University of Virginia Library

VII. George Yeardley. A Letter to Sir Henry Peyton
November 18, 1610

Honoble Sr vp̃on the returne of the last Fleete of Shipps wch brought my
Lord La Warr (our Lord Governour & Captaine Generall,) into this Countrie; I did not not forbeare to challenge yor noble patience Wth
reading vnworthy & fruitles Lines, & although at this p̢sent I am little or

nothing better furnished wth any matter of valew, either for discovery
of Mynes, or ought els worth your Knowledge, yet when I consider yor
many and noble favours towards me (wch when I forgett to acknowledge,
let me for ever be putt out of yor remembrance) I thought good to wright
something, if but thereby to p̢serve my humble service in yor honovred
memory.

For the p̢sent state & condic̃on of this Countrie, it wants only Sup-
portes, round & free supplies, both of men & moneyes, to make good the
mayne & p̳fitable endes of a moste happy plantation. Concerning the
Countrie & the soile thereof, wee finde it fertile & full of encrease, bringing
forth goodly Corne, many kinde of Fruites, naturall Vines & quickly
rendring vs our owne Countrie seedes, & Rootes wch wee bury therein,
as prosperous & unchangeable for tast and quantitie as England it selfe
For these Com̃odities of pitch & tarr Soape ashases, Wood Iron &c. most
true it is Noble Sr, that there they bee most plentifully to bee returned
home, if soe bee it the meanes & skilfull workemen together wth fitt
p̳visions for those Labourers (vntill the Colour may quitt some of theis
Charges, by planting their owne Vines, sowing their owne Corne, & broodinge their owne Cattaile, Kine, Swine, Goates &c. wch would shortly
be, & had bin ere this, had the Governmt bin carefully & honestly estab-
lished & carried here theis 3 yeres passed) may be provided & sent over
to worke in those businesses.

For the opening & finding out of Silver or gold wee have now probable
Intelligence to be brought vnto: for wch Cause our Lord Governour
hath gathered together most of his Choysest men & intendeth a voyadge
forthwth vp vnto a famous fall or Cataract of Waters, where leaving his
pinasses & Boates safe riding, he purposeth to Leade vs vp into the Land
called the Monocane 2 or 3 dayes Iourney, where at the foote of certaine
mountaines hee meaneth to build a Forte, & there to wynter some of his
people, who shall every day digg at those mynes, & though they prove
not according to §or§ expectation, yet wee have lost nothing but our
Labour, wth this advantage neverthelesse that wee shall have a redoubt
& some of our men in it, against the next springe, when his Lp̃ intendeth
to martch that way something more southerly for the finding out the
South Sea.

Wee have some hope also by a Westerly Trade thorough a faire & goodly
Bay lying in the height of 382 (some 30 leagues from our owne Bay)
newly discovered since his Lp̃'s com̃ing heither, from whence wee p̳mise
our selues many commodities both of fish from the Bay, for our Colour,
and from the tractable Indians of that place (of whome wee have made
already some tryall) both Corne, furres &c.

And (Honoble Sr) I have by theis few yet troublesome Lines given you the
accompt & truth of what wee know and purpose concerning this his
Maties Countrie & newe Kingdome, as further passages herein (materiall
& worthy yor Knowledge) shall occure & bee offred vnto vs, I will prsume
to addresse them vnto you, ever vowing myselfe in the vtmost of my
endeavoures to doe you service, I kisse yor Honoured Hand. In Virginia
dated at James Towne this xviijth of November, 1610,