 | The records of the Virginia Company of London |  |
A Court held for Virginia on Wedensday
in the afternoone the 23 of Aprill 1623.
| Right honoble |
| Ea: of Dorsett. | Sr Edw: Sandis. |
| Lo: Cauendish. | Sr Io: Dãuers. |
| Lo: D'Lawarr. | Sr Io: Bourchier. |
| Sr Io: Brooke. | Sr Edw: Horwood. |
| mr Aldr̃an Iohnson. | mr Scott. | mr Moorewood. |
| mr Nich: fferrar Dpt. | mr Seaward. | mr Wentworth. |
| mr Io: fferrar. | mr Steward. | mr Baynard. |
| mr Gibbs. | mr Wheatly. | mr Sheppard. |
| mr Bing. | mr Hobbs. | mr Swinhoe. |
| mr Iames Butler. | mr Iadwin. | mr Bull. |
| Cap. Nath: Butler. | mr Gough. | mr Caninge. |
| mr Io: Smith. | mr Proctor. | mr Kirby. |
| mr Wolstenholme. | mr Downes. | mr Cuff. |
| mr White. | mr Caswell. | mr Tatam. |
| mr Robert Smith. | mr Newell. | mr Melling. |
| mr Palavicine. | mr Budge. | mr ffothergill. |
| mr Bland. | mr Neuill. | mr Newport. |
| mr Ditchfield. | mr Edw: Waterhouse. | mr Roberts. |
| mr Withers. | mr Mullins. | mr Rider. |
| mr Addison. | mr Ley. | Cap: Haruy. |
| mr Balmford. | mr Robins. | mr Nicholls. |
| mr Copland. | mr Leauer. | mr Baron. |
| mr Etheridge. | mr Couell. | mr Palmer. |
| mr Widdowes. | mr Winne. | mr Barker. |
| mr meuerell. | mr Seldon. | mr Hackett. |
| mr Moorer. | mr Ewens. | |
| mr Webb. | mr ffelgate. | |
| mr Sparrowe. | mr ffra. Waterhouse. | |
| mr Cartwright. | wth diuers others. [269] |
The Court held the Second of this moneth was now read, whereat noe
man taking excepc̃on, it was putt to ye question, and by a gen9 all erec-
c̃on of handℯ (noe one dissenting) confirmed to be rightly sett downe.
The Court also of the Twelueth of ye same moneth was read and by a
generall erecc̃on of handℯ confirmed.
The Court Likewise of ye Eighteenth of this moneth was read, & by
a generall erecc̃on of handℯ approued & confirmed.
Vpon notice giuen of the Ann's departure from Grauesend notwith-
standing the ll͠os of the Counsells order to Sr Iohn Wolstenholme to
stay her till further direcc̃on. It was informed by mr Woodall and
mr Dennis shee was safe at Portesmouth, and that they were assured
shee went not to ye Sum̃er Ilandes as was supposed.
Sr Iohn Brooke, mr White and mr Ditchfield were by this Court desired
to goe too morrow morning to ye Lo: Treasuror in ye Companies name
humbly to desire ye continuance of his Lops fauour for the attayning
of the Companies suite, that there be noe more then 40000 weight of
Spanish Tobacco to be brought in yearely; And further to acquaynt
his Lop wth ye great damage & inconvenience that ariseth to the poore
Passengers that lye at the Isle of Wight by delay of ye Shipp; And
humbly therefore to beseech his Lop, that the lls ɫre may be expedited,
that accordingly the Shipp may be dispatched. And further humbly
to acquaynt his Lop, that concerning those addic̃ons required in Mr
Dickensons L̃re; that although they doe not knowe of any diuision or
distraction in the Colonies, yet in obedience to his Lops comaund they
appointed by his Matie for their good, and redresse of all inconven-
iences, they will send their llps order, if his Lop soe please. But for
the §Two§ first pointℯ to signifie vnto them, that ye Contract is dis-
solued, and that there must be a free Importac̃on, they conceaue that
the Last point wilbe the most discomfortable newes vnto ye Colonies,
that possibly cann be; It being generally adiudged in their Courtℯ,
and confessed by them that haue most opposed the Contract, that if
there be a free Importac̃on of Tobacco, and yet the Colonies bound to
bring in all, that their Tobacco will come to iust nothing, and that
the Plantac̃ons wilbe vtterly ruyned. Wherefore the Companies most
humbly desire, they may not be pressed to signify or say any thing
concerning the breach of ye Contract, except they may giue assurance
of this new fauour for wch they are Suitors.
