Ashmolean Manuscripts, 1147, folios 175–190a. A contemporary copy
Document in Bodleian Library, Oxford University
List of Records No. 10
1
Hauinge considered the greate sufficiency and zealous affecc̃on wch you
Sr Thomas Gates haue many waies manifested vnto vs, and hauinge
therefore by our Commission vnder or handℯ and seales constituted and
ordayned you to be the governor of Virginia, wee his Matie Counsell for
that plantac̃on, haue consulted and advised vppon diuers instrucc̃ons for
yor safer and more delib̴ate p'ceedinge, therein, And therefore doe requier
and charge §you§ accordinge to the Comission in that behalf Directed vnto
you, presently with all convenient speede to take the charge and of our
fleete Consistinge of eight good shippes and one Pinnace and of sixe
hundred land men to be transported vnder yor Com̃aund, and with the
first winde to sett sayle for virginia. And in yor passage thither you shall
not land nor touch any of §the Kinge of§ Spaines his Dominions quetly
possessed, without the leaue or licence of the governor of such place as
you shal by accident or contrary windes, be forced into. You shall also
hold Counsell with the Mrs and Pilotts and men of the best experience
what way is safest and fittest for you to take, because we hold it daungerous
that you should keepe ye old Course of Dominico and Meins lest you fall
into ye hand of the Spaniard, who may attend in that roade [176] ready
to intercept you:
2
When it shall please god that you shall haue safely attayned the Kings
River, and our Porte and seate of James Towne in Virginia, wee advise
you to call §by§ proclamac̃on into some publique place, all the governors,
officers, and other his Maties subiects aswell already seated there as
transported with you, to whom you shall cause yor Commission to be
directly reade, whereby significac̃on may be had of his Maties pleasure in
establishinge you ye governor of that Countrey and plantac̃on, and the
president Councell and Colony there may take notice of the revocac̃on of
that fourme of governement by the first ɫres Patents constituted and Con-
firmed, and accordingly yeald due obedience vnto you their governor
Kings river
James Towne
Porte.
3
You shall demaund then and resume into yor hands the former ɫres
Pattents and all instrucc̃ons & publique instruments giuen or sent vnto
them and all bookes and records whatsoeuer of ye generall p̳ceedings
vntill this time, and dispose of them in the future accordinge to yor
discrec̃on.
4
Beinge setled in yor governement, you shall call vnto you, for yor
further advise and grauer p̳ceedinge, their principall officers and gentle-
men whom we do ordaine and appointe to be of ye coũcell and who for
earliness of their vndertakingℯ and their greate paines and merits doe well
deserue this honor & respect from vs. Sr George Sum̃ers knight and
Admirall of Virginia, Captaine John Smyth nowe President, Captaine
John Radclif, Captaine Peter winne Seiriant maior of the fort, Mr
Mathewe Scrivenor whom out of our good experience of his abilities in
that kinde we doe name and appointe to be secretary of that Councell,
Captaine John Martine Captaine Richard Waldoe, Mr of the workes [177]
Captaine Woode and Mr Fleetwoode whom we assure ourselves you will
vse with all good respecte in their places and to whome wee expecte that
you shall giue such other preferrements as their former paines have
deserued, and in all matters of importance we require you to call them to
consultac̃on and to p̳ceede therein wth their advice, and wee doe giue
further power and authority to you, to giue the Oathe of a Counsellor to
such as are now named, or any other oathe in the like case, accordinge to
yor direcc̃on. Provided that they shall not haue, single nor together,
anie bindinge or negatiue voice or power vppon yor conclusions but doe
giue you full authority, vppon iust occasion to sequester any of them from
the execuc̃on of any place whatsoeuer, and to depute another thereunto
vntill significac̃on vnto vs be here made:
officers
Councel of Vir-
gin: in Virginia
Oth of a counsel-
our
others.
5
You shall haue power and authority to dispose and graunte any other
officer or Com̃aunds whatsoeuer, either of governement or warr except
such as are already disposed of by vs to any p̱sons of Rancke or merite
(Adventurers beingℯ first regarded), accordinge to yor discrec̃on and so
discharge or revoke the same or to sequester any so made or constituted
by vs.
offices of governe-
m
t, or warre.
