 | The records of the Virginia Company of London |  |
At a Meetinge of the Com̃ittee on
Thursday §Tuisday§ the 30: Octob: i621 Present
| mr Deputy. | mr Ayres. |
| mr Gibbs. | mr Nich: ffarrar. |
| mr Wrote. | mr Robertℯ. |
The said Com̃ittee meetinge this Afternoone to treat with mr Cop-
land touchinge the dispose of the money giuen by some of the East
vpon some good worke for the benifitt of the Plantac̃on in Virginia,
the said mr Copland beinge nowe present did deliuer in a note of the
names of those that had freely and willingly contributed their moneyes
herevnto, wch money mr Copland said they desired might be imployed
towardℯ the buildinge either of a Church or Schoole in Virginia (wch
the Companie should thinke fitt). And that although this Som̃e of
money was but a smale proporc̃on to p̱forme so great a worke, yet mr
Copland said he doubted not, but to p̱swade the East Indy Companie
(whome he meant to solicite), to make some Addic̃on therevnto, besidℯ
he said that he had very effectually writt (the Coppie of wch letter he
shewed and was read) to diuers ffactories in the East Indies to stirr
them vp to the like contribuc̃on towardℯ the p̱formance of this pious
worke as they had already donne for the buildinge of a Church at
Wappinge where by his Report they haue giuen about 400li.
It beinge therefore nowe taken into considerac̃on whither a Church
or a Schoole was most necessarie and might nearest agree to the inten-
c̃ons of the Donors: It was conceaued that for somuch as each p̱ticu-
ler Plantac̃on aswell as the generall either had or ought to haue a
Church appropriated vnto them, there was therefore a greater want
of a Schoole then of Churches:As also for that it [276] was impos-
sible with so smale a proporc̃on to compasse so great a charge as the
buildinge of a Church would require, they therefore conceaued it most
fitt to resolue for the erectinge of a publique free schoole wch beinge
for the educac̃on of Children and groundinge of them in the principles
of religion Ciuility of life and humane learninge serued to carry with
it the greatest waight and highest consequence vnto the Plantac̃ons as
that whereof both Church and com̃onwealth take their originall foun-
dac̃on and happie estate, this beinge also like to proue a worke most
acceptable vnto the Planters, through want whereof they haue bin
hitherto constrained to their great costℯ to send their Children from
thence hither to be taught.
Secondly it was thought fitt that this schoole should be placed in one
of the fower Citties and they conceaued that Charles Citty, of the
fower did affoord the most convenient place for that purpose as well
the comodious scituac̃on thereof, beinge not farr distant from Henrico
and other perticuler Plantac̃ons.
It was also thought fitt that in honor of the East Indy Benefactors,
the same should be called the East Indy Schoole who shall haue pre-
cedence before any other to preferr their Children thither to be
brought vp in the rudimentℯ of learninge; It was also thought fitt that
this as a Collegiate or free schoole should haue dependance vpon the
Colledge in Virginia wch should be made capable to receaue Schollers
from the Shoole into such Scollershipps and fellowshipps as the said
Colledge shalbe endowed withall for the aduancement of schollers as
they arise by degres and deserts in learninge.
That for the better mayntenance of the Scholemr and Vsher intended
there to be placed it was thought fitt that it should be moued at the
next Quarter Cort that 1000 acres of land should be allotted vnto the
said Scolle, and that 5 p̱sons besidℯ an ouerseer of them should be
forthwith ∥sent∥ vpon this charg in the condic̃on of Apprentices to
manure and cultiuate the said land, and that ouer and aboue this
allowance of land and Tenantℯ vnto the Schoolemr, such as sent their
Children to this Schoole should giue some benevolence vnto the
scoolemr for the better encrease of his mayntenance
That it should be speacially recomended to the Gouernor to take care
that the Planters there be stirred vp to put their helpinge handℯ
towardℯ the speedy buildinge of the said Schoole in respect [277]
their Children are like to receaue the greatest benifitt thereby in
their educac̃on: And to let them knowe that those that exceed others
in their bounty and Assistance herevnto shalbe priuiledged with the
preferment of their Children to the said Schoole before others that
shalbe found lesse worthie.
It is likewise thought fitt that a good Schoolemr be prouided forthwith
to be sent vnto this Scoole.
It was also informed by a gentleman of this Com̃ittee that he knewe
one that desired not to be named that would bestowe 30li to be added
of the said schoole: This report beinge read was well approued of
and thought fitt to be referred for confirmac̃on to the next Quartr
Court.
Mr Copland beinge formerly entreated to knowe what acquittance
mr Landman did desire for payment of the said 70li left in his hands
to be deliuered to this Companie did nowe report that mr Lanman
said he would take his direcc̃on herein from the East Indy Compã at
their next meetinge, Notwithstandinge it was thought fitt, that offer
should be made to mr Lanman to secure them §him§ vnder the Coun-
sells seale for payment of the said money to mr Deputy.
Mr Wrote in discharge of his former promise did nowe give an Account
vnto the Court what he had donn for findinge out to whose handℯ the
Collecc̃on gathered money ∥gathered∥ in Norff. and Suff. was paid
whereof he said he was promised a p̱ticuler so as he shalbe able to let
them knowe verie shortly where and in whose handℯ the said Money
resteth and well doe his best endeauor to solicite that it may be paid in:
And therefore did entreat those gentlemen that did vndertake for
solicitinge the rest of the Bishopps for moneyes remayninge in their
handℯ vpon collecc̃ons would nowe be pleased to giue an Account
vnto the Companie of what they had donn therein.
Vpon the humble petic̃on of mr Anthony Gosnold gentleman it is
agreed and ordered first that he shall haue two shares of land in
Virginia, due vnto him for the aduenture of 25li in money paid into
the Treasury to Sr Thomas Smith as by his bill nowe shewed by him
in Court ∥vnder the Companies Seale∥ though it were not sett downe
in the printed booke vnder the Companies Seale may appeare And
secondly that he shall haue one share of land more wch of right also
belongeth vnto him for his p̱sonall Aduenture to Virginia some 16
yeares since vpon his owne charge. [278]
Thirdly whereas the said mr Gosnold alledgeth he had two kinsemen
that died longe since seized of land in Virginia who by their last will
gaue him their said land: It is likewise ordered that it shalbe recom̃-
thereof, he do him iustice, lastly touchinge the merritt of his p̱son in
reguard of his longe and hard seruice for many yeares together in the
condic̃on of a Servant, notwithstandinge he ought to haue bin free:
The Court hath referred him to the Com̃ittee appointed for reward-
inge men vpon their good deservingℯ.
It beinge likewise moued that for somuch as diuers worthie gent̃ desired
to be mr Gosnoldℯ Associatℯ intendinge at their owne charge to trans-
port 100 p̱sons to Virginia there to plant and inhabite that therefore
the said mr Gosnold might haue a Patent for p̱ticuler Plantac̃on wch
was accordingly graunted and ordered to be drawne vp against the
next Quarter Court.
Vpon the request yt the said mr Gosnold might passe ouer two of his
Shares formerly allowed vpon his Bill of Aduenture the one to his
Brother Robert Gosnold esquire the other to mr Roger Castle of
Ramingham in Norff gent̃: The Court did well approue of thereof
and confirmed vnto each of them a single share as aforesaid.
Mr Caswell moued that forsomuch as himselfe and some others of the
Com̃ittee stood bound for the freight of the Bona Noua that the Com-
panie would please by order of this Court to giue warrant to mr Bull
for payment of 300li in discharge of the said Bond, wch the Court did
generally agree vnto and ordered that a warrant vnto mr Bull should
be drawne for payment thereof accordingly neuertheles vpon mr Bullℯ
moc̃on it was also ordered and prouided that if in case so much should
not be found due vnto the Companie vpon the p̱fectinge of the
Accountℯ that then the Ouerplus should be repaide againe vnto mr
Bull.
Mr Woodall stood suspended by order of a Court the 18: Iuly i620
from cominge to Courtℯ till the Quarter Court followinge to wch he
was referred for censure, for that he had mistermed the printed
Publication and rashly spoken against Sr Edwin Sandys for somuch
as he did nowe humbly acknowledge his said fault and shewed him-
and wthall desired pardon of this Court The Companie seemed to
like well of this his acknowledgment and submission. [279]
Mr Deputy informed the Companie of the great paines that mr Bon-
nell the ffrenchman, Mr of the Kingℯ Silkwormes at Oatland had
taken in peñinge a Treatise in ffrench concerninge the orderinge
of Silkwormes and makinge of Silke, wch treatise for that it might be
of speciall vse vnto the Planters in Virginia, he therefore moued this
Court would please to recom̃end it, to some to translate it into Eng-
lish and afterward that it might be p̱vsed and beinge approued it
might be printed, wch the Court assented vnto, and praid mr Deputy
to see it donne, and that a good number of the said Bookℯ might be
sent vnto the Colony in Virginia by the next Shippe that goes.
Capt[1046]
Henry ffortescue Vncle and Administrator of the goodℯ and
Chattells of Symond ffortescue who died intestate at Sea at his returne
for England from Virginia, moued, that forsomuch as he cannot him-
selfe goe to Virginia to recouer such landℯ goodℯ and Debtℯ: as are due
vnto the said Symond ffortescue deceased whereof Sr George Yeard-
ley stands indebted 250li that it would therefore please this Honoble
Court to write to the Gouernor to informe himselfe of the p̱sonall
estate of the said Symond ffortescue and to afford his Kindred and
frendℯ all lawfull fauor and Assistance for recouery of the said ffor-
tescues landℯ goodℯ and Debtℯ The Court conceaued this moc̃on to
be verie reasonable and therefore ordered that direcc̃on shalbe giuen
to the Gouernor of Virginia to take such order in the premises as
may be most agreeable to equity and good conscience.
Elizabeth Smalley Widdowe hauinge petic̃oned to the Kinge against
Captaine Argall pretendinge that he deteyned certaine goodℯ from
her to the value of 500li, and beinge referred by his Matie to his High-
nes Counsell for Virginia did nowe petic̃on to the Companie to take
hearinge of the said cause accordinge to his Mats Referrence, where-
vpon the Counsell agreed to meete vpon friday followinge in the
time order is nowe giuen for warninge both the said Widdowe Smalley
and Capt: Argall to make their appearance as also all such Wittnesses
as could be p̳duced on the behalfe of the said Complaynant. [280]
Mrs Allice Bohune Widdowe late wife of Dor Bohuñe petic̃oned vnto
the Companie that forsomuch §as§ her said Husband in his life time
was at great charge as shee supposeth for the prouidinge furnishinge
and transportinge of Servantℯ into Virginia that the Companie would
please to allowe her some Annuall contribuc̃on as also to release and
free her sonne Edwards Barnes from his seauen yeares seruice where-
vnto he is tyed contrary to his meaninge and her expectac̃on: But
answeare was made that shee was misinformed for that the Companie
and not Dor Bohune were at all the said cost and charges and for that
her sonn was the Companies Servaunt, he was to serue out his yeares
and might not be sett at liberty.
Vpon the humble request of mr Rider that mr Ro: Taylor whome he
reported to be a gentleman of good quality nowe in Virginia might be
sett at liberty and made free: The Court is pleased to graunt him his
freedome, vpon condic̃on he paye the Companie for the charge of his
passage and whatsoeuer other charge they haue bin at for his beinge
there.
Mr Robert Staples a Minister com̃ended much by mr Abraham Cham-
berlen and by Certificate from many Diuines resident in this Citty
reportinge him to be of honest conversac̃on and a good Scholler:
beinge desirous to goe to Virginia did nowe make request, that the
Companie would please to entertaine him for their Minister there.
But the Companie wantinge meanes to furnish him out did moue that
some of the p̱ticuler Plantac̃ons would imploy him:
Wherevpon mr Darnelly signified that he thought that they of Mar-
tins Hundred wanted a Minister to whome he was recomended. [281]
| The records of the Virginia Company of London | |