University of Virginia Library

An extraordinary Court held for
Virginia on Thursday the 17th of
Aprill 1623

Present

 

Right hoble Ea: of Warwick.

Lo: Cauendish.

                                     

Sr Edw: Sackuille.	mr Widdowes.	mr Ed: Bennett.
Sr Edw: Sandis.	mr Rich: Bennett.	mr Hobbs.
Sr Io: Dãuers.	mr Baynham.	mr Cuff.
Sr Nath: Rich.	mr Rider.	mr Webb.
Sr Io: Bourchier.	mr Edwards.	mr Wilkinson.
mr Nich: fferrar Dpt.	mr Caning.	mr D'Lawne iuñ.
mr Io: fferrar.	mr Southerton.	mr Hackett.
mr Gibbs.	mr Berblock.	mr Seaward.
mr Io: Smith.	mr Palmer.	mr Leauer.
Capt Butler.	mr Balmford.	mr Dike.
mr Wolstenholme.	mr Copeland.	mr Harding.
Aldr̃an Iohnson.	mr Tho: Sheppard.	mr ffra: Waterhouse.
mr Palavicine.	mr Edw: Waterhouse.	mr Arthur Swayne.
mr Iames Butler.	mr Barbor.	mr Ewens.
mr Bing.	mr Withers.	mr Roberts iuñ.
mr Caswell.	mr Morewood.	with diuers others.
mr Ditchfield.	mr Woodall.
mr Geo: Smith.	mr Newport.
mr Swinhoe.	mr Ley.

The Lo: Cauendish acquaynted the Company, that himselfe and the
rest had deliuered the Companies petic̃on, together wth ye Declarac̃on
and Relation ordered by the Last Court vnto his Maty who referred
[265] it vnto ye Lordℯ of the Priuy Counsell, before whome himselfe

and diuers of the Company had beene that morning, and by their
order caused this Court to be warned, to consider of Letters to be
written to both the Plantac̃ons by ye seuerall Companies. Wch ɫres
his Lop sayd, it was the ll͠s pleasure should not make any manner of
menc̃on of any dissenc̃on and disturbancℯ here at home, whereby ye
Plantac̃ons might be putt into any feare or discomfort; but contra-
rily should be assured of not onely ye continuance, but increase of
the Royall fauour of his Matie towardℯ them. And further his Lop
acquainted them, that the Lordℯ comaunded him to signify and giue
warninge in the Court to all perticuler members of the Companie,
that none of them should vpon their alleagiance dare to write any
thing to either of the Plantac̃ons concerninge matters of diuision or
differencℯ that had passed here at home, or any thing that might
dishearten them or giue them discouragemt or any thing contrary to
the Publiq̢ Letters; and if they had allready written, that they should
recall their L̃res. Herevpon the Court after some deliberac̃on agreed
vpon certaine generall heades of Letters; according wherevnto mr
Deputy was entreated to drawe vp ye L̃res against too morrowe in the
afternoone, when the Courtℯ would meete about that busines only.

Sr Nathaniell Rich propounded, that accordingly as he had in ye
Court of the ∥second of Aprill∥ moued the Companies would petic̃on
for the Sole Importac̃on of Tobacco, except only 40000 weight of
Spanish Tobacco to be yearely brought in; wch he said there was
hope might be obteyned. Wch Proposic̃on the former Court did not
agree vnto, in reguard that they conceaued, that it was ye intenc̃on of
ye State so to stint forraigne Tobaccoes, that noe more then 40000
weight of Spanish Tobacco should be brought in yearely; and there-
vpon it was not conceaued any waies preiudiciall to them, though the
40000 weight were brought in by others.

But now ye Companie being giuen to vnderstand, that there was likely
to be a free importac̃on of all sortℯ of forraigne Tobacco wthout stint,
and that there was a Proclamac̃on shortly to come forth to that pur-
pose, wch formely they did not expect nor imagine; it was vnani-
mously adiudged, that that would be the vtter ouerthrowe of ye

Plantac̃ons, for that thereby the Tobacco would be brought downe to
nothing. Wherevpon it was generally thought most necessary, to
seeke and indeauour by all possible meanes to prevent this free
importac̃on; and since it could not be hoped to obtayne an absolute
restreint, yet at least to petic̃on his Matie and the Lo: Treasuror that
it might be limited to 40000 weight, and that in lieu of this limitacoñ,
they would willingly here agree and binde themselues to bring in [266]
all their Tobaccoes hither, and doe their best to persuade the Colonie
to doe the Like; Wherevpon the order following being propounded,
was by erecc̃on of handℯ agreed vnto;

Whereas the Companies here for Virginia and the Sum̃er Ilands, had
aduertizemt of ye continuance of the Lo: Tr̃ers noble fauour to the
Plantac̃ons advancemt, they humbly entreate the

             

Earle of Warwick	mr Aldr̃an Iohnson
Lo: Cauendish	mr Gibbs
Sr Edw: Sackuill	mr Ditchfield
Sr Edw: Sandis	mr Palavicine
Sr Nath: Rich	mr Bennett
Sr Io: Dauers	mr Caninge
Sr Io: Bourchier	mr Dike

to goe to ye Lo: Tr̃er, and in their names humbly to petic̃on his Lop to
be a meanes to his Matie, that they may haue the Sole Importac̃on of
Tobacco into England, wth excepc̃on only of 40000 wtt of Spanish
Tobacco to be brought in yearely; for wch they will for themselues
here vndertake to bring in all their Tobacco, and doe their best to
persuade the Colonies to agree therevnto, in reguard of ye benefitt of
Sole Importac̃on, and if the Colony shall not consent therevnto, then
the bargaine to be dissolued. And they are likewise humbly entreated
to desire, that the Companies may haue ye refusall of bringing in the
40000 weight of Spanish Tobacco.