CXCVIII. Council and Company for Virginia. A Commission
granted to John Huddleston
November 21, 1621
Additional Manuscripts, 14285, Folios 75a–76a
Document in British Museum, London
List of Records No. 277
[75a] A Com̄ission graunted by the Counsell and Company for Virginia
to John Huddleston for a Voyadge to Virginia and for a free fishinge
on the Coast of America.
To all to whome these presentℯ shall come to be seen or heard the Counsell
and Company for Virginia send greetinge whereas the right Honoble Henry
Earle of Southampton Sr Edwin Sandyℯ knight John fferrar Thomas
Kightley. Gabriell Barbor and John Delbridge haue for the advancement
and supporte of the Colonie in Virginia furnished and sett out the good
Shippe called the Bona Noua of the burden of 190 tun̄ to transporte and
carrie ouer into Virginia fortie fiue persons there to plant and inhabite
together with sundrie necessarie prouisions aswell for the said Passengers
as also for the benifitt and advancement of the Colonie and haue ordained
John Huddlestone to be the Gouernor and Captaine ouer the said Shippe
and Marriners as also of all the Passengers Wee therefore do by these
presentℯ straightly charge and com̄and the said John Huddleston to take
the directest course according to his best skill for Virginia and there to
land & deliver [76] all the Passengers and goodℯ accordinge as he shalbe
here ordered and appointed and after the p̱formance of the said voyage
wee do by these presentℯ giue full and [and] authority vnto the said John
Hudleston and the rest of the Marriners of the Bona Noua freely to fish
in all p̱tℯ of the Sea cost of Virginia between the degrees of thirty three
and forty fiue of Northerly latitude as also freely at their pleasure to land
on the said Coast and the same to vse aswell for dryinge of their nettℯ
dryinge and salting of their fish as also for all other necessarie vses for
themselues and fishinge duringe the time of that seruice without wronginge
or annoying the priuate possession of any man Straightly charginge and
requiringe all Inhabitantℯ or members of the Colonye of Virginia and all
other p̱sons tradinge thither or there remayninge to giue noe disturbance
or annoyance contrary to the effect of these presentℯ to the said John
Hudleston or to the said Ship the Bona Noua or any other vessell boatℯ
Agentℯ ffactors Marriners Saylo
rs or labourers therevnto belonging as they
will answeare the Contrary at their perrillℯ And wee doe further charge
the said John Hudleston not to interrupt any Shippinge of the Subiectℯ
of any his Ma
tℯ freindℯ or Allies [
76a] or any other whatsoeuer during his
said voyage but if he shalbe chased or encountred by any mann of Warre
or other saile whatsoeuer that shall goe about to hinder his proceedingℯ
or doe him any violence in such cases accordinge to the power graunted
vnto vs by his Ma
tie wee will and com̄and him with all his power and
vttermost endeauo
r to repell resist and defend himselfe and our honors
against the vniust force of what Nation soeuer aswell in his passage
outwardℯ as homwardℯ as in all harbo
rs Riuers members of the Territories
of our Plantacon And this our Comission shalbe his sufficient warrant
herein In witnesse of the premisses wee haue herevnto caused the Com̄on
Seale of o
r Company to be affixed Giuen in a great and generall Quarter
Courte the 21 of Nouemb: and in the yeares of the raigne of o
r sover-
aigne Lorde James by the grace of God Kinge of England Scotland
ffrance and Ireland Defendo
r of the faith etc that is to say of England
ffrance and Ireland the nineteenth and of Scotland the fiue and fiftith.
