University of Virginia Library

CCCIV. George Sandys. Letter to Sir Samuel Sandys
March 30, 1623

I humblie crave yor pardon if I have not written §vnto you§ so often as
you expected, and my dutie bound me: presumeinge that the Governour
had acquainted you with whatsoeu9 was worthie your knowledge: We
found at our Comeing over the Country in peace, but in such a peace as
presaged ruyne: the people dispearsed in small familyes, farre distant one
from another, and like the foolish Arcadians, exposed to the pray of who-
soeu9 would assaile them, yet Could wee not reforme this mischeife, they
haueing Pattentℯ granted from the Court in England to plant wheresoeu9
they pleased contrarie to all order, discipline, and Example: but how well
wee beganne to build (though impossible to Continew) on this prescribed
foundac̃on I coniecture is not unknowne vnto you; Neither could the Trecherie
of the Indians (although foreknowne) have beene but in part prevented:
who like violent lightening are gone as soone as p̱ceived. Yet are we taxed
with indiscrec̃on and Cowardize for draweinge theis miserable people to
places of securitie; Who had neither victuall nor munic̃on (nor Could wee
helpe them wth either) nor of strength to defend themselves: so that of
necessitie they must have perished either by the Enimye, or famyne. But men
that are ambitious to bee Counted wise will rather Justifie then acknowledge
their Errors and impute the fault to the execuc̃on, when it is indeed in the
proiect. Wee held not our selves secure said an ignoble Noble man vnles
wee had 1000 Souldiers to guard vs; what a strict affynitie is there betweene
the divell and a lyer! for my owne part I receaued not a man into my
Plantac̃on although at one time I was so weake that I could not arme 5
able men: and for the Governour, the Councellors themselves were con-
strayned to watch nightlie by turnes vntill the Countrye allowed him a
guard of 30 men. Sr Edwin writes that strucke with a Panicke feare wee
proposed a Removeall of the Collonie to the Easterne shore. Indeed I
writt home of such a proposic̃on and named the Proposor with his Argu-
mentℯ which were hotlie mantayned by others, (and no question but [2]
that place had beene better, at the first, to have seated on, in regard of

fertilitie, Convenience, all sorts of provision and strength both against the
Native and fforreiner) yet theis were refuted by vs in pointℯ of Reputac̃on,
being besidℯ, as wee alledged, an intollerable presumption for vs to attempt
such a Change without your Consentℯ: howsover wee thought it fitt that
the place should bee further survaied, and a Partie there seated, and this is that
treason against God and man, for wch wee deserve to bee hanged. But I pray
God their Contemplac̃ons doe not so ou9swaye our experience that all in
thend Come to no thinge: who thinke eu9ie thing done as soone as Conceived
(how unfeasable soeu9) and so highten their proceedinges that it is impos-
sible for our Actions to goe alonge with their reportℯ whereby wee must of
necessitie suffer in our reputac̃ons. Wee are much upraided with Sr
Thomas Dale: yet (not to detract from the dead) what did he? or what is
extant of his Endevours? or what Could not wee doe if wee (as hee) had
500 men at our owne disposure, both fed and appareled out of England?
whereas wee haue not one except wee hire them with our private purses,
or take them Iniuriouslie from their Mrs The Teñants they sent on that
so absurd Condition of halves are neither able, to sustaine themselves nor
discharge their moyetie, and are so deiected with their Scarce provisions,
and finding nothing to answeare their expectac̃on, that most give themselves
over, and die of Melancholye, the rest running so farre in debt as keepes
them still behind hand, and manie (not seldome) looseing their Crops
whilst they hunt for their Bellyes: Nor are their Comanders much better,
who haveing little perfourmed of what was promised, their meanes not
worth the Collectinge, conu9t their mindℯ to other Imploymentℯ. And
now least wee should growe too rich they haue sent over (without anie [3]
advice from vs) a Captaine of a shipp, with extreame charges to the
Countrye, to build a fort in the Sea (I might haue said a Castle in the aire)
on a shole of oister shells everie tide overflowne, and at lowe water with
eu9ie wynd washt over by the surges; where when you have pearced the
vpper Crust, ther is for manie speares lengthes no bottome to bee found.
The Captaine dyed, to save his Credit, soone after. And I feare that their
too much vaine glorie and presumption at home, togeather with our sins
have drawne theis afflictions vpon vs; the massacre being seconded with
a gen9all sicknes, insomuch as wee haue lost I beleive few lesse then 500,
and not manie of the rest that haue not knockt at the doores of death.
yet with our small and weake forces wee haue Chased the Indians from
their aboadℯ, burnt their houses, taken their Corne and slayne not a few.

The great King now sues for peace, and offers a restituc̃on of his Prisoners:
for whose sakes wee seeme to bee inclineable thereunto, and will trie if wee
can make them as secure as wee were that wee may following their Example
in destroying them. We are now of orselves about to erect a ffort in as
advantagious place as the other, but vpon a solid foundac̃on My Ladie
Wyat God be thanked hath recou9ed her health and no question will
Continew it, shee being of so chearefull a disposeition, wch is in this Countrie
an Antidote against all diseases. I am ashamed, yet enforced, to importune
you once more for one yeares Rent of my Annuitie before hand, this being
a hard yeare. I haueing lost 23 men by sicknes, and received not one of
those 25 wch the Companie Contracted to send me, haveing also paid
almost 200li for my share in the hire of a Shipp without wch both I and mine
had famished, and discharged besidℯ diu9s debtℯ in England. I will send
you [4] my Acquittances by Mr Mellyn. Remember I pray you my best
seruice to my Worthie and kind sister, and to my Ladie Wayneman with
the rest of my Cozens.