1
ffirst wee requier you in gennerall to take into spetiall regard and esti-
mation ye service of Almightie God and obseruance of his divine lawes,
and that the people in Virginia bee trayned vp in true religion, god liues
and vertue, that ther example may be a meanes to winn the Infidells to
God: wherin wee pray you especiallie to haue in daly remembrance that
the Patterne wch ye shall giue in yor owne persons & in yor families wilbee
of singular and Cheif moment whatt may soevr itt shall propend. And
since or gennerall endeavours and designes haue nott yett effected a due
establishment of the honor and rights belonginge to the Church and minis-
terie, wee must requier yor moste Earnest care to aduance all things
appertayninge therevnto, seriously Endeauoring the establishment of due
order in administringe of all services according to the usuall forme and
discipline of the Church of England and Carefullie avoydinge all factious
and needlesse nouelties tending onlie to the disturbance of peace and
vnitye, And that such ministers as haue been or shalbee sent from tyme to
tyme may bee respected and maynteined according to the orders made
in that behalfe. Also for accomodatinge the Churches or places for
diuine seruice.2
Wee praie you likewise take care, that ye people now ther or hereafter
inhabitinge bee kept in due obedience to his Matie and that they all take
the oaths of Supremacie and allegiance: And that you p̳uide that Justice
bee equallie administered to all his Maties subiects ther resideing, and as
neare as may be after the forme of this realme of England, wherin you are
to haue a vigilant Care to preuent Corruption amongst yor inferior officers,
tending to the peruerting or delaying of Justice: Wee praie you also to
haue espetiall Care that no iniurie or oppresion bee wrought by the English
against any of ye Natiues of that Countrie, wherby the present peace
may bee disturbed and ancient quarrells (now buried) might bee reuiued.
Provided neuertheles that ye honor of or Nation and safety of or people
bee still preserued and all maner of Insolence committed by the natiues
be seuerely and sharpelie punished.
3
Item that you cause or people to applie themselues to an industrious
course of life in followeing ther buissinesies, each in the seuerall degree and
p̳ffession, And that no man bee suffered to liue idly the example wherof
might proue pernicious, to the rest, In perticular yt you bee Carefull now
in the begining to suppresse too much gaming and aboue all things yt
odious vice of drunkenes, And yt all Kinde of ryott both in apparrell &
otherwise bee eschewed. And yt an e[d]ict bee speedily published, that no
person residing in Virginia (excepting those of ye Counsill And heads of
Hundreds and plantations ther wyues & Chilldren) shall weare any gold
in ther Clothes or any apparrell of silke, vntill such time they haue itt of
the silke ther made by Silkewormes & raised by ther owne Industry
4
Item that you vse good prudence, yt no iust cause of offence bee giuen
to any other Prince state or People wch are in league or aymitie wth his
Matie And yt no Captaine or other of or Colonie vnder pretence of trade
to the Coast of the West Indies bee suffred to sayle out wth anie vessell
ther to robb & spoile wherby to prouoke any other Nation against vs.
And yt no Piratts haue cause by * * * accesse to retyer wth ther
purchasses to ye Coast of Virginia, but that they be severlie punnished &
ther goods confiscated: for the preuenting of which, as alsoe for securing
yor selues against all forraigne Ennimies, Wee require your serious Con-
siderations for the speedie errecting of ffortresses or Blockehouses at ye
mouth of the riuer as also for all other manner of Needfull fortifications
in all places And to the effecting hereof wee requier ye as well pryuate
persons as Hundreds and Corporations bee ratablie proportioned to ye
performance of Certaine dayes worke by the yeare
5
Item that the best meanes bee used to draw the better disposed of the
Natiues to Converse wth or people and labor amongst them wth Convenient
reward, that therby they may growe to a likeing and loue of Ciuillty, and
finallie bee brought to the knowledge and loue of god and true religion,
wch may proue also of great strength to or people against the Savages or
other Invadors whatsoeu9: And they may bee fitt Instruments to assist
afterwards in the more gennerall Conversion of the Heathen people wch
wee somuch desier.
