University of Virginia Library

CLXXXIV. Treasurer and Company. Letter to Governor and
Council in Virginia
July 25, 1621

Copy of a ɫre to the Governor and Counsell of State residinge in Virginia.

July 25th 1621

After or harty Comendac̃ons, we received yor letters by the Bona Noua
so lately, as we haue not had leasure to peruse them, beinge opress[ed]
wth a multitude of bussines, that night and day employes vs. Wee shall
therefore by this letter only touch some principall pointℯ reservinge or
selu[es] to a time of more leasure fully to deliberate and giue youe answere
referringe youe for a supply of matters therein omitted, to or generall
instrucc̃ons, wch we desire youe diligently to peruse and punctually to
obserue. Wee haue sent youe (Sr Francis Wyatt) to be the future Gov-
ernor, to whom we require all respect and obedience be given. mr Sandys
we haue ellected or Treasuror, and Stated his place, and given him authority
to see and cause all or orders concerninge staple comodities to be putt in
execut̃on. mr Davison is chosen by the Quarter Court for Secretary.
Theire dispatches haue wholy possest vs for a night; and we hope that
by the addition of such able ministers, youe wilbe enabled to performe
what we p̱ticulerly enioyne: the want of able officers hau[e] beene here-
tofore pleaded for the cause or direcc̃ons haue beene no bette[r] obserued.
Wee desire that these gentlemen may be well accomodated att theire
landinge, and theire people well lodged. Wee haue likewise sent youe two
sufficient preachers: mr Haut Wyatt; who is to be Preacher to the Gov-
ernors Tenñts: and mr Bolton, whom wee haue consigned to Elizabeth
Citty, to inhabitt wth Capt Tho: Nuce to whom we recomende him, vndr-
standinge that mr Stockton is otherwise seated. And for supply of the
Phisitions place we haue sent youe Doctor Pott, wth two Chirurgeio[ns]
and a Chest of Phisicke and Chirurgery; not doubtinge but youe will
enterteine and supplie him well att his landinge, wth all necessaries
and accordinge vnto the Companies promise, giue him helpe for the speedy
buildinge of a house imediatly vppon his arivall: the Twenty Tenantℯ form-

erly sent must be deliuered him, and the Land belonginge to his place sett
out, and what are wantinge of the number of Twenty, are to be supplied out
of the Companyes Tenantℯ wch wee doubt not but may be done wth theire
very good sattisfatio[n] Itt is or expresse will that the Tenantℯ belonginge to
every office be fixed to his certaine place vppon the Land sett out for itt, for
wch mr Cleyburne is Chosen to be or Surveyor, who att the Companies very
great charge is sett out as by his condition of agreement youe may perceiue.
Great hath beene the care of the Company to sattisfie yor desires that they
haue spared for no paines nor charge: The Publique landℯ sett out, and that
wch belongℯ to publique p̱sons; his next employment must bee to sett out
landℯ belonging vnto p̱ticuler Plantations, and then that of private per-
sons: for the publique, he is to do by vertue of his place wthout other
then the former Salarie; neither may he exeed when he is employed by
any private p̱sons the rate of vjs the day, wch some must be duly paid
him in good and valuable Comodities. And for that we find by experience
that notwthstandinge or stric[t] comandℯ to the contrary, diurs Shippℯ sett
out for monthly wadges, mos[t] long and vnnecessary staies, to or excessiue
charge; and that for want of due care shippℯ come so vnsufficiently
provided, as we haue reason to feare that some of them haue foundred in
the Sea, and also to prevent the frau[ds] and abuses of mrs: of Shippℯ, and
Mariners in detention of goodℯ sent to the Planters, and in sellinge theire
goodℯ att excessiue rates. Therefore Wee haue ellected mr John Pountis
or Vice-Admirall, provisionally for one yea[re] till by a Quarter Court his
place may be confirmed vnto him, and seated wth Tenantℯ, beinge assured
that by his sufficiencie, integrity, & indust[ry] these and many such
growinge mischeifes wilbe prevented.

