University of Virginia Library

CCCIX. Alderman Johnson. His "Rough Draught to a Com̃ission
& the Petic̃on to His Maty"
April (?), 1623

James by the grace of god Kinge of England Scotland Ffraunce and Ire-
land defender of the ffayth &c. To ou9 Trustie and welbeloued &c
* * * Knowe yee that whereas §Fforasmuch as wee§ heretofore of
ou9 Especiall grace & princely Compassion §we§ did by ou9 ɫres Pattentℯ
vnder ou9 great seale of England bearinge date the [blank] daye of [blank]
graunt and encorporate a Company of Marchauntℯ §aduenturers§ of
London, tradinge to Virginie, aswell for the good and benefitt of the said
Plantac̃on wch hath bene vnder the Gouerm of Sauages and People that
knowe not godℯ §as for divers other Causes best knowne vnto v§ as for
the settlinge of true Religion amongst them & aduancemt of trade§ §§
And whereas we are giuen to vnderstand that for the first 11 or 12 yeares
the Plantac̃on did florish, and was well gouerned duringe all §wch was in §
the Tyme that Sr Geo: Smith was Trẽr for the said Company whose Care
& diligence therein and of his great Charge §he hath diuers tymes bene att§
for the good of the Plantac̃on, we ou9 selues Can testifie And whereas we
are giuen to vnderstand by the Petic̃on of diuers §sondrie of the gretest§
Aduenturers since§ §and vphoulders of the said plantac̃on§ Since wch
tyme wee onte of §oure§ vnderstand §we vnderstand§ that diuers ffactions,
and disordered people of the said Company, are onely bent against the
greatest Aduenturers, and §the§ Auncient vphoulders of the Plantac̃on,
onely to reape a benefitt to themselues, and t and to wronge the Rest
of the Aduenturers, wch in noe wise wee maye not in Justice suffer to be
done, And because wee [2] are informed and take notice that there must
be a Reformac̃on had of the Euill Cariadges §and abuses that are nowe
Comitted amongst them§ Or els the Plantac̃on is in dainger to goe to
Ruin, Knowe yee that wee out of ou9 great Care and affection, for the
Continuance of the Plantac̃on and for the good of ou9 people and for
aduancemt of trade, and that the said Plantac̃on maye the better florish
and be p̢serued, and the said ffactions & disordered people, discouered

and suppressed, At the humble suit and instance of &c Wee out of ou9
especiall Care and Prinly Compassion haue assigned and appoynted
you to be ou9 Commissioners: And we doe by theise presentℯ giue vnto
you or any three or more of you power and authorytie to enquire search
discouer and find owt, §aswell by oath as wthout oath§ what Offences &
misdemeanours haue bene om by any p̱son or p̱sons Comitted or done
eyther againste the Aduenturers Tradinge to Virginia as aforesaid §or
against any p̱ticular member of the same§ as all soe to enquire and Certifie
vnto vs howe you shall find the said Plantac̃on to subsist and by whom
such Offences haue bene Comitted and done and whatt p̱son or p̱sons are
the occasion of causinge factions & discentions in the said Company, And
that you maye the better proceede herein wee doe giue vnto you or any
three or more of you power and authorytie to Call before you and be
assistant vnto you or any three or more of you all such p̱son or p̱sons as
you shall thinke meete and [3] moste likely to giue you any informac̃on
or satisfaction notice or knowledge for the Discouerie of the premises
supposed to haue offended in any the p̢mises and to doe all other actℯ
and thingℯ wch to you or any three or more of you shall be thought meete
for the effectinge of the same And wee doe hereby straightly Charge &
Comaund all and euery p̱son & p̱sons whom you shall find expedient to
examine in the p̢mises that vppon notice or warrant from you or any of
you they attend and come before you and be examined accordinge to the
true intent of this ou9 Comission, And yf any p̱son or p̱sons shall vppon
notice or warrant from you or three or more of you neglect or Refuse to
come before you, or beinge before you shall refuse to be examined or
answere directly to such questions as by you or thre or more of you shalbe
demaunded in execuc̃on of this ou9 Comission Wee do hereby Comaund
you by Certificate in writinge vnder the handℯ of you or three or more
of you to make knowen vnto ou9 priuie counse[l] the names of all such
p̱sons and take sufficient Caution for theyr appearance there to thende
due punishment maye be inflicted vppon them for theyr Contempt And
likewise that you or three or more [4] of you doe from tyme to tyme by
writinge vnder the handℯ of you or three or more of you Certifie vnto vs of
yor whole proceedinge vppon this ou9 Comission Where vppon we will
take such further Course therein §eyther by alteringe the manner of
gouermt or by appoyntinge some other gouernor for the good of the
plantac̃on§ as to Justice shall appertaine In wittnes &c

[Indorsed in the hand of Sir Nathaniel Rich:] Alderman Johnsons rough
draught for a Com̃ission & his petic̃on to his mat

[A note in the hand of Sir Nathaniel Rich on the back of this document is
as follows:]

                             

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Mr	R
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Mr	Stone
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Geo	Stu
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Mr	Hill
J:	ffan