University of Virginia Library

CCLII. Treasurer and Council for Virginia. Letter to Gov-
ernor and Council in Virginia
August 1, 1622

After or very hartie Comendations;

Wee haue to or extreame grief vndrstood of the great Massacre executed
on our people in Virginia, and that in such a maner as is more miserable
then the death it self; to fall by the handℯ of men so contemptible; to be
surprised by treacherie in a time of known danger; to be deafe to so plaine
a warning (as we now to late vndrstand) was last yeare given; to be secure
in an occac̃on of so great suspition and iealousie as was Nenemathanewes
death; not to p̱ceiue any thing in so opne and generall conspiracie; but to
be made in parte instrumentℯ of contriving it, and almost guiltie of the
destrucc̃on by a blindfold and stupid entertaininge of it; wch the least
wisdome or courage suffised to prevent even on the point of execuc̃on:
are circumstances, that do add much to or sorrow & make vs to confesse
that it is the heavie hand of Allmightie God for the punishment of ors
and yor transgressions: to the humble acknowledgment and p̱fect amend-
ment whereof together wth or selues, we seriously advise and invite you;
and in p̱ticular earnestly require the speedie redresse of those two enor-
mous exesses of apparell and drinkeing; the crie whereof cannot but haue
gon vp to heaven; since the infamie hath spredd it self to all that haue
but heard the name of Virginia to the detestac̃on of all good mindℯ, the
scorne of others, and or extreame griefe and shame: In ye strength of
those faultℯ, vndoubtedly, and the neglect of the Devine worshipp, haue
the Indians prevailed, more then in yor weaknes; whence the evill there-
fore sprung the remedy must first begin: and an humble reconciliation be
made wth the devine Matie by future conformitie vnto his most iust and
holie lawes: wch doinge we doubt not but that you shall be safe from the
handℯ of all yor enemies, and them that hate you: from whom if Gods