They are humbly also to desire his Lop that the order may be explayned
and sett downe concerning the not sending any [270] L̃res, the Com-
pany conceauing that at Counsell table, the ll͠s did not only forbidd
them to write any Letters touching any contentious busines here at
home: But that they did absolutely giue them Leaue to write con-
cerning their perticuler and priuate affaires, wch wth out aduise by Let-
ters, would suffer much damage & preiudice, and be a cause of infinite
griefe and discontent to ye Colonie to receaue noe L̃res from them.
The Lo: Cauendish acquaynted the Court, that whereas a Petition was
deliuered to his Maty by mr Aldr̃an Iohnson, as also an Imformac̃on
by Capt Butler termed by him The Vnmasked face of our Colonie in
Virginia, wch was the occasion the Company likewise presented to his
Matie their Two writings, viztt the Declaracon, & Relation, together
wth a Petition, Ioyning therein wth mr Alderman in ye issue of his
Petition, namely yt ye examinac̃on & rectefying of ye matters com-
pleyned of might be referred to ye ll͠s of the Counsell. Wch petic̃on of
mr Aldr̃an and his Associatℯ and Informac̃on of Capt Butler being
now sent vnto ye Comp̃., his Lop propounded they might be read, and
afterwardℯ some course thought on for preparing of matters in answere
therevnto against ye sitting of ye Comissionrs.
Wherevpon mr Alderman ∥Iohnson∥ petic̃on was first read, being as
followeth
To ye Kings most excellent Maty:[127]
The humble Petition of Sundry the Aduenturers and Planters of the
Virginia and Sum̃er Ilands Plantac̃ons
∥Most graceous Soueraigne∥
Amongst the many memorable works of yor Mats: gratious Raigne those of the
Plantac̃ons of Virginia and the Som̃er Ilands are not the least, The begininge
of wch enterprize beinge the first fforraigne Colony planted by our nation
accompanyed wth soe great a charge to furnish Ships and men and to make
yearly new Supplies wthout any present hope of retribuc̃on, was sufficient att
the first veiwe and computac̃on to haue discourraged ye most resolute and for-
ward Adventurers butt by Gods Assistance and yor Mats: gracious encourrag-
mts wth that discreet and mylde Gouermt first nomynated and appoynted by
yor Matie All sorts of men were in such kindely and frendly manner invited to
engage themselves yt notwthstandinge many difficulties that great Acc̃on (wch
otherwise had perished in the birth) not onely tooke life and beinge butt
p̳ceeded in a moste hopefull and comfortable Course for many years togeather
wth vnity and love amongst ourselvs, & quyett enterteynmt of those Sauadg
Indians by wch endeavours sundry of those Infidells and some of emynent sort
were converted to Christian Religion, Staple Comodities began to be raysed
and imported into this kingdome, as Iron, Sturgion, Caueary, Sope and Pott-
ashes, Masts for Ships, Clapbourd Pipestaues Waynscott, Wine, Pitch, and
Tarr and yt most desyred worke of Silkwormes: These were ye blessings then
vppon our peaceable proceedinge.
Butt wee know not howe itt is of late years com to passe that notwthstandinge
yor Maties Subiects haue been in great multitude exported to the Plantac̃ons
yett ye aforesaid Comodities and other ye fruits of yt worke doe not appear as
in former times or vnitie and peace att home is turned to Civill discord and
dissenc̃on amongst orselvs and to Massacre and Hostility between ye Natives
and our Colony in Virginia, and divers of ye Antient Adventurers and Planters
conceive themselvs many wayes iniured abused and oppressed In wch respect
fearinge yt ye vtter ruyne and distrucc̃on of those great works is like to fol-
lowe wthout the help of a supreame hand, and not holdinge itt fitt to trouble
yor sacred ears wth p̱ticularr Complaints, wee are forced for remedy to appeale
to yor moste excellent maty:
Humbly prayinge yt some worthy personages whom yor Maty: shall please may
be nõiated and appointed by yr Com̃ission vnder ye great Seale of England
who by Oath or otherwise by all lawfull means and waies may enquire and
examine ye true estate of ye Plantac̃ons att ye time when Sr Thomas Smith
lefte ye Gouerment of ye said Compa: and all incidents thervnto belonginge,
as allso what monneys since yt time haue been collected for ye Plantac̃ons and
by whome how ye same haue been procured & expended [271] and what after
ye expence of somuch monny is ye true estate & Condic̃on of ye said Planta-
c̃ons at this time present: As allso to enquire into all abuses and greivances
concerninge the former p̱ticularrs And of all wrongs and iniuries done to any
the Adventurers or Planters and the grounds and causes therof, and to pro-
pound how the same may in time to come be reformed and howe the buisi-
nesses of ye said Plantac̃ons may be better mannaged Soe that all Contentions
and difficulties being reconciled the Authors therof condignely punished vnitie
and peace resettled, and ye forme of Gouerninge and Dyrectinge these Affaires
beinge better established, that worke may prosp̱ wth a blessinge from heaven
to yor Mats great honour and proffitt and to those religious and publique ends
for wch they were first vndertaken.
