CCLXVI. Governor of Virginia. A Commission to Captain William
Eden, Alias Sampson
October 24, 1622
Manuscript Records Virginia Company, III, Part ii, Page 39a
Document in Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
List of Records No. 371
By the Governor and Capt generall of Virginia.
To all to whom these p̢sentℯ shall come, greeting in or Lord God ever-
lastinge. Whearas it hath pleased God for or Sinnℯ, among other of his
punishmtℯ, to inflict vppon vs a great scarscity and want of provisions,
wthout the supply of wch this Colony cannot subsist; And whereas by the
meanes and way of trade, great hopes may be expected for relief of or
people, now standing in great need thereof. Knowe yee that I Sr Francis
Wyatt kt Governor & Capt generall of Virginia, out of the confidence that
I haue in the discretion and valor of my trustie & welbeloued frend
Will͠m Eden alias Sampson Maister of the good Shipp the Furtherance,
now ridinge in Harbor before James Citty, do license and authorise him
the said Will͠m Eden alias Sampson in the said good Shipp the Further-
ance, wth the first conveniencie of wind and weather to sett Saile from the
said Harbor where he now rideth, and from thence to go into any River
or Harbor wth in the boundℯ, limitℯ, or p̢cinctℯ of this Colony graunted by
his Matie to the Company of Virginia (viz.) wthin the degrees of 33 exclu-
siuely and 41 inclusiuely, there to trade wth the Natiues, or if occac̃on
shalbe given by them, by force or violence to compell them therevnto,
for Corne, furrs or any other Comodities whatsoeu9, and after his trade
shalbe ended, or his Shipp laden, wth all convenient speed, to returne to
the said port at James Citty from whence he first sett saile. Grauntinge
vnto the said Will͠m Eden alias Sampson full power and authoritie, that
if he be chased or encountred in this his vioage by any man of warr or
other, that to his vttmost power he repell and resist them, and himself,
his Shipp, and Company defend against any forraigne nation, or other
that shall dare to hinder his proceedingℯ. Giveinge him further power
and authoritie, that if he find any people planted on the land, or any
Shipp, or Shippℯ, wthin the foresaid limittℯ or p̢cinctℯ, trading for any
Comodities vppon the Coast, wthout speciall licence from his Matie or the
Company of Virginia, that he displant and make lawfull prize of them,
and so bring them along w
th him to the port of James Citty. Given at
James Citty vnd
r my hand and the great Seale of this Colony this 24
th
of October, in the yeares of the Raigne of o
r Soveraigne Lord James by
the grace of God, of England, Scotland, Fraunce and Ireland, Kinge,
Defendo
r of the faith &
c (viz
t) of England &
c the Twentieth, and of Scot-
land the Lv
th in the yeare of o
r Lord God, 1622. and in the xvj
th yeare of
this Plantation.
To Capt Will͠m Eden alias, Sampson
Francis Wyatt.