[15a] With great difficulty wee haue erected a private Magazine, men
beinge most vnwillinge to be drawne to subscription to be paid in smoke.
yf therefore youe expect for the future any such place, it must be yor
principall care the Cape-Marchannt be not constreined to vent his Comodi-
ties att any sett price, and in p̱ticuler not to be enforced to take Tobacco
att any certaine rate; and that youe be aidinge aswell to this as to the
former Magazine for the returne of Debtℯ. Wee require that the Markett
be opne for all men, that the charitable intention of the Adventurers be
not abused, and turned into privat gaine: therefore we desire youe to haue
principally in yor care, that a strict Proclamation be sett out, to prohibitt

such engrosseing of Comodities, and forestalling the Markett, thereby
to vent it to the poore people at exessiue rates: such oppression and
grindinge of the poore wee in or heartℯ abhorr, and require youe severely
to punishe; assuringe youe nothing can be more pleasing vnto vs, then
the exemplarie punishment of such Monsters as devor theire brethren by
this wiked and barbarous course, especially if such wickednesse should be
exercised by men in place of authority.

The advancement of the Iron Workes wee esteeme to be most neces-
sarie, by p̱servinge whereof we esteeme the Plantation is gained: Wee
therefore require all possible assistance be given to mr Berkley, now sent,
and all furtherance to his Ging, esp̃ially good enterteinment at theire
Landinge, that they may be well lodged and cherished wth such comfort-
able helpe as yor place will afford, wch we will thankfully requite to any
that shall advance this or so much desired Worke.

And here againe wee renue againe or former Comendat̃ons of mr Lapworth
and that in very effectual manner.

In the next place we Comend vnto yor care or Saw-Millℯ, a worke of such
importance as it deserues yor speciall furtherance, and therefore we desire
the Dutchmen sent for the fabricke of them may be extraordinarily well
vsed, & carefully provided of apparell out of the new Magazine, wch we
would haue paid for by the Companies Tobacco: as for such other neces-
saries as they want especially beere wch cannot now be shipped for want
of time and Tunnage; wee haue desired Sr Francis Wyatt to supply them
wth, wch he shalbe repaid: and thus supplied wee hope they wilbe encoraged
to bringe that so much desired worke to its p̱fecc̃on

Wee exeedingly approue yor course in takinge in of Indian families as
beinge a great meanes to reduce that Nation to Civility and to the imbrace-
ing of our Christian religeon; the blessed end wee haue proposed to or
selues in this Plantation and wee doubt not of yor vigilancie that youe be
not hereby entrapp'd, nor that the Savadge haue by this accesse meanes
to surprize you.

And to youe mr Thorpe wee will freely confesse, that both yor letters and
endevors are most acceptable to vs: the enteringe vppon those Staple
Comodities of wyne, and silke, wee highly com̃end: and assure youe it
is the Companies care to reward yor Merrittℯ; wch debt they will discharge,

if either the Clergie heare supply or Stocke, or a returne from the Colledge
Tenantℯ shall enable vs. In the meane while they desire youe to p̳roceed
in these noble courses, assuring youe of all loue and respect. The vesselle
of earth youe sent wee haue not as yett received; when tryall is made
youe shall heare from vs: And we pray youe all in generall that such
extraordinary Oare, or Earth, as yee find youe send vs over in plentie;
for that wch was sent by youe, Capt Nuce, was in so smale proporc̃on,
as we hardly could make any triall thereof; we conceived it to be terra
Lemnia, and it is exceedinge good for the flix, youe shall therefore do
well to bringe it in vse in the Colony: wee desire youe Captain Newc
therefore to send vs over three or foure Tunn of the said white earth;
And we desire youe the Governor and Counsell to haue an especiall care
that no greater proportion thereof then we from time to time direct youe
be brought over: for if it be brought over in greater quantity it will not
pay the fraight. This Comodity is intended to be apropriated to the
generall Company, and if any benefite shalbe raised thereby it shalbe
employed in fortificac̃ons, and other publique, and pious uses workℯ, for
the advancement of the Colony. And for that the Compa: conceives of
youe Capt Newc as great hopes as of any theire publique instrumentℯ,
and haue by yor letters received great sattisfacc̃on, therfore [16] They haue
in bountie added to yor former proportion of Land 300 acres wch is to be
appropriated to yor place for ever: for manuringe wch they by Quarter
Court haue ordered, that youe shall haue ten men sent over the next yeare,
only they desire that youe wilbe so provided of Corn and other necessaries,
as they may be only at the charge of transport, armes, apparrell and work-
inge tooles; and not for victuallℯ, because their stocke is exhausted. We
haue sent by a Shipp of Cattell from Irland, whereof we desire that Capt
Newc be first served wth his p̳mised number

The hopes youe haue putt the Company in of a trade of ffurrs to be had
in Hudsdons and De La Ware River, haue made many private Adventurers
of great worth and well affected to the Plantation, to sett out a Shipp to
that p̱ticuler end, to wch we desire youe to give all possible furtherance

