pursueth the faithlesse and diso-
bedient soules by sundry kinds of punishment to euerlasting destruction:
but also by their good example, to allure the Heathen people to submit
themselues to the Scepter of Gods most righteous and blessed Kingdome,
and so finally to ioyne with them in the true Christian profession: We doe
hereby ordaine and require, that in euery Burrough there be prouided and
placed at the least one godly and learned Minister, to be chosen in each
particular Plantation by the seuerall Aduenturers and Planters; And for
the foure ancient Burroughs, to be prouided and nominated by vs, and our
Successors; As also for the Tenants and Inhabitants of the Companies

Land wheresoeuer: Leauing alwaies to the Gouernour to prouide a Minister
for his Tenants, and to the Colledge for theirs. All which Ministers and
their Successors, we earnestly pray and require to apply themselues with
all diligence, to the training vp of their charge in the way of righteousnesse,
as the same is now professed, and by Law established in this Church of
England, and other his Maiesties Dominions, auoiding all factions, and
needlesse Nouelties, tending onely to the disturbance of peace and vnity.
And wheras we haue ordained heretofore, that one hundred acres of
Glebe land be set out and allotted for euery Minister, besides other profits
out of the Inhabitants encrease: We doe hereby also ordaine, that the said
Ministers be furnished, each with sixe Tenants, towards the occupying of
his Glebe land: which sixe, for the Ministers belonging to the publike
lands; that is to say, the Gouernours, Colledges, and Companies Land,
shall bee sent and furnished wholly at the common charges of the Company.
And for the Burroughs, as well the ancient, as those of particular Planta-
tions, the Company is content to furnish out at their charges, three Tenants
for each, vpon condition that the seuerall Burroughs furnish out three
more: which sixe, for each Minister being once so furnished, the Ministers
themselues shall be afterwards charged each to maintaine that number at
the least, and so to leaue them to his Successor.

And for as much as it is apparant to all vnderstanding minds, that the
wealth, happinesse and stability of each particular Estate, is founded
vpon the strength and prosperity of the publike, (the publike hauing been
of late yeeres wholly decayed and ruined, to the inestimable losse and
detriment of the whole Plantation, we haue carefully endeuoured to restore
and set vp in greater height than euer, as by the supplies of sixe hundred
persons for publike vse, now, and lately sent, will manifestly appeare:) We
therfore vpon assured trust and confidence, that not onely your selues,
the Gouernour and Councell, but the whole body of the Colonie, and euery
member therof, taking into due consideration, how much the life and
health of the publike Tenants may import them all, as well for their ease
of publike burthens, as for support of publike Iustice, good order & gouern-
ment, will by all meanes apply themselues to the entertaining and prouiding
for them so vpon their first arriuall, as that not onely their liues and healths
bee not indangered as heretofore; but that also they may cheerfully set
in hand, with the workes and labours directed and prepared for them; doe

earnestly pray and require both you, and them all, that all other businesse
of lesse importance laid aside, they immediatly affoord all possible assist-
ance, for the raising of houses and conuenient lodgings for them, with
other necessary reliefe and succour: Wherein whatsoeuer they shall doe
louingly and freely of their owne voluntary accord, we shall with due
thankes accept it at their hands, (desiring that particular notice be giuen
to vs thereof) and for that which is to be done by them, aboue that pro-
portion, there shall be recompence made of as many dayes workes by those
publike Tenants, at the next possible opportunity; thinking it equall neither
to refuse any helpe for the publike, nor yet to charge the priuate aboue their
contents and abilities. And although we haue absolute power deriued
from his Maiesty, to establish and enioyne by order the performance
hereof: yet seeing this aide is to bee yeelded but this once, (the publike
Tenants being henceforward to prepare for all new supplies) we haue
thought better by request, to try the loue of the Colony, than their
obedience by command.

Lastly, for as much as it is become very apparant (which we haue often
heretofore foreseene and forewarned) that the applying so altogether the
planting of Tobacco, and the neglect of other more solid commodities,
haue not only redounded to the great disgrace of the Countrey, and detri-
ment of the Colony; but doth also in point of profit, greatly deceiue them
which haue trusted to it: We therefore endeuouring to reforme this errour,
and to restore due reputation to that Land and people, haue with great
care and charge (assisted also with some particular Plantations) endeuoured
to set vp sundry reall Commodities, and other some we haue thought fit
to recommend to your care to prosecute. First, Iron, being of most
necessary vse for the Colony. For the making whereof, we now furnish
out 150. persons, to set vp three Iron-workes, with all Materials and other
prouisions therunto belonging. Secondly, for Cordage; we much com-
mend the order taken by your selues, for the planting of Silk-grasse there
naturally growing, which we desire may be in the greatest abundance
possible, as conceiuing it to be of chiefe importance both for vse and profit.
Thirdly, for Pitch and Tarre, we aduise and require, that the Polackers be
returned in part to these their works, with such other assistance as shall
be necessary. The like we shall desire for Pot-ashes and Sope-ashes, when
there shall be fit store of hands to assist them: Requiring in the meane

time, that care be generally taken, that Seruants and Apprentices be so
trained vp in these works, as that the skill doe not perish together with the
Masters. The Fourth commodity recommended, is Timber of all sorts,
with Masts, Plancks, and Boords, for prouisions of shipping, and sundry
other Materials of much vse and benefit. And to the ease and encrease
of diuers of those works, prouision is now sent, for the erecting of Sawing-
Milles, which may fill the whole Colony also with Plancks and Boords, to
their great ease and helpe in setting vp their Buildings. The fifth, is Silke,
for which that Countrey is exceeding proper, hauing innumerable store of
Mulbery trees of the best. For the setting vp of which commodity, his
Maiesty hath been graciously pleased, now the second time (the former
hauing miscarried) to bestow vpon the Company plenty of Silk-worme-feed
of his owne store, being the best to be had; which together with such other,
as from other places we could procure, we haue sent to you by the DVTY,
at a seasonable time of the yere; requiring the same to be dispersed amongst
the Colony, with order for the vsing therof, and especially to keep the
Wormes from the aire of Tobacco, which is mortall to them. The sixth is
Vines, whereof the Countrey yeeldeth naturally great store, and of diuers
sorts, which by culture will bee brought to excellent perfection. For the
effecting whereof, diuers skilfull Vignerons heretofore, and some now are
sent, with store also from hence of Vine-plants of the best sort. And
here by the way we aduise and desire, that Men of those Sciences, which
are not naturall to vs, be extraordinarily cherished and encouraged in their
workes: seeing if they should faile, it would be difficult to supply them.
The last commodity, but not of least importance for health, is Salt: the
workes whereof hauing been lately suffered to decay; we now intending to
restore in so great plenty, as not onely to serue the Colony for the present,
but as is hoped, in short time, the great fishings on those Coasts (a matter
of inestimable aduancement to the Colony) doe vpon mature deliberation
ordaine as followeth: First, that you the Gouernour and Councell, doe
chuse out of the Tenants for the Company, 20. fit persons to be imployed
in Salt workes, which are to be renewed in Smiths Iland, where they were
before; as also in taking of Fish there, for vse of the Colony, as in former
time was also done. These 20. shall be furnished out at the first, at the
charges of the Company, with all implements and instruments necessary
for those workes. They shall haue also assigned to each of them, for
their occupation or vse, 50. acres of Land, within the same Iland, to be
the Land of the Company. The one moyty of Salt, Fish, and profits of
the Land, shall be for the Tenants, and the other for vs the Company, to
be deliuered into our Store: and this contract shall be to continue for fiue
yeeres. Wee doe also hereby grant and ordaine, that if any of the old
Burroughs, or other particular Plantations, shall be pleased to concurre
in the same workes of making Salt, and taking Fish, they shall be admitted
thereunto to the number of twenty persons or vnder, for euery Burrough
or Plantation, with the like Grants as before, & with the same Diuisions of
profit, betweene them and their Landlords, as is before set downe betweene
the Company and their Tenants. These being the commodities (for
Corne and Cattell we passe ouer, being onely for sustenance of the people)
which we desire to haue set vp with all care and diligence, as well for
necessary vse and profit, as for the honour and reputation of the Countrey
and Colony; and for the aduancing of which, we haue spared neither care
nor cost, which on our parts was requisite to our best vnderstandings: It
remaineth, that we earnestly pray and desire you, that you also on your
parts correspond with vs in the like. And if any thing (as in so manifold
businesse) shall happen on our behalfe, to haue been omitted or vnprouided,
that you endeuour to supply it with all such helpe as may there be had:
For vnworthy he were to be a member of that body, that would not lend
his hand to the setting vp of workes so necessary and profitable, and whereof
himselfe may in short time be a partaker. And whatsoeuer in that kind
shall bee done through our desire, we assure you, shall be acknowledged
and recompenced by vs to their iust content. Giuen in a great and generall
Court held for Virginia, the 17. day of May, 1620. and in the yeere of the
Raigne of our Soueraigne Lord Iames, by the grace of God, King of England,
Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. viz. of England,
Scotland, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the three
and fiftieth.

God saue the King.