University of Virginia Library

CCV. Council of the Virginia Company. Letter to the Governor
and Council in Virginia
December 5, 1621

After or very hartie Comendacons, Wee writt vnto you very lately by the
Discouerie, whereof Capt Thomas Jones went Maister: we haue since
received certaine advice, that there are newly gon from Amsterdam for
the same trade of ffurrs and the self same places, two smale Pinaces, the
one of 40 Tunn wth foure, and the other of 80 Tunn wth six peeces of cast
Ordinance double manned, and exeedingly well provided wth Comodities:
wherefore it will very much import that the Discouerie be instantly expe-
dited from Virginia, wth those necessarie supplies of men and provisions,
that we haue intreated you to furnish her wth, that she may not com
either to weak or to late, or any way vnfitt for the p̱formance of her
bussines; for the p̱ticularities whereof we referr you to or former letters,
the topics whereof we here inclosed send you. Now we only in the most
effectuall and earnest maner that we may againe recomend it to yor
most serious cares and zealous furtherance. ffor the supplies of the
Magazine and Maidℯ formerly sent in the Marmaduke, Warwick, and
Tyger; we assure or selues thingℯ are in that forwardnes of a good
return (through yor prudent cares and favors) as we haue more cause
to giue you hartie thankℯ, then need to intreat yor asistance therein:
yett because no diligence in so waightie matters, can be thought sup̱flu-
ous; we haue at the intreatie of the Adventurers, here inclosed sent
you the Copie of that dispatche, to reviue thingℯ in yor memorie,
and thereto do now againe adioyne or most earnest intreatie for the
continuance of yor care, and iust fauor, till the full accomplishinge of
all those businesses in such maner as is desired, and indeed deserved, by
such free and worthie mindℯ, as those Adventurers moue from. Wee will
not recapitulate, what wee haue amply in or formr letters expressed, how
iust and necessarie it is (the Companies stock beinge vtterly exhausted
and no meanes of supplie but from private purses) that a good and profit-
able accompt should be returned of these many Adventures; we will
only add (wch to generous mindℯ is of no smale force) that by yor wise

cares and iust favors it is expected; and in that confidence, but principally
out of a singuler zeale to advance the Plantacon and accomodate the
Planters, although the Adventures alreadie sent, haue been so many and
so large, as orselues cannot but wonder, yet haue the self same p̱sons
newly vndrwritt nere a thousand poundℯ for the sending of Shippwrightℯ
and house-Carpenters; and so farr is the busines alreadie proceeded in, as
we may asure you, and you the Collony, that by Godℯ blessing, they shall by
the end of Aprill at the furthest haue this necessarie supplie amongst them:
In the meane space we desire that fitt preparations may be made for the
enterteining of them, that shall after make preparations for others; In
wch regard we giue you this timely notice: and also that you might be
p̱takers wth us of the comfort and encoragment, wch we dayly receiue by
the continuance and increase of those free and worthie Adventurers,
wherein we wth all thankfull humilitie do acknowledg the gratious provi-
dence of God, in so much enlargeinge (vppon the failinge of the publique
revenues) the heartℯ of private men, in a verie difficult time, and after so
many vnfortunate Adventures made in the like kinde, to p̱forme these
great workℯ, so advanteageable and necessarie vnto the Plantation.
There is one thinge likewise that hath lately hapned vnto us, not great in
itself but of great good hope; the gentlemen and Mariners of the Royall
James belongeing to the East India Company, being mett at Cap Bona
Speranza by some English Shipps outward bound, and certified of the
prosperitie of Virginia, did there (vppon the exhortation of Mr Copland
theire Minister) bestow the sum̄e of 70li towardℯ the buildinge of a free
schoole in Virginia; wch pious guift hath lately received an addiccon of
30li by an vnknowne p̱son. The maner of employeinge the mony wch the
Company hath resolued vppon, we send you here inclosed, desiringe that
you would likewise take it into yor considerations: We likewise send you
the Copies of some Courtℯ, whereby you shall vndrstand, what hath lately
passed concrning the bringeing in of all or Tobbacco; wch we doubt not but
you haue and shall heare of by many waies; otherwise we should haue been
loth to mingle any thing vnpleasant amongst so much ioyfull and comfort-
able as we haue before related; but such is the composition of all worldly
affaires: for orselues we are not, and desire you likewise not to be dis-
coraged, att any difficulties that do or may arise: wch we interprett onely as
the tryall of or patience and vertue, whether we be worthie to be the Instru-
mentℯ of so glorious a worke as this Plantation is, so we wish and desire you
to conceiue, and to go on cheerefully in yor waighty chargℯ, according to the
instruccons we haue given you, and in especiall that you vse all possible
dilligence and industrious care, to further and accomplish those great and
many designes of Salte, Sawinge Mills, and Iron, not letting slipp those
occacons, wch p̱happs will hardly be ever recovered; nor neglecting the
p̱fectinge of those thingℯ wch you haue, and ever shall haue, a certaine
necessitie of, and but an vncertaine asurance of from vs: wee desire you
therefore very earnestly to endevor the setting vp of those and other
staple Comodities, and by example and by p̱swations to make the whole
Collony capable, [21a] what necessitie lieth vppon them, to make a good
store wthin themselues, of all vsefull Comodities, rather then a smale
advantage of prsent profitt. Wee haue by this Shipp and the Discouerie
sent you diurs sortℯ of seedℯ, and fruit trees, as also Pidgeons, Connies,
Peacockℯ Maistiues, and Beehiues, as you shall by the Invoice p̱ceiue;
the preservation & encrease whereof we recomend vnto you. We haue
sent vnto you likewise some Vine cuttingℯ and a very smale quantitie of
Silkworm seed, of both wch we had hoped to haue sent you abundance,
and in that regard deteined the Discoverie so long; but of thingℯ so farr
remote we are not absolute maisters, we are put in howerly expectation
thereof, In the mean while, we pray you that these now sent, and those
you formerly had, may be improued to the most; and the skill of the
Frenchmen diffused amongst many, though they haue not much matter
to exercise it in.