6
You shall take principall order and Care for the true and reverent wor-
ship of god that his worde be duely preached and his holy sacraments
administred accordinge to ye constituc̃ons of the Church of England in
all fundamentall pointes, and his ministers had in due observance and
respecte agreeable to the dignity of their callinge. And that all Atheisme
Prophanes Popery of or Schisme be exemplarily punished to the honor of
god and to the peace and safety of his Church, over wch, in this tendernes
and infancy, you must be especially solicitous & watchefull.
7
You shall, with all p̳pensenes and diligence, endeavour the conversion
of the natiues to the knowledge and worship of the true §god§ of and
their redeemer Christ Jesus, as the most pious and noble end of this [178]
plantac̃on, wch the better to effect you must p̳cure from them some con-
venient nomber of their Children to be brought vp in yor language, and
manners, and if you finde it convenient, we thinke it reasonable you
first remoue from them their Iniocasockes or Priestes by a surprise of
them all and detayninge them prisoners, for they are so wrapped vp in
the fogge and miserie of their iniquity, and so tirrified with their continuall
iniquity tirrany Chayned vnder the bond of Deathe vnto the Divell that
while they liue amounge them to poyson and infecte them their mio
mindes, you shall neuer make any greate progres into this glorious worke,
nor haue any Civill peace or concurre with them. And in case of necessity,
or conveniency, we p̳nounce it not crueltie nor breache of Charity to
deale more sharpely with them and to p̳ceede even to dache with these
murtherers of Soules and sacrificers of gods images to the Divill referringe
the considerac̃on of this as a waighty matter of important consequence
to the Circumstances of the busines and place in yor discrec̃on
Conversion of Vir-
ginians
8.
You shall for capitall and Criminal Iustice in Case of Rebellion and
mutiny and in all such cases of p̳ñt necessity, p̳ceede by Martiall lawe
accordinge to yor comission as of most dispatch and terror and fittest
for this governement and in all other causes of that nature as also in all
matters of Civill Iustice you shall finde it p̳perest and vsefullest for yor
governement to p̳ceede rather as a Chauncelor then as a Iudge rather
vppon the naturall right and equity then vppon the nicenes §and ɫre§ of
the lawe wch perplexeth in this tender body) rather then dispatcheth all
Causes so that a Sum̃ary and arbitrary way of Iustice discreetely mingled
with those gravities and [fourmes] of magistracy as shall in yor discrec̃on
seeme aptest for you and that place, wilbe of most vse both for expedic̃on
and for example:
[179] 9
You shall for the more regard and respect of yor place, to begett
reverence to yor authority, and to refresh their mindes that obey the
gravity of those lawes vnder wch they were borne, at yor discrec̃on vse
such fourmes and Ensignes of governement as by our letters Pattents wee
are enabled to grant vnto you. as also the attendance of a guarde vppon
your p̱son, and in all such like cases you shall haue power to make, adde
or distinguishe any lawes or ordinances at yor discrec̃on accordinge to
the authority limited in yor Comission.
Garde for the
Governors p̱son
10
You shall, for the place choice of plantac̃ons obserue two generall
rulles that you rather seeke to to the sũn then from it, wch is vnder god
the first cause both of health and Riches. And that also §such§ places
wch you resolue to build and inhabite vppon, haue at the leaste one good
outlett into the Sea, & fresh water to the land, that it be a dry and whol
wholesome earth, and as free from woode as possiblie you may, whereby
you may haue Roome to discouer aboute you and vnshady ground to
plant, nere you
11
You must in euery plantac̃on principally p̳vide of yor owne a Com̃on
Graunge and Storehowse of Corne, besides that wch you shall obtaine
by tribute or trade with the natiues:
Granges or
Storehowse
Tribute
12
In the distribuc̃on of yor men accordinge to these advises and relac̃ons
wch wee haue receaued, we advise you to continue the Plantac̃on at James
Towne with a Convenient nomber of men, but not as yor situac̃on or
Citty, because the place is vnwholsome and but in the Marish of Virginia,
and to keepe it onely as a fitt porte for yor Shippes to ride before to ariue
and vnlade att, butt neither shall you make it yor principall Storehowse
or Magazin either of armes victualls or goods, but because but because
it is so accessable, with shippinge that an enemy may be easily vppon
you with all the provision and §of§ ordinance and munic̃on and it is not
to be expected that anie fortificac̃on [180] there can endure an enemy that
hath the leasure to sitt downe before yt:
13
The place you chose for yor principall Residence and seate to haue
yor Catle p̳visions of Corne foode and Magazin of other munic̃on in, as
yor greatest strength trust and retraite, must be remoued some good
distance from any navigable riuer except with small boates by wch no
enemy shall dare to seeke yor habitac̃on and if in this place some good
and fortificac̃on be made to wch no ordinance can be brought by water,
if you be p̳vided of victuall you may dispute possession till a straunger
be wearied and starved.