6
Item that for ye laying of ye surer foundation for ye said Conversion,
that each Towne Cittie Burrough and other p̱ticular Plantation bee
procured to obtaine to themselues by Just meanes a Certaine number of
the Chilldren of the Natiues to be Educated by them in true Religion and
a Ciuill Course of life: of wch Chilldren the most towardlie boyes in
will and graces of nature to bee brought vp by them in ye first Elements
of Literature so to bee fitted for the Colledge: In the fabricke wherof
we purpose to p̳ceed assoone as any p̳ffit returned frõ the tenantℯ shall
enhable vs. And doe therfore verie Ernestlie requier yor vttermost helps
aswell for the Improueinge of ther labors, as for the true Account and
returne of the p̳ffitts already due, that so that buisines of ye Colledge may
goe forward, wth wch wee doubt not a p̱ticular blessing of God will goe a
long vppon the Collony ther, as wee are assured the loue of all good men
here to the Plantation will therby be Encreased.7
Item that imediatlie after the gatheringe in of the present yeares Cropp
by Sr George Yeardlie, wee requier yt the land belonging to the place of
Governor bee resigned to Sr Francis Wyate. And that ther bee deliuered
to him by Sr George Yeardly the Hundred tenants well furnished which
wee sent him for ye place, and if ther bee any of them wanting Sr George
Yeardly is out of his priuate to make good the full nomber of a Hundred,
wch wee hope hee will gladlie doe, remembringe or Courtesie in the addition
of thirtie able persons sent him the former Springe, to supplie those that wee
vnderstood through mortallitie had failed: As also our refusing to accept
of his offer to depart wth all the p̳ffitt by ye Governors land or tenants,
onlie exspecting his care to cultiuate well yt Land, and to vphold that
nomber of a hundred tenants for the place.
8
Item imediatelie vpon the expyrac̃on of Sr George Yeardlys gouerment
on the Eighteenth of November next, You shall admitt Sr Francis Wiats
Commission to bee read, whom accordinglie you shall receaue and publish
Governor and Captaine generall yealding vnto his person and place all
our respect honor and obseruance
9
Item the Comission for establishing of the Counsell you shall publish
vppon the deliuerie therof, and as speedylie as convenientlie you may to
administer the Oath of Counsellors vnto the seuerall persons therin named
10
And forasmuch as ther hath ben in theise late yeares great fault or
defect in nott putting in execuc̃on our orders of court and counsell for the
setting vpp & vpholding those staple Comodities wch are necessarie for
the subsisting and Encrease of the Plantation wch hath happned in part
by the our Chargeing the Governor wth toe much buissnes, wee haue vppon
espetiall approuement of the industry and sufficiency of George Sandis
esqr as also for his faithfullnes and plenarie intelligence of or intendments
and counsells here (whervnto hee hath from time to tyme bein priuie, not
only elected and athorised him to bee Treasurer in Virginia, butt also
committed to his spetiall and extreordinarie care ye execution of all or
orders Charters and instructions tending to the setting vpp, Encrease and
maytaininge of the said Staple Comodities: Wee therfore requier you that
vpon all such occationes wherin the said master [ * * * ] shall haue
occation to bee Employed, you giue him all such countenance, help and
power in the execution therof, as you would doe to the Governor himselfe
if hee were personallie present. And that p̳uition bee [ * * * ] made
for convenient transporting him from place vpon all those occations: Wee
haue by order of or quarter court bearing date [12] The second day of
may last allotted vnto the place of Treasuror fifteen hundred Acres of
land and fifty tenants wherof twenty fyue are now sent, and twenty fiue
more are to bee sent the next Spring,
To the place of Marshall (whervnto wee haue Chosen Sr William Nevce,
wee haue likewise allotted fifteene hundred acres of Land, and fifty tenantℯ
now p̳uided and furnished, and deliuerid to the said Sr William Newce to
bee transported this present Somer.
To the place of the Companies deputie (whervnto wee haue formerlie
allotted twelue hundred acres and forty men wee haue added three hun-
dred acres of land and tenn tenants more to bee sent the next Springe:
To the Phisitions place wee haue allotted twenty tenantℯ sent last Spring
and fiue hundred acres of land: To the Secretarie fiue hundred acres of
Land and twenty tenantℯ sent our the last Springe: for the accomodateinge
of wch seuerall persons in ther places & offices in the best manner according
to or p̳mises furtherance, that in you lieth.