Next was read Captaine Butlers dismasking of Virginia being as fol-
loweth.
The Vnmasked face of or Colony in Virginia as it was in the
Winter of ye yeare 1622[128]
I found the Plantac̃ons generally seated vppon meer Salt Marishes full of
infectious Boggs and muddy Creeks and Lakes, and therby subiected to all
those Inconvenyencies and diseases, wch are soe com̃ly found in the most
vnsound and most vnhealthie partes of England, wherof every Country and
Clymate hath some.
I found the shores and sides of those p̱ts of the mayne River wher our Planta-
c̃ons are settled every wher soe shallow as no Boate can approach the Shores
Soe that besides the difficulty daunger and spoyle of goods in ye Landinge of
them, the ∥poore∥ people are forced to a continuall wadinge and wettinge of
themselvs and that in the prime of winter when the Ships commonly arrive &
therby gett such vyolent surfeits of Cold vppon Cold, as seldome leave them
vntill they leaue to live.
The new people yt are yearly sent ouer wch arrive here for the most parte
verie vnseasonably in winter finde neither Guesthouse Inn nor any the like
place to shroud themselvs in att their Arrivall no not so much as a stroake
are not onely seen dyinge vnder hedges and in the woods, but beinge dead ly
some of them for many dayes vnregarded and vnburied.
The Colony was this winter in much distress of victuall soe that English meale
was sould att the rate of Thirty shillings a bushell their owne native Corne
called Maize att Tenn and fifteen shillings the bušhell, the wch howsoeuer itt
lay heavy vppon the shoulders of the Generallytie itt may be suspected not to
be vnaffected by some of the cheife; for they onely haueinge the means in
these extremities to Trade for Corne wth the Natives doe hereby engrosse all
into their hands and soe sell itt abroad att their owne prizes and myselfe have
heard from the mouth of a prime one amongst them that hee would never wish
that their owne Corne should be cheaper amongst them then eight shillings
the bushell.
Their howses are generally the worste that ever I sawe the meanest Cottages
in England beinge every way equall (if not superiour) wth the moste of the
best. And besides soe improvidently and scatteringlie are they built seated
one from an other as p̱tly by their distance butt especially by ye interposic̃ons
of Creeks and Swamps as they call them, they offer all advantages to their
Sauadge enymies and are vtterly depryved of all suddaine recollecc̃on of them
selves vppon any termes whatsoever.
I found not the least peec of ffortificac̃on: Three peeces of Ordinance onely
mounted att Iames Citty and one att fflowerdue hundred butt never a one of
them serviceable; Soe yt itt is most certaine that a Small Barke of 100 Tunn
may take itts time to pass vpp the River in spite of them; & com̃inge to an
Anchor before ye Towne may beat all their houses downe aboute their ears and
soe forceinge them to retreat into the woods may Land vnder ye fauour of
their Ordinance and rifle the Towne att pleasure. [272]
Expectinge accordinge to their printed bookes a great forwardnes of divers
and sundry Comodities att myne aryvall I found not any one of them soe
much as in any towardnes of beinge for the Iron-works were vtterlie vasted
and the men dead the ffurnaces for Glasse and Potts att a stay and in small
hope; As for the rest they were had in a generall derision even amongst
themselvs & the Pamphelts yt had published their beinge sent thither by hun-
dreds were laughed to scorne and every base fellow boldly gave them the lye
in divers p̱ticulers Soe yt Tobacco onely was ye buisines and for ought that I
could here every man madded vppon that and little thought or looked for any
thinge ellse.
I found ye Antient Plantac̃ons of Henrico and Charles Citty wholly quitted and
lefte to ye spoyle of the Indians who not onely burned the houses said to be
and Horses wherof they killed great nombers to ye great greife aswell as ruyne
of ye Olde Inhabitants whoe stick not to affirme that these were not onely the
best and healthiest parts of all others butt might allso by their naturall strength
of scituac̃on haue been the most easefully p̢served of all others.
Wheras accordinge to his Mats: gratious L̃res Patents his people in Virginia
are as neer as possibly may be to be gouerned after the excellent Lawes and
Customes of England; I found in ye Gouermt there not only ignorant &
enforced strayings in divers p̱ticularrs butt willfull & intended ones In soe
much as some who vrged due conformitie haue in contempt been termed men
of Lawe, and were excluded from those rights wch by orderlie p̳ceedinge they
were elected and sworne vnto here.
There haveinge been as itt is thought not fewer then Tenn thousand soules
transported thether there are not through the aforenamed abuses and neglects
aboue Two thousand of them att the present to be found alive many of them
allso in a sickly and desp̱ate estate: Soe that itt may vndoubtedly be expected
that vnless the confusions and pryvate ends of some of ye Company here and
ye badd execuc̃ons in secondinge them by their Agents there be redressed wth
spede by some divine and supreame hand yt in steed of a Plantac̃on itt will
shortly gett ye name of a slaughter house and soe iustly becom both odious to
our selvs & contemptible to all the world.
Which being read, it was thought fitt for satisfacc̃on of such as seemed
to be much discouraged wth this his confident report touching the
vnhealthines of ye Country, and ill seating of ye Colony in Virginia
(it being by some persons of worth informed that vpon this Informa-
c̃on there was like to be a stay of many hundredℯ that were preparing
to transporte themselues) to heare the reports of such as had beene
long and often in Virginia. Wherevpon diuers being nowe present in
Court, were asked perticulerly; who affirmed vpon their certen knowl-
edge, that at euery Plantac̃on by and neere about that riuer, they may
Land wth Boats drawing Three foote water from halfe floud to halfe
ebbe safe & dry wthout wetting their foote. And further that they
finde by their owne experience, the Aire there as wholesome, and the
soyle for ye most part as fertille as in any place in England, or in any
Country wheresoeuer they haue trauelled.
But for further preparing of the answeres aswell to this Informac̃on,
as also to ye petic̃on of Alderman Iohnson & his Associatℯ, and like-
proceedings of ye former yeares and of those later foure yeares, wch y
Company were to defend; It was resolued that since it would be too
teadious, and impossible to passe these things in publiq̢ Courts, that
it should be done by way of Comittees: But because the partℯ of these
buisinesses were very many, and therefore needed ye helpe of many
headℯ; and considering that it was ye defence & vpholding of ye whole
Company, and euery man had interest therein one way or other, It
was therefore ordered, by erecc̃on of handℯ, that there should be first
a great Comittee of the whole Company in generall, whence noe man
(free of the Court) should be excluded, but only these who by ye
deliuery of ye petic̃on & Informac̃on, had made themselues ye Com-
panies Accusers; wch since they still mayntayned, it was not any way
reasonable, that they should be at ye meetings & consultac̃ons of the
Company, when they were to prepare their owne defencℯ, or giue
these Opposers their charge; To wch diuers of them being present,
and in perticuler Alderman Iohnson being present did agree, saying,
that they did not desire to be present at any of ye meetings of the
Company to this purpose; & therevpon himselfe & diuers others
departed ye Court.
It was likewise further ordered, that there should be chosen one to
moderate businesses in this great Comittee, & it was thought fitt, that
in reguared the meetings were like to be many and Long, that he
should haue an Assistant to helpe him, and to supply ∥his∥ ye place
vpon occasion of his absence. It was also ordered, that this great
Comittee should haue power to substitute & ordayne Sub Comittees
for ye expediting of perticuler businesses, that by ye parting of things
among them, they might be ye speedier and better accomplished: and
that these Sub Comittees should bring their labours & endeauors to
the great Comittee, & being by them approued should be presented
vnto ye Generall Court: It was likewise ordered by erecc̃on of handℯ,
that for these businesses the Counsell might assemble themselues,
excluding those from their sayd meetings, who being of ye Counsell
had ioyned wth Aldr̃an Iohnson in accusing ye Gouernemt & Proceed-
ings of the Company these ffoure Last yeares.
| The records of the Virginia Company of London | |