protecc̃on be not wth you no strength of scituation can saue you: and wth
it we conceiue not but where you be you may make yor selues as secure as
in any other place whatsoeur: and in all other respectℯ, the chaung cannot
be but to the worst, nay to the vtter overthrow, not only of all or labors
& chargℯ past, but to the frustrating of or intentions, and hopes, and the
expectation of his Matie and the whole state: wherefore you shall do well
so wholie to abandon the thought thereof, as in this point not to returne
vs any answer: Spartam quam nactus es hanc exorna: there to applie
all yor thoughtℯ and endevors, and in especiall to the setting vpp of
Staple Comodities, according to those often instrucc̃ons, and reiterated
advises that wee haue continually given you: the want whereof hath been
the truest obiection against ye succeedinge of this Plantation, and the
greatest hindrance and impediment (as we conceiue) that his Matie and
the State haue not sett to a more liberall hand to the furtherance thereof
but now at last it hath pleased God for the confirmation, no doubt, of or
hopes, and redoubling of or and yor coradges, to encline his Maties Royall
heart, to graunt the sole importation of Tobacco (a thing long and
earnestly desired) to the Virginia and Sum̃er Ilands Companies: and that
vppon such condic̃ons as the private profitt of each man is likely to be
much improved, and the generall state of the Plantation strongly secured,
whilest his Matℯ: Revenue is so closely ioyned as together wth the Col-
lonie it must rise, and faile, grow and empaire, and that not a smale
matter neither, but of twenty thousand pound p̱ ann (for the offer of so
much in certainty hath his Matie been pleased to refuse in fauor of the
Plantations) The good effectℯ likely hence to ensue are to obvious for
vs to sett downe, and p̱happℯ greater then we can imagine; this only in
generall we may assure orselues and you, that there shalbe no iust favor
tending to the advancement of ye Plantac̃on that we may not hope from
his Matie, who vppon or humble petic̃on and the mediation of the Lordℯ
of his most Honoble Privie Counsell, hath out of his Royall bountie been
pleased to bestow vppon vs diurs armes (although in these partℯ vnserv-
iceable, yett) such as against the Indians may be verie vsefull; wch we
doubt not but by the Abigaile to send you; and are further put in an
assured hope to obtaine the number of 400 young men, well furnished
out of England and Wales at 20ɫ a person, to repaire wth advantage the
number that is lost, to sett vpp the publiq revenues of the Companie, and
sattisfie the desertℯ of worthie persons in the Colony; this supplie we hope
to procure, so as they may be wth you before the Spring. The feare of
yor want of Corne doth much perplex vs, seeing so little possibility to
supplie you, the publique stock being vtterly as you know exhausted, and
the last yeares Adventures made by Private men not returned, as was
promised, we haue no hope of raising any valuable Magazine, but rather
feare to see the effect of what we forwarned by the Warwick; Other waies
and meanes are so vncertaine, as wee [24] cannot wish you to rely vppon
any thing, but yorselues, yet shall there not be left any mean[s] vnatempted
on or partℯ in this kind, and for other necessaries to supplie you, hoping
that the danger of this extremitie will hence forward p̱swade you not to
comitt the certaintie of yor liues to the vncertainty of one harvest: and
that at last you will vndrstand, it is as fitt and necessarie to yeeld the
return of Adventures yearely as to receiue them: but of these thing[s]
the Abigaile shall not only bring you further notice, but we hope in some
part the p̱forman[ce] whose stay hath by these last newes been a litle
prolonged but by the end of the Month wee doubt not to dispatch her;
or designes in her entertainmt we advised of by the Furtherance but now
send it you more fully expressed in the Order of the Quarter Court: to the
accomplishing whereof we earnestly desire you to applie yor vttermost
endevors: although p̱happℯ it may proue in the effect, of lesse consequence
then we desire, and of greater difficultie in the execuc̃on, then is pro-
pounded; yet it canot be but the bare name of a Forte will proue of
more worth then the charges and paines required therevnto. The p̱ticu-
larities of the p̱formance, we must reserue till the Shipp it self come, only
now we thought necessarie to let you vndrstand that the Company, hath
covenanted vppon the effecting of the bussines to make the fraight of the
Shipp homeward 800ɫ wch they haue cast to p̱forme by the ladinge aboard
of threescore and foure thousand waight of Tobacco at 3d p̱ɫ: and at
this price the generall Company, the Adventurers of the ioynt stock, of
mr Blaneys Magazine, of Southampton hundred (who haue refused for
theire owne and the Collonies benefitt the imployeing of the Discoverie
in Virginia) and of Martins hundred haue agreed and ordered that their
Tobacco shalbe brought home in the Abigaile, wch we desire you take order
may be p̱formed accordingly. The procuring of the rest to make vp the
former quantitie is the thing we are now most seriously to recomend vnto
yor cares wch vppon this timely advise (before by the coming of so many
Shippℯ thingℯ before stated) we doubt not you will verie easely effect, the
price being so indifferent, the conveyance so safe, and good, and the delay
of a litle time in the comeing home of the Tobacco no disadvantage at
all, by reason of the contract that we haue lately concluded wth his Matie;
so that we doubt not, but by the volluntarie offers of private men, you
may raise the full quantitie for fraight, wch otherwise by authoritie must
be provided, that neither the Company be dishonored by breach of their
Covenantℯ wth Capt Each, nor much lesse be endamaged, in that wch for
the Collonies good only, they haue vndrtaken.

There come now over in this Shipp, and are imediatly to follow in some
others many hundredℯ of people, to whom as we here think orselues bound
to giue the best encouragmentℯ for theire goinge in reguard (that you §in§
the want of a publique stock) there is no way left to encrease the Planta-
tion, but by abundance of private vndrtakers; so we thinke you obliged,
to giue all possible furtherance and assistance, for the good enterteining,
and well settling of them, that they may both thriue & prosper and others
by theire welfare be drawne after them: This is the way that we conceiue
most effectuall for the engageing of this State, and securing of Virginia, for,
in the multitude of people is the strength of a Kingdome: The allotting
out of p̱ticular Dividentℯ, and the setlinge of private p̱sons, we leaue
(vntill thingℯ may receiue a better force) vnto yor wisdomes and iudge-
mentℯ; not doubting but you will find out some course as shall giue content
to reasonable mindℯ; wch we very much desire may be donn, as farr as
civill life and securitie will p̱mitt, both wch together wth eligeon it self, by
this inordinate stragglinge run hazard of perishinge; wch error by so
hard a chastizment, we hope from hence forward they will be willing of
themselues to amend, if not yor authoritie must restreine them, not suf-
fering any to plant or sett down any where, but wth so sufficient a number
of able men and well provided, as may, not in theire owne, but in yor
iudgementℯ (who shalbe therefore accountable) defend themselues from
any assaultℯ of the Indians: in wch regard, as also for theire better Civill
government (wch mutuall societie doth most conduce vnto) wee think it
fitt, that the houses and buildingℯ be so contrived together, as may make
if not hansome Townes, yet compact and orderly villages; that this is the
most proper, and succesfull maner of proceedinge in new Plantac̃ons,

besides those of former ages, the example of the Spaniards in the West
Indies, doth fully instance, and against it we do not conceiue there will
be any repugnancie, exept from shallow vndrstandingℯ that cast not
beyond the p̢sent; or from minds and affecc̃ons, wholely intent to the
satisfieing of theire priv[ate] interests, although wth the ruine of the
publique State.