14
Aboue the ouer falles of the Kinges Riuer it is likely you shall finde
some convenient place to this purpose whither no enemy with ease can
approache nor with ordinance at all but by land wth at howe greate dis-
advauntage he shall seeke when [he] must discouer and fight at once
vppon straightes in woodes at foordes and places of all inconveniency, is
easy to be considered, besides you shall haue the com̃odity of the braunche
of the Riuer to bringe downe your p̳visions from within the land in
Canooes and smalle boates in the Riuer of of Chechehounnack [or Cheche-
hommack], neere vnto you and not farre of another navagable outlett
into the sea by the Riuer of Pamaouke:
The falles of the
Kings river
15
Foure dayes Journey from yor forte Southewards is a towne called
Chonahorn Ohonahorn seated where the Riuer of Choanocki devideth
it self into three braunches and falleth into the sea of Rawnocke in thirtie
fiue degrees this place if you seeke by Indian guides from James forte to
Winocke by water, from thence to Manqueocke, some twenty miles from
thence to Caththega, as much and from thence to Oconahoen you shall
finde a braue and [181] fruiteful seate euery way vnaccessable by a
straunger enemy, much more abundant in Pochon and in the grasse silke
called Cour del Cherva and in vines, then any p̱te of this land knowne
vnto vs Here we suppose, if you make yor principall and cheife seate,
you shall doe most safely and Richely because you are in the part of
§the§ land inclined to the southe, and two of the best riuers will supply
you, besides you are neere to Riche Copper mines of Ritanoc and may
passe them by one braunche of this Riuer, and by another Peccarecamicke
where you shall finde foure of the englishe aliue, left by Sr Walter Rawely
wch escaped from the slaughter of Powhaton of Roanocke, vppon the
first arrivall of our Colonie, and liue vnder the protecc̃on of a wiroane
called Gepanocon enemy to Powhaton, by whose consent you shall neuer
recouer them, one of these were worth much labour, and if you finde
them not, yet seach into this Countrey it is more p̳bable then towards
the north.
Choanock river
Rawnocke
Winocke
Manqueocke
Cuthega
Oconahoen
Copp' mines
Ritanoc
Peccarecamicke
16
These three habitac̃ons seeme enoughe for the nomb̴ of the people
nowe transported, ouer euery one of wch you must trans appointe a dis-
creete Com̃aunder that shall sett yor men to seuerall workes accordinge
to their vndertakings in the bookes by wch they were receaued in euery
one of these there must be builte a Church and a storehowse and a p̱te of
land sett out for Corne for the publique and some allotted to the Care of
manuringe and preparinge thereof In buildinge yor towns you shall as
easily keepe Decorũ and order as confusion and so you shall prepare for
ornament and safety at once for euery streete may answere one another
and all of them the markett place or Storehowse in the Midle wch at the
leaste must be paved and made firme and Dry:
Three places of
habitation
[182] 17
Yor enemies can be but of two sortes straungers and natiues, for
the first yor defence must be vppon advauntage of the place and way vnto
it for fortes haue no other vse but that a fewe men may defend and dispute
their footinge with them against a greater nomb̴ and to winne time weh if
you can do a stranger cannot longe abide where he must bringe all his
releis with him, and he shall haue no way to beseidge you but by blockinge
you in and plantinge betweene you and the Sea to wch if you haue two
outeletts he must be very able and powerfull that can do it, to prevent
this you shall build some small forte that may discry the sea neere Cape
Comforte, and there hold a reasonable Garrison and keepe alwaies watch
and longe boate that may be ready to take ye alarũ and able to cary
away or men, and munition if you shall not be able to defend it. Besides
it is not safe to lett any of the Savages dwell betwene you and the Sea—
least they be made guides to yor enemies. To this Com̃aunde wee desire
Captaine Smyth may be allotted aswell for his earnest desire as the greate
confidence & trust that we haue in his care & diligence.