11
Item wee pray you likewise wth Convenient speed to reveive the
Commissiones formerlie dyrected §to§ Sr George Yeardly then Governor
and to the Counsell of State ther beareing date the 18 of Nouembr 1618
conteyning the lawes & orders for dyuiding the Citties and Burroughs
wth ther land and people, and sondrie other particularities for the well
settling of that State: And haueing sent you Coppies of all such Instruc-
tions, Letters Charters & dyrections as haue here before been sent from
tyme to tyme: wee pray you you to p̱vse them all, and what soeur you
shall find not contrarie to any of theise Instructions and requisite for the
behouf of Collonie, ther or of the Companie here, wee wish you to obserue
itt as though the same were here p̱ticularly inserted: Also all orders of
courtℯ that shall bee certified vppon petic̃ons or otherwise vnder the
attest of our Secretaries hand referred vnto the Governor or Counsell
ther, wee pray you see that a due course bee taken accordinglie to doe
the partie whome it shall concerne right and Justice no lesse, then if they
had been p̱ticularly here by name [comen] Commended vnto you.12
Item that ye Captaines and headℯ of eurie p̱ticular Plantation or
Hundreds as likewise eurie Chief officer that hath people vnder his Charge
deliuer seuerall Catalogues at one of the fower Quarter Sessions of the
Counsell yearly as well of ye seurall names conditions and qualities of
§those§ that bee liueing, as also of those that bee dead, and likewise of the
mariagℯ and Christnings hapninge wth that place: And that the personall
goods and estate of ye partie deceased bee Carefullie keptt & reserued to
ye rightt owners therof. And lastlie that a list bee kept of the nomber
of all sorts of cattell in each p̱ticular Burrough or Plantation: And that
you cause the Secretarie once eurie yeare to returne vs hether a p̱fect
coppie of all the premisses.
13
Item that whereas ye principall hope of ye plantac̃on dependℯ much
on ye prosperity of particular Colonies or Hundreds itt wilbe verie necessarie
that in case of the death or other misaccidents of ye Chief heads of those
Colonies, you take into yor Carefull regaurd the Conseruation of ye bodie
and Sinews of yt Plantation vnited preseruing ye remaines by ye best
meanes, that either industry or Charity can effect.
14
Item that according to his Maties gratious aduise, and the desier & expec-
tac̃on of ye whole State here, yow draw ye people from ye excessiue planting
of tobacco, and yt according to a late order of court in yt behalfe made
the thirteenth of June last, you suffer them not to plaint in one yeare alone
one hundred waight tobacco the head, yt is the person, And yt you doe
p̳uide by some generall course to bee held amongst them, that they apply
themselues to ye soweing and plainting of corne in good plentie, that ther
may bee alwaies a large p̳portion not onlie for their owne vse, but store
also for such as in great multitudes wee hope yearly to send, likewise by
ye same generall course to cause ye generall Inhabitants and households to
Enclose by pale & strong ffences some ffitting portion of our land for ye
keping of cowes Tame Swyne and poultrie, And for ye making all due
p̳uitionℯ for ye Encrease & preseruation of ye bread of all sorts of cattle,
And in p̱ticular Kyne: wherof wee thinke itt most vnfitt, that any should
bee as yett killed, and requier yor vigilent care for ye Inhibiting thereof: [12a]
15
Item after Corne wee Comend vnto yor care the matter of Silke wch
his Maty heretofore espetially to com̃ed vnto vs, and out of his owne
store hath moste gratiouslie been pleased often to furnish or Company wth
Seed: In supply of wch more hath bin since sent and a greater quantitie
shall likewise followe hereafter, as soone as itt shall come to or hands.
Wee requier therfore that you cause in eurie p̱ticular Plantation great
nomber of Mulbery trees to bee plainted neare ther dwellings and such as
are already groweing to bee preserued for planting of wch many excellent
bookes haue binn already sent in December last vnto wch wee referr you
for yor better dyrection therin as also to diuers ffrench and other expery-
enced men late sent & p̳cured at extraordinarie Charge, of whose generall
subsistence wee expect yor assidious Care.
