CCXLVI. Sir Francis Wyatt. A Commission to Sir George Yeardley
June 20, 1622
Manuscript Records Virginia Company, III, Part ii, Page 38
Document in Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
List of Records No. 341
A Comission to Sr George Yeardley for the Easterne Shore &c.
Whereas through the large extention of ground heretofore graunted, both
to Corporationℯ, Hundredℯ, p̱ticuler Plantationℯ, and private Dividendℯ,
this Colony was so dispersed & people so straglingly seated, that we were
not only bereft of the frendly comerce and mutuall societie one of another
in religeous duties, the first fruitℯ of Civility; but were also disabled any
way to prouide for the com̃on safety either against forraine or domesticke
invasion, the carefullest charge of Christian charity, wittnes those vexed
Soules and troubled Spiritℯ of ors, when in this last outrage of these Infi-
dellℯ we were forced to stand and gaze at or distressed bretheren, fryinge
in the furie of or enimies, and could not relieue them. And whereas
throug these occac̃ons, We haue been forced to quitt most of or habi-
tac̃ons, so that many of or people are now vnsetled, These are therefore,
both to provide for the good of the one, and p̢vent the danger of the
other, (such places as we now hould in this River, being already filled
wth sufficient numbers) to desire, and require you Sr George Yeardley
knight, and on of his Maties Counsell established for Virginia, to levy at
yor best conveniencie, such a number of the people of this Colony, as for
this p̢sent intended imployment shall by you be thought sufficient; and
that imbarkeing yor self and said Company, in such Shippℯ Pinaces or
Shallopℯ, as you shall make choise of, you presently depart out of this
River in discovery both of the West and Eastern Shores of this Bay, or
any other of or Sea Coastℯ, wch shall seeme best vnto you wthin the limitℯ
of 33 and 40 degrees of Northerly latitude, there to search for and find
out some convenient place, both for quantity and quality of ground apt
safely to entertaine some three or foure hundred men, vppon wch, or
vppon any other place whatsoeu9, that in yor discrescion you shall think
fitt for yor p̢sent necessity and vse, it shalbe lawfull for you p̢sently to
sett downe, and leaue such and so many of or Colony as are now vndr yor
Com̃and, to make a begining there for a Plantation, giving to every one
of them fouer acres of land for his p̱ticular employment, placeing yo
r p̢sent
buildingℯ in such forme as may be by addic̃on of numbers intended to be
sent imediatly after the Cropp, capable of fortification; for the better
execuc̃on whereof, These are to giue yo
u full power and com̃and over all
o
r people that shall accompany yo
u in this vioadge, or that yo
u shall find
inhabiting in any of those p̢cinctℯ aforesaid, and to punish them according
to theire delinquencie, and the necessitie of the occac̃on. And because
through the late revolt and failinge off, of o
r Neighbouringe Salvages, we
are vncertaine of frendshipp w
th any of these Natiues, These are to giue
yo
u leaue, and absolute power, either to make peace or warr w
th any of
them, as it shall seeme most behoofull and necessarie for the p̢sent estate
of this o
r Com̃on-Wealth, as also peaceably to trade for Furrs, Corne, or
any other Comodities, w
th such as shalbe frendℯ, and forceably to take
such or the like from those that dare be o
r enemies. Itt is also thought
expedient, and graunted to yo
u S
r George Yeardley knight, that if in this
yo
r passage, yo
u shalbe chased or encountred, by any man of Warr, or
other Saile whatsoeuer, that shall go about to hinder these yo
r proceed-
ingℯ, either by takeing away yo
r provisions, or by offering any other such
violence (except by his Ma
tℯ authoritie he be therevnto licensed) that
yo
u may w
th all yo
r power & vttmost endevo
rs repell, resist, and defend
yo
r self, and yo
rs and o
r hono
rs against that force, or any other of like
nature and condic̃on, either outward or homeward bound, in all Harbo
rs,
or Rivers, members of the teritory of this Plantation. And to prohibitt,
forbid, and compell therevnto, any shipping of what Nation soeu
9 w
thin
the said limitℯ (w
thout speciall Comission from his Ma
tie; or from his
Ma
tℯ Counsell and Company of Virginia) from trade, fishing, or other
bussines, then such as the law of Nature and Nations allow to every
distressed p̱son. And for yo
r better ease in the execuc̃on of these imploy-
mentℯ, John Pountiℯ Vice-Admirall, and Counsello
r of State here resident
is requested freely to accompany yo
u in this vioage, whose Counsell &
aduise yo
u are desired to vse in case of importance. Given at James
Citty vnd
r my hand & y
e great Seale of the Colony this 20
th of June
1622.