Small fortes
Cape comforte
18
The second enemy is the Natiues who can no way hurte you but by
fire or by destroyinge yor Catle, or hinderinge yor workes by Stealth or
yor passages in small nombers, and in this sorte of warr, there is most
p̱ill yf you be not very Carefull, for if they may destroy but one haruest
or burne yor townes in the night they will leaue you naked and exposed
to famine and Could, and convey themselues [183] into wodes, where
revenge wilbe §as§ difficult as vnnecessay as vnnecessary to prevent that
you must keepe good watches in the fielde and suffer none of them to
come nere yor corne in those daungerous seasons and continuall centinells
without the walles or vttermost Centinells defences in the night, and you
must giue order that yor Catle be kept in heards waited and attended on
by some small watch or so enclosed by them selues that they destroy not
yor corne and other seed provisions:
19
For Powhaton and his Weroances it is Clere even to reason beside our
experience that he loued not our neigbourhood and therefore you may no
way trust him, but if you finde it not best to make him yor prisoner yet
you must make him yor tributary, and all other his weroances about him
first to acknowledge no other Lord but Kinge James, and so we shall
free them all from the Tirrany of Powhaton [47]
vppon them Euery
Lord of a Province shall pay you and send you into yor forte where you
make yor Cheif residence so many measures of Corne at euery Harvest,
soe many basketts of Dye so many dozens of skins so many of his people
to worke weekely, and of euery thinge somewhat, accordinge to his p̳porc̃on
in greatenes of Territory and men, by wch meanes you shall quietly drawe
to yor selues an annuall revennue of euery Com̃odity growinge in that
Countrey and tribute this tribute payd to you for wch you shall deliuer
them from the exeac̃ons of Powhaton, wch are now burdensome and p̳tect
and defend them from all their enemies shall also be a meanes of Clearinge
much ground of wood and of reducing them to laboure and trade seinge
§for§ this rent onely, they shall enioye [184] their howses, and the rest of
their travell quietly and many other com̃odities and blessings of wch they
are yet insensible:
20
Yf you hope to winne them and to p̳vide for yor selues by trade,
you wilbe deceaued for already yor Copper is embased by yor abundance
and neglect of prisinge it, and they will never feede you but for feare.
Wherefore if you p̱ceaue that they vppon yor landinge, fly vp into the
Countrey and forsake their habitac̃on you must seise into yor custody
half there corne and harvest and their Weroances and all other their
knowne successors at once whom if you intreate well and educate those
wch are younge and to succeede in the governement in yor Manners and
Religion, their people will easily obey you and become in time Civill and
Christian:
21
Yf you make freindeship with any of these nations, as you must doe,
Choose to doe it with those that are farthest from you and enemies vnto
those amonge whom you dwell for you shall haue least occasion to haue
differences with them, and by that meanes a suerer league of Amity
And you shalbe suerer of their trade p̱tely for Covetousnes and to serue
their owne ends, where the Copper is yett in his primary estimac̃on wch
Pohaton hath hitherto engrossed and partely for feare of Constrainte.
Monocon to the east and head of our Riuer, Powhatons enemy and the
Manahockes to ye Northeast to the head of the Riuer of Moyompo in the
necke of the land to the west betweene our bay and the sea. Cathcata-
peiũs [185] a greater Weroance then he is, also his enemy to the Southeast
and South. he hath no freinde to the North. The Masawoymekes make
[con]tin continuall incursions vppon him and and vppon all those that
inhabite the Riuers of Bolus and Myomps and to the Northwest. Poco
Pocoughtuwonough infecteth him with a Terrible warr, with those you
may hold trade and freindeship good Cheape for their emotenes will
prevent all offence wch must needes happen betweene vs and them wch
we are mingled with to the north. at the head Bay is a large towne
where is store of Copper and Furres called Oatna Cataaneon that trade
and discouery wilbe to greate purpose, yf it may be setled yearely:
Monocon
Manahocke
Moyompe river
Cathcatapeins.
