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PROPOSITIONS
To the Honorable Courte of Sommer Islands for the
better performance of the Contract wth his Maty
and in behalfe of the sayde Plantation.[62]
Right Honoble for avoydinge of troublesome or offensiue speach to this Honoble
Court, and the multiplicac̃on of many words and exceptions against the Salaries
as they nowe stand propounded, or against the parties intended for managinge
the sale of our Sum̃er Ilands Tobacco, it is thought convenient by the Author
himselfe breifely to propound in writinge these reasonable proposic̃ons, wch he
desireth may be read and considered and put to the question by this Honoble
Court.
Whereas at a late Virginia Court there was tendered a Proiect by a former
Com̃ittee appointed and an imperfect Draft of another proiect by mr Wrote as
touchinge the Salary and disposinge of Virginia and Spanish Tobacco wch two
beinge compared by the Companie then assembled that of the Com̃ittee was
allowed by erecc̃on of hands & so it stands confirmed.
But forasmuch as it is conceaued that neither of those Proiectℯ can be in all
pointℯ fittinge for those of the Sum̃er Ilands Plantation wch stands vpon mayne
Different Termes from that in Virginia It is humbly desired that, y Premises
(so farr as concernes this Plantation) may be better considered and howe to be
carried in the medium of a more equall waye before it be too sodainely con-
cluded in this Court.
That an indifferent Com̃ittee may be nominated and appointed by this Court
consistinge of such as are deepest engaged in the Supplyinge their shares and
in the goodℯ shortly to be returned thence.
And forasmuch as this worke is of great importance aswell for his Ma benifitt
as for the Aduenturers and Planters good if well performed so if otherwise
to the verie great hurt of both.
The Com̃ittees are aduisedly to consider of the Sumer Ilands proporcon of
Salary for Agency, and to agree with those Agentℯ of such explanac̃ons Coue-
nantℯ and assurance to be drawne and indented aswell on the Aduenturers as
on the Agentℯ part to be performed as shalbe thought necessarie for the bet-
ter accomplishinge of the Contract wth his Maty and for securing the Aduen-
turers and Planters in sundrie needfull pointℯ, and also to consider perticulerly
of the Agentℯ already nominated, and of the excepc̃ons to be taken §made§
against some of them.
And that none of those already appointed for Salary in y Virginia nor their
Brethren may be of this Comittee nor to haue voice in Court when this is put
to the question they beinge of a second party wch must conferr with this
Comittee.
ffinally this Com̃ittee shall nominate none of themselues to be Agentℯ or ffactors
for Sallary howsoeuer they may be thought fittinge to be Agentℯ at large with-
out Salary, as beinge such as will haue the greater care of vent and good suc-
cesse in yt wherein themselues haue the greatest share & interest.
ffebr. 22th 1622. By me Robt Iohnson Ald [193]
Wch beinge read it was by diuers aunsweared that such generallities
did not any waye direct them in the perticularities nowe in question
As for the matters desired to be referred to Com̃ittees they were
already vnder a select Com̃ittee, then wch a more sufficient could not
be chosen and these and many other pointℯ had nowe err this bin well
setled had it not bin for the interruption that had bin by these late
courses in defaminge and disgracinge the Officers; wch were such and
any reward whatsoeuer any longer endure them, wherefore he besought
them to make choise of some other in his place, to the intent that for
the want of that officer the buissines did not stand at a staye.
The Lo: Cauendish moued that seeinge Sr Edwin Sandys would by
noe meanes any longer hold the place of Director they would nowe
propose some other fitt man for that office. Wherevpon some nomi-
nated Sr Nath: Rich but he excused himselfe aswell for his owne
insufficiencies as also that he should be often absent out of Towne: In
wch reguard he would not vndertake it for 10000li p̱ Añu: but said if
he were fitted for the buissines he should be willinge to doe it Gratis.
Next some proposed Sr Thomas Wroth but he said he was not fitt
for it.
Some also nominated mr Edward Iohnson but he excused himselfe as
no waye able for such a place.
Sr Natha: Rich desired to be satisfied howe the Planter shalbe dealt
wthall about his Tobacco in case he standℯ in need of present money:
Touchinge wch he said he would nowe make a Proposition to this
Court vizt That he would vndertake together with his frendℯ within
a short time to procure a Stocke of 14: or 15000li to take of the whole
quantitie of Tobacco that should come home wch would be benificiall
both to the Kinge and the Planter.
In the end after a verie longe debate and dispute the Court seeminge
ill satisfied that so many diuersions were made and that against the
Salaries wch were nowe in question, there were brought not better
Argumentℯ, earnestly called vpon his lp: to put the matter to the
question.
Wherevpon his lp: put it to the question whither they would estab-
lish all thingℯ accordingly as they were formerly ordered as well con-
cerninge the Offices as Sallaries, wch beinge put to the question it was
by a generall erecc̃on of handℯ noe one dissentinge ordered and agreed
that the Offices and Salaries should stand accordingly as they were
formerly sett downe. [194]
It beinge also put to the question whither they would accept of Sr
Edwin Sandys resignac̃on of the Office of Director or not: It was by
a generall erecc̃on of handℯ denied and on the Contrary he was gen-
erally verie earnestly entreated not to thinke of leavinge the place
vpon any discouragement whatsoeuer: they professinge that without
his assistance they should much doubt of the well managinge of so
difficult a buissines.
The Virginia Court beinge ended the Lord Cauendish tooke againe
the Chaire, and propoundinge the matter of the Proclamation wch the
Lo: Treasuror desired to be forborne for some Moneths it was passed
by erecc̃on of handℯ in the Selfe same Termes together with the whole
body ∥of the∥ Contract as the Virginia Companie had passed it.
As for the matter of Sallaries and Conveyance of landℯ it being
almost eleauen of the Clocke it was moued that this Court might referr
those pointℯ to be disputed and debated of on Monday next with full
authority to conclude them: Wch being put to the question it was
generally agreed and ordered that these two buissinesses should that
day be first handled and ordered before any other.
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