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The most Humble amswere of such of ye Virginia Company as could at
present be assembled to ye Right Honorable ye Lords of ye Counsell
touchinge their Lops: proposition for ye importinge of all goods from
Virginia into England.

They will take itt as a most singular favor yt they may enioy their former lib-
erty for bringinge their Comodities into England and transportinge them els-
where; Butt to be bound to bringe in all their Comodities and to pay Custome
here for all (howesoever markettℯ rule abrode) in that they humble desire to
be p̱doned and most earnesttly beseech yor Lops: they may not be compelled for
these subsequent reasons and divers other waightie consideracons.

1.

• Itt is libertie and freedome that his Mats: Subiectℯ through out his Dominions
  doe generally practise and enioye to be free to carry their Comodities to the
  best Markettℯ.

2.

• Itt is agreater restraint then the Muscouie or any other auncient Corpora-
  c̃on hath vnto whose greatest pryveledges and im̃unities by his Mats gracious
  Letters Patentℯ they are enhabled and equalled.[267]

3.

• The same Company have graunted divers Sub patentℯ wth ye same p̢viledges
  as they themselvs enioy wherby some of the Pattentees have been induced to
  goe in p̱sonn beinge men of noble and worthy families to expend great Soms
  of monny in the Plantac̃on and some other their wholl estates and itt is nott in
  the Companies power now to revoake or restraine them without a generall dis-
  hartninge of all present and future Adventurors.

4.

• Many Comodities doe now beginn and are like to arise in Virginia that will
  not be vendible in England as namely Fish Cauearie, Pipestause, quantities of
  Sassafras, and Sarsaparilla and the meaner sorte of Tobacco, wch in other for-
  raigne p̱ts will yeild some thinge butt beinge brought hither will not yeild nor
  discharge the Custome.

5.

• They doe not conceive that they have power to dispose of the goods of Pry-
  vate Planters in Virginia who are free and have merited by their long and
  hard service all manner of freedome and encourragment.

6.

• Nor to forbid them to trade and barter their Comodities freely wth such
  Ships as carry Passengers most of wch afterwards p̳ceedℯ on other Voyadges
  and returne not ∥directly∥ for England.

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7.

• They have begunn a Trade from Ireland to Virginia wherby the Colony is
  supplyed wth Cattle and other necessaries from thence and have passed their
  Contractℯ, to repay them in Tobacco, wch if they shalbe compelled to bring
  hither, the Trade is like to p̱ish in the verie begininge to the exceedinge pre-
  iudice of the Colony, whose wantℯ wee know not how to supply, but by these and the like means our Stocke beinge exhausted by these two last years great
  and large Supplies.

8.

• Lastly itt is not in our power to conclude this great buisiness wherin aboue a
  thousand Adventurors here in England and almost fower thousand Inhabitantℯ
  in Virginia have theire interest.

ffor the rest they humbly beseech Yor Lops: to beleive that they affect no for
raigne Trades with any neighbour nation more then in case of necessitie and
for the better susteyninge and advancement of the Coloney: Butt shall always
endeavor such a mutuall trade between Englande and Virginia as shall stand
with the honor and benefitt of both: And soe humbly desire yor Lordships
to conceive of them, that next Godℯ Glory they cheifly ayme att the good of
this Kingdome the advancement of his Mats honor and speedy encrease of his
higness profitt and revennue.

ffor wch ends they have out of their owne pryvate states (besides their labor
and time) expended aboue one hundred Thousand poundℯ withoutt returne
either of profitt or of any p̱t of the principall it selfe to any one of the [268]
Adventurors to their knowledge, and yett doubt not but by Gods blessinge
his Mats: accustomed gracious favour and yor Lops fau Honorable furtherance
in short time to bringe this great worke to a good p̱fecc̃on.

This Answere beinge reade and throughly debated the Court did
well approve of and ther vppon desyred some of the Company would
be pleased to accompany mr Deputy to p̢sent itt to their ll͠ps: as the
Acte of the Company.