22
Such trade as you shall finde necessary or p̳fitable for you with the
Indians you shall endeauour to drawe them to seeke of you and to bringe
their Com̃odities into yor forte wch will greatly ease the imployment of
many men, and this you may bringe to passe by seeminge to make litle
estimac̃on of trade with them, and by pretendinge to be so able to consist
within yor. selues as that you neede care for nothinge of theires, but rather
that you doe them a Curtesy to spare such necessaries as they want as
leetle Iron tooles or copper or the like such as are conven't convenient for
traffique and so one officer or two in euery forte, whom you must onely
appointe to be truncmasters may dispatch the whole busines of trade wch
els will cost you many mens laboures, if you seeke it far from home. And
by besides these you must by proclamac̃on or edicte publiquely affixed and
prohibite and forbidd vppon paine of punishement of yor discrec̃on all
other p̱sons to trade or exchange for [186] for anythinge, but such as shalbe
necessarie for foode or clothinge and vppon all such com̃odities of yors as
shall passe away from you whatsoeuer you must sett prises and values
vnder wch the trunckemr must not trade and so you shalbe such to vphold
the reputac̃on of yor Com̃odity and to make yor traffique Rich, desired
and Certaine Ouer this Truncemr. there must be appointed a Cape merhant
Cape m'chant or officer belonginge to the Store or provision house that
must deliuer by booke all such thinges as shalbe allowed for trade and
receaue and take an accounte of whatsoeuer is retourned accordinge to
the prises therein sett and so beinge booked must store them vp, to the
publique vse of the Colony
23
You must constitute and declare some sharpe lawe with a penaltie
thereon to restrayne the trade of any p̳hibited goods especially of Swordes,
Pikeheads gunnes Daggers or any thinge of Iron that may be turned
against you and in case of such offence punishe severely haue also especially
regard that no arte or trade tendinge to armes in any wise as Smythey
Carpentry of or such like be taught the Savages or vsed in their Presence
as they may learne therein:24
Hauinge deduced yor Colony into Severall seates and plantac̃ons that
may com̃odiously answere and receiue one another you must devide yor
people into tennes twenties & so vpwards, to euery necessary worke a
competent nomber, ouer euery one of wch you must appointe some man
of Care and still in that worke to ouersee them and to take dayly accounte
of their laboures and you must ordayne yt euery ouerseer of such a nomb̴ of
workemen Deliuer once a weeke an accounte of the wholle com̃itted to
his Charge the [187] Cheife Governor or Captaine of the fourte, and that
they also once a moneth make the like accounte to you or yor officer and
that such goodes or provisions as are advanced or gotten aboue expence
may be receaued and entred into the Capemarchantes booke and so stored
and preserued to the publique vse of the Colony And thus you shall
both knowe howe yor men are imployed, what they gett & where it is,
as also the measure of yor p̳vision and wealth:
25
For such of yor men as doe shall attend any worke in or nere aboute
any §euery§ towne you shall doe best to lett them eate together at season-
able howers in some publique place beinge messed by sixe or fiue to a
messe, in wch you must see there bee equality and sufficient that so they
may come and retourne to their worke without any delay and haue no
cause to complaine of measure or to excuse their [i]dlenes vppon ye
dressinge or want of diett. You may well allowe them three howers in a
somers day and two in the winter, and shall call them together by Ringinge
of a Bell and by the same worne them againe to worke for such as attend
any labouer so farre from the forte as they cannot returne at seasonable
times there must be a Steward appointed yt shall ouersee there Diett
and p̳vision els thoughe you giue euery one a reasonable allowance for
many dayes some will eate two meales at one & soe:
26
You shall giue especiall order to ye Cheif comm̃aunder of euery forte
that the Armes powder and munition be well stored and looked into and
that the men be disposed into severall Companies for warr and Captaines
appointed ouer euery fifty to traine them at convenient times and to
teache them the vse of their armes and weapons and they may knowe
whether vppon all occasions and sudden attempts they shall repayre to
find them in a readines:
[188] 27
You must take especiall care what relac̃ons come into England
and what ɫres are written and that all thinges of that nature may be
boxed vp and sealed and sent to first to the Councell here accordinge to
a former instrucc̃on vnto the late President in that behalf directed and