The relinquishing of Charles Cittie, Henerico, the Iron Works, the Colledg
landℯ and Martins hundred, are thingℯ, not only of discontent, but of
evill fame, although we doubt not, vndeserved; the replanting them is of
absolute necessitie; lest the best fire that mantaines the acc̃on here aliue
be putt out. for Martins hundred we leaue it to the Adventurers, to
take such expedient Course therein as themselues please, only the second-
ing thereof we most earnestly recomed vnto you: but for the speedy
restoringe of the rest, we pray you to employ yor vttermost endevors;
and if the Colledge Tenn̄tℯ and those belonging to the Iron workℯ shall
not be sufficient (as we much doubt) to make those places good of them-
selues, we desire you to propound these two condic̃ons for the inviting of
private men, to a competent number to ioyne wth them. first to sett downe
vppon the Companies Land, occupieing and manuringe to theire owne
benefitt only, such quantitie thereof as they can manage; vntill such time
as they may go vppon their owne Dividentℯ, when there shall by the
Companies Tenn̄tℯ and servantℯ be a full recompence and sattisfacc̃on
made them in kind, for ye clearing of ground, building of houses, and what
ever other cost or charge they haue bestowed vppon the Companies land,
and must then leaue vnto them. If this prevaile not (wch we chiefly wish)
then are we content to giue to every family ten acres of land, in those
places, wch you setting out, we will confirme to them and theire heires
for ever: and this ten acres shall not be acconnted in part of any other
proporc̃on due vnto them; nor be any impediment to hinder them from
goeing vppon theire Dividentℯ when they please; condic̃onally, that the
land be not left vncultivated & the houses vninhabited.

The people remaining of the Iron works, we desire may be com̃itted vnto
the charge of mr Maurice Barkley to be imployed (since we cannot hope
that the worke should go forward) in such maner as may be most bene-
ficiall to themselues, and vs, vntill such time as we may againe renue
that bussines, so many times vnfortunatly attempted, and yett so abso-

lute necessarie as we shall haue no quiett vntill we see it p̱fected: to wch
purpose wee desire there may by the first oportunity be sent vs a p̱ticular
list of the names and professions of the men, as also a noat of the tooles
and materiallℯ wanting for the executing of the worke:

Of no lesse waight do we esteeme the Colledge affaires, wch wee pray
you to take into yor considerations not only as a publique, but a sacred
bussines; and in p̱ticuler we very earnestly request the care, and paines
of mr George Sandys for the settling and ordering of the Tenn̄tℯ; who
beinge now by long experience growne skilfull in all maners of the Cuntrie,
we are informed it will not be lesse advantageable vnto vs, and of farr
more content to themselues, to be left to theire owne disposinge and gov-
erment, and to reduce the vncertaintie of halfℯ to the certaintie of a
Rent; wch we haue therefore agreed, shalbe for eury p̱son 20 bushellℯ of
Corne; 60ɫ waight of good leafe tobacco, and one pound of Silke, to be
yearely paid, together wth six dayes labor in publique workℯ, and over
and aboue that they be bound to buildinge of convenient howses, plantinge
of orchardℯ, gardins &, on the Colledg Land and not elswhere: they that
will accept of these Condic̃ons, you shall leaue to themselues, but so, as
for better conveniencie of living, fowr, or at least three of them, sorte
themselues to work, and liue together, and be bound each for other for
the true p̱formance of theire Covenantℯ: those other that shall not be
willing or worthie of such agreementℯ, we leaue to you to take the best
order in disposinge of them: as for those that shalbe Artificers and of
Manuall trades and occupac̃ons, we conceiue that they may likewise
p̱forme this bargaine although they follow theire trades, wch rather then
that they should not do, wee leaue it to you to contract otherwise wth
them, as you shall thinke best, allwaies reservinge that theire living be
vppon ye Colledge Landℯ. As for the Brick-makers, we desire they may
be held to theire Contract made wth mr Thorpe, to the intent that when
opportunitie shalbe for the erecting of the fabricke of the Colledge, the
materiallℯ be not wanting.