There haue been nyne several Pattentℯ granted at or last Quarter Court,
and aboue 1,000 people vndertaken to be transported by them this next
Spring, we desire you therefore that those due provisions of Guesthouses
(so often sollicited by vs) may be made, and abundance of Corn planted
to supplie them at fittinge prices, in regard that through the great rayse
of grayn here, they are like to come slenderly furnished hence. And
further we commend vnto yor care and charitie the enterteimt of those
prsent Planters, that at their first landing, they may haue yor best further-
ance for the lodgeing them in howses; and also in setting out of theire land
in convenient places, together wth yor best assistance and direccon in their
courses, at their first arivall, that they may by yor curteous vsage be
encoradged to stay wth you, and others invited to come vnto you: and

amongst these in p̱ticuler wee cannot but com̃end mr Copelandℯ three
Tenntℯ, he having merited that favor of the Company. Wee haue dilli-
gently laboured but not yett able to effect any thinge towardℯ yor helpe in
the matter of Fortification: yet are we not out of hope to do something
shortly In the meane while, we desire you not to be any thing remisse,
in whatsoever may tend to yor saftie, to wch no gaine can be comparable,
but to be alwaies so prepared as in imminent danger, and especially to
supplie wth abundance of care and vigilancie, what you want in strength.
The coniectures of the Southwest passage and the peece of Copper wch
you sent us, wee gladly saw and heard; for since you now begin to discover
the Cuntrie, and enquire after Comodities we doubt not, but you shall find
what you seeke, or better; wherefore we earnestly desire you, to continue
and proceed herein, according to yor best meanes; and to send us from
time to time the Cardℯ of such places as you shall discour; and larg
quantities of the Comodities that you find, for the Sayes of thingℯ are not
easily nor certainly made in smale quantities: The place of Copper holdℯ
nothing else, but is so p̱fect good, that if it might be gotten wth so easie
labor as the Indianℯ relate, there were no mine could equall the riches
thereof: what further you haue vndrstood thereof, we desire by the next
to heare, that we may both sattisfie orselues and others, and either begin
or leaue so rich a hope.

The last thing we haue at prsent to writte, is that these Shippℯ the Bona Nova
& Hopewell both in or owne, and the Companyes name, may be seriously
recomended vnto you, that they may be speedily dispatched from Virginia,
and neither by you deteined, nor suffered themselues to trifle out the time.
In wch we especially require the care of mr Pountis, whom in or last Quarter
Court, we haue chosen Vice Admirall, and purpose, God willng, with the
first opportunitie to estate the place wth twelve Tenntℯ. Thisor whatsoeur
favor or curtesie you can aford vnto these Shippℯ, in furtherance of theire
intended fishinge vyoadges, wee pray you effectually to p̱forme, for so
both the vndrtakers and setters out of them do deserue at yors and or
handℯ and the good or ill successe of this bussines doth very highly
importe the Collony wch we doubt not but you fully undrstand: And so

we comitt you to the guidance and protection of the Allmightie and rest