16
Item Silke grasse being a Comodytie of spetiall hope and much vse,
not wth standing through negligence and want of experience, it hath lately
been declared to bee full of diffycullty and hazard both in groweing and
Curing, yett we doe especially recomend vnto yor care and yt you dyrect
some good way to bring it to p̱fection by experymenting the soyles the
Seasons and true maner of cultyuating of itt being Confident that that
wch growes so naturally in those parts will much more by art and industry
bee at length brought to p̱fection: and being many wayes so vsefull will
bring great honor an p̳ffitt vnto the Action:
17
Item wee doe also especially recom̃end vnto yow ye planting of Vynes
in aboundance and that ye Vignerons sent wth so great Charge to the
Company, bee fairely & carefullie prouided for
18
Item wee requier also yt all sorts of Artsmen be Employed in ther
seurall tradℯ, and yt store of Aprentizes bee placed & held to learne ther
occupations, especially those that are most vsefull, or most comodious.
And yt you duely consider the quallyties and tradℯ of all those people
sent our for ye Companies or any of ye Collonies seruis & that you cause
them to bee held to ther tradℯ and occupations wherin ther are like to
deserue & win most bennifitt: And not to suffer them to forsake ther
former occupac̃ons for planting Tobacco or such vselesse comodyties.
And here wee Earnestly commend vnto yor care the Dutchemen sent for
ye erecting of sawing Mills a worke most necessarie, since ye materialls for
howsing and shipping can not otherwise wthout much more troble and
paynes and charge bee prouided, & although wee haue rec̄ some notice
that fitting places for ther works and not ther easylie found out yett wee
hope that dillegence fitting to bee vsed in a case of so generall benifitt,
hath discouerid how to make vse of ther skills by this tyme Nor doe wee
here apprehend any difficullty of finding accomodation for yt purpose
about the falls or towards the heads of some riuer or brookes by ye station
wherof tymber may be brought vnto them verie Easyli and by ye
Current of ye riuer the Plankes or boords sawen may bee transported for
ye generall use of all or the greatest part of or people19
Item that yor corne Mills bee presentlie Erected and pupliqe Bake-
howses in eurie Burrough bee built wth all speed and dilligence.
20
Item that all apparent or proued Contracts made in England or in
Virginia betweene the Owners of land in Virginia and ther tenants or
seruants be truly p̱formed and the breach of them reformed by due pun-
ishment as Justice shall requier
21
Item that you suffer no Crafty or aduantageous meanes to bee vsed to
entice a way ye tenants or seruants of any particular plantac̃on frõ ye
place they are [ * * * ] ceited and that all offenders herein bee seuerlie
punished and the partie drawne away bee returned to ther former place.
Wee commend vnto yor especiall regard ye p̳uiding for such persons as
haue already bin sent or are now or shall be hereafter entertained for ye
Erecting of iron Works that all possible meanes bee vsed for ther Encour-
adgment, & for ye performing of generall Contracts here made wth ye
Company wherby Justice vnto them and p̳ffitt to ye plantation may Arise
[13] And whereas mr John Berkly hath bin approued vnto vs here by
extreordynary recommendations to bee industryous and [and] intelligent
gentleman many ways butt espetially for Iron Works: wee desier hee &
his company may bee Cherished by yow and supported by ye helpe of the
whole Colonie if need shall requier, therby to enhable him to perfect yt
Worke, whervpon ye Company haue already expended gt somes of money
& itt is a Como so necessarie as few other are to bee valewed in com-
parrison therof. Vpon ye successe therof also, mens eyes are generally
fixed & therfore if itt should now (as by former misaccident or negligence,
fall to ye ground, ther were little hope that eur they would bee reuiued
againe, And whereas wee haue bin so circomspect as to Contraict wth many
masters seuerally for the erecting of the said works, wherby wee hoped
though some miscarried or failled others should haue proceeded, If by
want of workes or necessarie Materialls the said mrs cannot for present
bee seatted or Enjoy the Conditions of ther contraicts, wee thinke fitt
you should accomodate them according to ther seuerall habillityes in some
secondarie or subordynarie places of assistance to mr Berkly, or when
another worke may bee advanced to worke them our that according (as
neere as may bee to ther contraictℯ made here wth ye Company. wherby
this worke of so great Consequence & generall expectac̃on infinitt Como
& vnspeakeable Benifitt to ye Plantac̃on may bee dilligentlie p̳secuted &
vpheld.23
Item Salt Piche and Tarr, Soape Ashes &c. often recomended and sett
vp, and for wch fittinge men & Matteriallℯ haue been sent to the great
Charge of the compa and yett daylie complaints come to vs of the want
of them wee desier you will now prosecute and further wth all dilligence &
Care.
24
Item yor makeing of Oyle of Wallnuts, yor Employing yor Apothecaries
in distilling of hott waters out of yor Lees of beere and searching after
minierall dyes, gummes druggs and ye like things wee desier you not to
forgett and good quanteties of a[ll] sorts to send vs by all shipps
25
Item since wee haue conceaued itt most fitting to ordaine yt a small
quantety of Tobacco shall bee plainted or cherished in Virginia, wee
hold itt verie necessarie to vse all possible care, yt the p̳porc̃on lymmitted
may bee Improued in goodnes as much as may bee, And therfore yt
some good order bee taken to see itt well cured and duely ordred yt bring-
ing itt into request, may Cause any certaine benifitt to the Planters
26
Item that due p̳ceeding bee vsed in ye erection of those Howses
appointed for lodgeing of new men v[n]pon ther landing according to former
dyrections: And that from tyme to tyme a course bee taken for ther
repaire, cleane & neat keeping Likewise for Comon store howses in Con-
venient places as well for other needs necessary p̳uitions, as vpper roomes
for Conseruation of a p̳portion of Gounpouder ready for vse,
27
Item whereas wee haue many times found losse & interuption in or
buissines throught want of frequent relacon frõ Virginia wee therfore
requier you att least to make a quarterly dispatch vnto vs, the duplicate
wherof to bee duely sentt by the next oppertunytie of Shipping after
28
Item whereas Capt William Norton and certaine Itallians now by
the general Company and other worthy mynded aduentures att a verie
great charge sent for the erecting of §a§ glasse furnace in Virginia wee
hartylie desire yow to afford them all fauor possible. And in p̱ticular that
the Guesthowses built by Leftenant Whitakers bee allowed them for ther
habitac̃on, till they may Conuenientlie prouide themselues of ther owne:
And that all orders given them frõ hence bee exactlie putt in execuc̃on. [13a]
29
Item a gentlemans great dilligence in or affaires accompaned wth
extreordynarie capacity and iudgement, haueing p̳ceeded the treatise of
the buissnes belonging to ye plantac̃on Approued by vs to bee full of
exellent obseruances for those that are Emmenly Employd in Virginia as
well for vs here: wee sent a Coppy to ly amongst the records of your
Counsell frõ whence frõ the often veiw of formr passadgs wee wish eur
Counsellor may make p̱manent instructions, And no doubt much helps
and furtherance may bee p̳duced in most occasiones for the Aduancement
of the Plantac̃on.
30
Item that ther be espetiall care taken both of Generall and p̱ticular
Survayes, wherby not onlie a true Mapp and face of the whole country
costs Creeks riuers highe ground & Lowe ground &c. may bee exactlie dis-
couerid: Butt also ye Boundaries of the Severall Hundreds and Plantac̃ons
wth the perticuler directions in them bee perfectlie sett forth frõ tyme to
tyme maynetayned to preuent therby future differences that arise vpon
questions of possestion, wherin also itt may be fitting and moste vsefull to
posteritie, to Cast an Imaginarye eye and view, wher and wch way the grand
highewayes may bee like to strike and passe through the Dominions. In
wch course the Hard Mountaines the ffords ye places for Bridges &c may
nott vnfittlie bee considered ffor p̱formance of all wch the premises and for
ye better sattisfaction of the planters whoe have so often required ther
Lands may bee deuided and bounded wee haue now sent and furnished
out mr William Cleyburne gentelman, recomended vnto vs as very [fitt] in
ye art of surueying
31
Item the oppressing and imoderate ffees heretofore exacted in Virginia
by diuers officers in valuac̃on of ther paynes & trauell for the Colonies
seruice hath partlie occationed the settling a Competent revenue to arrise
therby tenants to eurie cheif officer wee now forbidd that officer so p̳uided
for, or otherwise by allotted parts out of the com̃on p̳ffitt recompenced,
doe take any other ffees for Execution of ther seuerall places either dyrectly
or indyrectly, Neurthe lesse yt clarks & such like may haue a reward for
ther dilligence, Wee requier you by order to sett downe some small p̳por-
tion for passes, warrants, Copies of orders seales &c or p̳portionably to
the merits of seruants paynes and attendance,
32
Item the Governor & Counsell assembled wthin a short time after the
Ariuall of this shipp are to sett downe the fittest months after ther quar-
terlie meeting of the Counsell of state according to the seasons and to
fitting meanes for ther Entertayment together wth regaurd of the best ease
and benifitt of the people that shall haue occasion to addresse themselues
vnto ye Counsell either for Justice or dyrection considering also the times
of making ther dispathes to England according to the oppertunities of
shipping ther comeing or goeing.
33
That the gouernor for the time being in or about the foresaid time
doe summon by an officer appointed for that purpose the counsell of state
to appeare at a day and to bee together for ye space of one whole month
or more if need shall requier to advise & consult vpon matter of counsell
of state and of the generall affaires of the colonie, and as ther shalbee
order cause to order and determine the greater causes of consequence or
such matter as shall growe or arise wthin the colonie either by refference
or Judgment, And that free accesse bee p̱mitted to [s] all suiters to make
knowne ther perticuler greuances, bee itt against what person soeur. And
if ye plaint appeare to bee Important to record ye same there & to
returne a coppy ther of together wth the report of yor p̳ceeding therin.
34
As also to keepe a perfect register of all ye acts of each quarter sessions
duely and orderlie and therof to returne a perfect transcript vs vnto vs
by the first oppertunitie of shipping frõ tyme to tyme. And that at
eurie sessions you cause all instructions and Charters that are already or
shall hereafter bee sent from hence to bee read, and so from sessions to
sessions vntill or dyrectory shall bee fullie executed
35
Item in case of the gouernor death or remouall or suspencon by order
frõ hence vntill other dyrection frõ vs can come wee requier that the
Counsell or Major part of then them then residing in Virginia, doe
Imedialie assemble themselues and wthin fourteene dayes or sooner frõ out
of ther body to elect one to supplie the place for the tyme. [14] And
to preserue the state of bussinesse still in the same current that it was
36
The relation of wch act of counsell wee will you send vs wth as
much speede as may bee, And if ther should bee an vnexpected diuision
in the voices of ye counsell that a Just halfe should bee willing to elect one
and the other halfe desirous of another, then wee will that election bee
made of the leftennant Governor And in his absence or necessarie cause
of declyning the Marshall, and in case of his default or such refusall then
the treasurer, then on of the tow deputies or ye other till the place of
Governor be settled in on of or said cheif officers
37
Item whereas ther hath bin seurall directions giuen to ye former Gov-
ernor for fixing the tenants vppon the lands as well belonging to the
Governor place as other the officers seated by the Governor, wch vppon
pretences hath bin allowed and neglected and the men lett out to the hier:
Wee requier you that hereafter no officer bee permitted to lett out his
tenants, butt settle them vppon ye lands sett out for his place, enioyning
them to enclose gardens, build howses deuiding them into families or
socyeties, to place them vpon the land appropriated to his office, except-
ing onlie the counsell shall haue power to make a conuenient order at
one of the quarter sessions to dispence wth this Article for the space of
six months & yt in case onlie of extreeme necessytie.
38
Item the Governor onlie for the time being shall summon Counsells
and syne warrants & execute or giue athoritie for execution of the Coun-
sells orders except in cases wch seeme to appertaine to the Imediate exe-
cuc̃ons of Liftenant generall Marshall Tresuror or deputies, wherin
according to ther seuerall Comissions or by a conceaued order frõ a quarter
counsell the officers are seuerallie directed and authorised.
39
The Governor for ye time being shall haue absolute power and authoritie
according to the implicac̃on of his perticuler commission to direct deter-
mine and punish at his good discretion any emergent buissnes neglect or
contempt of authority in any kind or what soeur negligence or contempt
may bee found in any person ther residing or being, Except only those
of the Counsell for ther on persons whoe are in such cases to bee sum-
moned to appeare at the next quarter session of the Counsell holdne ther
abide ther censure, in the meane time if the Gouernor shall thinke itt may
concerne either ye quiett of that state to p̳ceed more speedily wth such an
offendor, itt shall bee lawfull to summon a counsell extreordinarie, wherat
six of the Counsell at lest are to bee present wth the said Governor and by
ye main parte of ther voices committ any counsellor to saife custody or
vpon bayle to appere and abide the order of the nextt Quarter Counsell40
Everie order and decree of the counsell of state shalbe concluded by
ye maior p̱te of voyces at yt Assembly wherin ye Gouernor for the time
being is to haue a Casting voyce if the nomber of counsellors should bee
euen or should bee equally deuided in oppinnion Neurthelesse reseruing
to the said Governor a Negative voyce att any generall Assembled
according to a former Comission granted
41
Item wee pray you likewise to take into yor care ye p̳texcion of ye
people, that they suffer no wrong by ye Engrossing Como & forestalling
the Marketts, Butt preserue them open for all men freely or Indifferently
to buy or sell
42
Item wee requier yow especially to see the publicke labors to bee frõ
tyme to tyme equally charged & burdned for ye people that one mans
tenants bee nott fauored aboue others or officers tenants fauored more
then those of ye pupliqe, And to the End those seruices may fall as Easy
to all ports as may bee, wee thinke of in ye punishment of all Enormus
misdemeanors &c ill deseruers bee condemned to a nomber of days
works for pupliq̢ vse & building, or to ffynnishing of a ffence or dyke, or
to cariage or roweing according to ye meritt of §ther§ offence
43
Item whereas ye Right honble the Earle of Pembroke wth diuers his
associates haue vndertaken to plaint thirty thousand Acres of land in
Virginia: wee therfore intreat you to make choice of ye best seate on
that riur yt is not yett inhabited And herein to take the aduise of Mr
Leech. whoe now. goes our to veiw ye cuntrie and to bee Enployd in that
plantacon wch being sett out wee desier to be informed therof. [14a]
44
Item as wee hold itt most necessarie yt you p̳uide for ye generall safety
and securing of yor selues and estats together: So doe wee conceaue it
a matter of exceeding great advantage & incouragmt to discouer eurie
day farther by ye sea Coast and wthin Land about wch wee requier yow to
conceaue a fitting course frõ tyme espetiallie to find good fishing betweene
James ryur and Cape Cod or any wher wthin or lymmittℯ wherin wee
suppose the new trade of Como found, wilbe like to recompence the troble
and Charge bestowed therin: ffor wee are certainely informed that the
Dutchmen wthin 20 or 30 leagues of yor plantacon steile a trade for furrs
&c to ther verie great gaine & Content.
45
Item for as much as planting of staple como is vseuallie much aduanced
by example taken one from another, wee expect yt ye Chief officers by
ther owne p̱ticuler Employmt of ther people & land & setting forth ye
Benifitts & hopes of such Endeauors shall exceedinglie aduance ye state of
Como and trade
46
Item wee doe moreour requier that according to yor Oaths and seurall
charges yor thoughts & Endeauors be vnanimouslie Employed for p̱formance
of or instructions in generall & particuler that Chieflie ayminge at ye
establishmt of ye Colonie yor selues & all of vs that haue Endeauorid,
therein may bee comforted in a happie apparence of p̳sperity of the
plantac̃on, wch wilbe glorious before god and infinitt honor, strenght &
p̳ffitt to or king & Cuntry:
47
Lastly wee pray you that no shipp yt now or at any time wee shall
send at the compa Charge to Virginia bee suffered to stay ther aboue
thirty dayes for auoyding of Charge wch hath heretofore growne vppon
long voyadges in freight & wages & that you suffer not in the said shipps
any goods p̳uicions sent thither to bee brought frõ thence againe by any
Marriners passengers or others vppon payne of some punishmt to bee
inflicted vpon them. And although ye Infancy of ye plantac̃on may nott
some tyme afford the more valuable Comodities to freight the shipps home
vppon so short a stay, yett wee suppose that a prudent Course & prperac̃on
may at last afford them choice tymber as Clear Wallnutt or some other
such lesse valueable Como to add to ther lading, wch will yeild more p̳ffitt to
the Companie wth the shipps quicke returne, then is vsueally raised by
ther best Comodityes when longer Accompt for freightt hath drawne on
a further Charge, Gyuen vnder the Counsell seale the fower and twentith
day of Julie 1621 And in the yeare of the raigne of or soueraigne Lord
James by the grace of god of England Scotland ffrance and Ireland
defendor of the faith &c That is to say of England ffrance and Ireland
the Nyneteenth and Scottland the fower and fiftith.