The vioadges and discoveries already made wthin the Land, as also vppon
the Sea Coast, we highly Comend; and desire a constant course be held
therein, for in that consistℯ the very life of the Plantation. we comend

to yor care especially the buildinge of Guest-houses, wch we stricktly
charge youe to be brought to p̱fecc̃on: we conceive that bussines would
haue beene effected, if half so much care and time had been taken to do
it, as hath beene spent in givinge reasons to the contrary. The plea of
impossibility we admitt not; the Discontent we assure or selues is rather
a bug-beare, then an essentiall cause of forbearance; the spoile of or goodℯ
by often remoues is a weake allegation: but that it should be a more
regulated kind of killinge of men (as some haue beene pleased to writte)
wee deeme strange error of iudgment. Wee cannot conceale from youe,
that it is heare reported, that contrary to the publique faith given, not
the sicke, but the ablest men are lett out to hire and theire provisions
converted to private vses; And where it is pretended this placinge them
wth old planters is for theire health, they are so vnmercifully vsed that it
is the greatest cause of or Tenntℯ discontent, and dislike of theire Tenancy
by halues: and though we hope this is not in all parts true: yett can we
not conceive such vnwillingnes to proceed in this worke, should they not
haue some other groundℯ then is alledged: lett it therefore be yor worke
at yor first generall Sessions of the Counsell, to effect this bussines, and it
shalbe or care to provide for the well orderinge and furnishinge of them.

We comend vnto youe Capt Wm. Norton, who is now sett out by the generall
Company, and many private Adventurers for the erectinge of a Glasse
house Glasse worke: we desire he may be placed wth his Ginge, in the
Guest house that Liuetennt Whittakers hath erected; there to reside till
he hath found a convenient place to erect his furnace, In the choise whereof
we desire youe to giue him yor best assistance, and especially haue a
care to seat him neare some well inhabited place, that neither his Ginge
be subiect to surprize, nor the Comoditie of glass and beadℯ be vilified by
to Comon a sale to the Indians

And wee canot forbeare to deliur vnto you the good opinion the Company
has received of Liuetennt Whittakers for the good accompt given by him
of his charge, but especially of his obedience to theire direcc̃ons, in erectinge
a guest house; for reward whereof they haue confirmed vnto him that wch
Sr George Yeardley last yeare gaue him, and promised two servantℯ to
be transported next yeare: thereby to encorage him and others to proceed
in vertue and continue in their obedience, whereof the Company and
orselues much like their argumentℯ and discourses.

Wee are in hope to send to the Colledge Tenntℯ a very sufficient Minister
we desire youe mr Thorpe that a house may be ready for him, and good
provision to enterteine him: and the like course may be held in all the
Plantac̃ons.

Wee desire youe mr Thorpe, and mr Newce, to be carefull of the present
     and that the Moyity be equally devided and returned vnto
the Company: for the stock of the Company is utterly exhausted. wee
haue sent youe a Comission for the Counsell wherein are inserted the
names of all such as or intent is shalbe of the Counsell.

Againe we Comend vnto youe that the people be not oppressed especially
that youe limitt the fees of officers; and amongst them those of the
Prov[ost] [16a] Marshallℯ, and Jaylors, whereof we haue dayly great Com-
plaintℯ. wee require that shuch matters as shalbe laid vppon Delinquentℯ
be hereafter registered, and an accompt yearely given of those that be
levied, and in what publique worke, (to wch we only restreine them) they
are employed.

In generall, wee Comend to yor care all such bussines as by p̱ticuler
letters concerninge private men, and theire occacons, we haue formerly,
and now againe, recomended vnto youe: And in p̱ticuler from youe the
Governor wee expect a good accompt of the great trust we haue reposed
in youe; hopinge youe will not faile in the close, but deliur vpp to yor
successor Sr Francis Wyatt, or in case he dy, to such a one as by the
Counsell in Virginia shalbe chosen att the expiration of yor Comission,
the Comand of the Colony in good and flourishinge estate, and much
better in condic̃on then when you found itt. wherein youe shall do an
acceptable thinge to vs and glorious to yor selfe: In the meane while we
expect the p̱formance of some remarkeable service, whereof youe haue
meditated long, and haue put vs in hope youe will effect before the period

of yor Government. And even so we comend youe and all the rest to the
proteccon of the Almightie.

London this 25 of July 1621.