These are part of the remedies that are to be applied for the repaireinge
of this late disaster; as for the Actors thereof, wee cannot but wth much
griefe proceed to the condempnation of theire bodies, the saving of whose
Soules, we haue so zealously affected: but since the inocent blood of so

many Christians, doth in iustice crie out for reveng, and yor future securitie
in wisdome require; we must advise you to roote out from being any longer
a people, so cursed a nation, vngratefull to all benefittℯ, and vncapable
of all goodnesse: at least to the remoueall of them so farr from you, as
you may not only be out of danger, but out of feare of them, of whose
faith and good meaning you can never be secure: wherefore as they haue
merited let them haue a p̱petuall warre wthout peace or truce; and although
they haue desrved it wthout mercie too, yet remembring who we are,
rather then what they haue been, we cannot but advise, not only the
sparing, but the preservation, of the younger people of both Sexes, whose
bodies may, by labor and service become profitable, and theire mindℯ
not overgrowne wth evill Customes, be reduced to civilitie, and after-
wardℯ to Christianitie: And because there is a necessitie not only in the
thing it self, but in the speedines of effecting it; we thinke it fitt that
besides that certaine way of famishing (wherevnto we doubt not but you
haue ere this given a good begining by the burning of theire Corne, or
the reaping it to yor owne benefitt) you add and putt in execution all
other waies and meanes of theire destrucc̃on; not omitting so much as to
provoke theire neighbouring enimies (by reward of beadℯ and Copper
vppon the bringeing in of theire headℯ) to the fierce pursueing of them:
and that at such times especially as yorselues may issue out vppon them
likewise; wch we think should be often don from all partℯ of the Collony
together: but for a full securinge of yorselues, and a certaine destroyinge
of them, we conceiue no meanes so prop̱, nor expedient, as to mantaine
continually certaine bandℯ of men of able bodies, and invred to the Cun-
trie; of stout mindℯ, and actiue handℯ, that may from time to time (in
severed bodies) pursue and follow them, surprisinge them in their habi-
tations, intercepting them in theire hunting, burninge theire Townes,
demolishing theire Temples, destroyinge theire Canoes, plucking vpp theire
weares, carying away theire Corne, and depriving them of whatsoeuer may
yeeld them succor or relief: by wch meanes in a very short while, both yor
iust revenge, and yor p̱petuall security might be certainly effected. As for
the mantainance of those men wth victuallℯ and munition, we conceiue it
iust and equall, that it should be by a generall levy throughout the whole
Collony; in regard whereof, the one moyitie of the prise as well of the
p̱sons of men for slaues, as goodℯ, should be vnto the Collony for fortifi-
cac̃on and other publique vses; and the other Moytie devided amongst
the Souldiars themselues; in further sattisfacc̃on of whose travellℯ and
hazardℯ, we do purpose a liberall recompence, out of the labors of those
yong people wch by his Mats gratious favor we hope to obtaine, out of the
severall Counties of this Kingdom wch as it shall be bountifull to all so it
shalbe redoubled to them into whose handℯ the principallℯ either in execu-
c̃on or contriuement of this Treacherie shall fall: but if any can take
Opachancano himself, he shall haue a great and singular reward from vs.
As for those Indians whom God vsed as instrumentℯ of revealing and pre-
ventinge the totall ruine of you all we thinke a good respect and recom-
pence due vnto them, wch be a good and carefull education of them may
best be expressed and sattisfied; whereby they may be made capable of
further benefittℯ and favors.

Wee send you a Copie of or Letters by the Furtherance wch wee doubt not
but is safely long ere this arived wth you the suplies therein sent of Ship-
wrightℯ, and East India Schoole, wee cannot but againe most effectually
and earnestly recomend vnto yor care and favors, wch p̱happℯ by the chaing
of thingℯ wth you they will the more need. The improving of the Com-
panies revenues, and recoverie of theire Debtℯ is, of those thingℯ wthout
wch neither wee nor you can subsist. Many other matters we haue to
write if time would giue leaue for want whereof, we must reserue them
till the departure of the Abigaile: And now comitting you and all yor
affaires, to the good guidance and protecc̃on of the Almightie. we bid
you hartily farewell