that at the ariuall and retourne of euery shippinge you endeauour to
knowe all the p̱ticuler passages and informac̃ons giuen on both sides
and to advertise vs accordingly:
28
Whensoeuer you consult of any busines of importance wee advise you
to consider and deliberate all thinges patiently & willingly and to heare
euery man his oppinion and obiecc̃on, but the resultants out of them or
yor owne Determinac̃on what you intend to Doe not to imparte to any
whatsoeuer, but to such onely as shall execute it and to them also vnder
the sealle of yor com̃aundement and but at the instant of their p̱tinge
from you or the execuc̃on of yor will:
29
Next after buildinge, husbandry and manuringe the Countrey for the
p̳vision of life and conveniency, wee comend vnto yor Care foure principall
waies of enrichinge the Colonies and p̳vidinge retvrne of com̃odyty of
wch you must be very solicitouse that our fleetes come not home empty
nor laden wth vseles marchandize. The first is either discou9y either of
the southe seas or Royall mines in the search of both wch we must referre
you to the Circumstances of yor peace and yor owne discrec̃on the second
is trade whereby you recouer all the com̃odities of those countreys that
ly far of and yet are accessable by water. The third is tribute, by wch
you shall advaunce p̱te of what soeuer the next lande can p̳vide you Can
p̳duce. the fourth is labour of yor owne men in makinge wines pitche
Tarre sope ashes, Steele Iron Pipestaues in sowinge of hempe and flaxe
in gatheringe silke of the grasse, and p̳vidinge [189] the worme and in
fishinge for Pearle Codd sturgion and such like:
30
Wee require you to call before you Captaine John Radcliffe and one
[56]
webbe who hath complained by petic̃on Deliuered vnto you of
diuers iniuries and insolences done vnto him in the governement of the
sd̴ Captaine Radcliffe and accordingly to heare the cause and doe iustice
in it as you shall finde reason in it yor owne discrec̃on:31
Whereas suite hath bine made vnto vs as for the retourne of Richard
Potts, Dauid Wiffin and Post Ginnet and sufficient reasons declared to
moue vs to graunte the same wch hath bine agreed vnto by the Councell
assembled, wee require you to giue them their licence to come backe by
the next shippinge wth such condic̃ons or limitac̃ons of retorne or other-
wise as you shall thinke good:
32
Whereas Petic̃on hath bine made by the friends of John Tavernor
Capemarchant of the forte and store in Virginia for his retorne vppon
some vrgent occasion and for some time into england we require you to
licence him so to do if it be his desire when you ariue there, And we do
nominate and appointe Thomas Wittingham into his Roome and office
beinge one in whose sufficiency and honesty we haue greate Confidence:
33
There beinge one George Liste servant to John woodall and sent ouer
by him with a Chest of Cheurgery sufficiently furnished we require you to
giue yor licence to will͠m wilson his fellowe yf the said George Liste doe
stay with you to come backe in this passage the better to enfourme vs
what medicines and drugges are fittest to be p̳vided for the vse of the
colonie against ye next supply.
34
You shall be very wary of grtinge freedomes and of giuinge yor sealle
to any but vppon good considerac̃on and greate merite, least you make
Cheape the [190] best way of our recompence and in those you doe you
shall giue wth such limitac̃ons of retorne in reasonable time as in yor
discrec̃on shall seeme good:
35
If it shall please god that you should dy either in yor way or in yor
governement (wch his mercy forbid) before other order be taken by vs
therein wee requier and com̃aund that the councell there established open
a blacke boxe Marked with the figure of one and sealed with our sealle
wherein they shall finde our determinac̃on concerninge the successor to the
governemt. And do in his Maties name, Charge and Com̃aund euery p̱son
within the precincte of the Colony to giue and yeild due obedience to him
so named and appointed accordinge vnto his Com̃ission vnto him directed
as they will aunswere to ye contrary at their vttermost p̱ill:36
Wee also requier you ye present governor & all yor successors to
keepe secret to yor selues vnsealed and vnbroken vp all such ɫres schedules
and instrumts and whatsoeuer wee shall deliuer you soe vnder our sealle
especially two blacke boxes wth diuers markes wherein are our Com̃issions
in Cases of death or other vacac̃on of ye governor vntill such time as
you shall find yor self vnlikely to liue, or determined to retvrne vppon
wch occasions wee requier you that they be deliuered before all ye Councell
to be opened successiuely after such death or dep̱ture out of Virginia of
any Governor:
