University of Virginia Library

At a Court held for Virginia on Wedensday in the Afternoone the last of Aprill 1623.

Present

     

Right Honoble Ea: of Warwick.

Lo: Cauendish.

Lo: Lawarr.

             

Sr Edw: Sackuille.	Sr ffra: Leigh.
Sr Io: Brooke.	Sr Nath: Rich.
Sr Edw: Sandis.	Chanc: of ye Dutchy.
Sr Ro: Killigrue.	Collonel Ogle.
Sr Io: Dauers.	Sr Tho: Wroth.
Sr Edw: Horwood.	Sr Io: Bourchier.
Sr Edw: Lawly.	Sr Sam: Argoll.

                                       

Aldr̃an Iohnson.	mr Bull.	mr Nicholls.
mr Nich: fferrar Dpt.	mr Wheatley.	mr Edw: Waterhouse.
mr Io: fferrar.	mr Caswell.	mr Ditchfield.
mr Geo: Garrett.	mr Downes.	mr Sparrowe.
Capt Butler.	Cap: Bargraue.	mr ffran: Waterhouse.
mr Ro: Smith.	mr Viner.	mr Woodall.
mr Gibbs.	mr Swinhoe.	mr Barker.
mr Wolstenholme.	mr Meuerell.	mr Newport.
mr Bing.	mr Leauer.	mr ffothergill.
mr Palavicine.	mr Kirby.	mr Ley.
mr Wilmer.	mr Scott.	mr Hobbs.
Capt Haruey.	mr Edwardes.	mr Mullins.
mr Edw: Iohnson.	mr Sheppard.	mr Collett.
mr Iames Butler.	mr Lewes Hughes.	mr Webb.
mr Berblock.	mr Roberts.	mr Hackett.
mr Copland.	mr Ditchfield.	mr Preston.
mr Balmford.	mr Sherroe.	mr Wilkinson.
mr Addison.	mr Rider.	mr Proctor.
mr Caninge.	mr Edw: Bennett.	with diuers others.
mr Bland.	mr Geo: Smith.	[275]

The Lo: Cauendish acquainted the Company, that diuers ancient
Planters, mrs of Shipps, Marriners, and sundry other persons that
haue Liued Long in Virginia, and haue beene many tymes there, had
presented ye great Comittee wth an answere vnto Capt Butlers Infor-
mac̃on, concerning the Colony in Virginia; wherein they did directly
contrary the most mayne pointℯ of his Informac̃on, prouing them to
be false and scandalous; wch was by erecc̃on of handℯ ordered to be
read, being this wch followeth.

The Answers of diuers Planters that haue long liued
in Virginia as alsoe of sundry Marriners and other
persons yt haue bene often at Virginia vnto a paper intituled
The Vnmasked face of our Colony in Virginia
as it was in ye Winter of ye yeare—1622[129]

1: Wee say that there is no place inhabited but is conveniently habitable. And
for ye first Plantac̃on wch is Kiccoutan against wch (if any be) most exception
may be made, itt is every way soe well disposed that in that place well gou-
erned men may enioy their healths and live as plentifully as in any parte of
England or other his Maties: Dominions, yett that there are Marishes in some
places wee acknowledge; Butt soe as they are more Comodious for divers good
respects and vses then if they were wantinge. As for Boggs wee knowe of
none in all ye Country and for the rest of the Plantac̃ons as Newports News,
Blunt poynt Wariscoyake Martins Hundred, Paspahey and all the Plantacons
right ouer against Iames Citty, and all the Plantac̃ons aboue these wch are
many they are verie fruitfull and pleasant Seates, free from Salt Marishes
beinge all on the fresh River and they are all verie healthfull and high Land
except Iames Citty wch is yett as high as Debtforde or Radclyffe.

2 That generally for the Plantac̃ons att all times from halfe ffloud to halfe
ebb any Boate yt drawes betwixt three and 4 foote water may safely com in &
Land their Goods dry on Shore wthout wadinge & for further Cleeringe of these
∥this∥ false obieccons the Seamen there doe att all times deliuer the goods they
bringe to the Owners dry on Shore, wherby itt plainely appears not any of
ye Country people there inhabitinge are by this means in daunger of their
lives, ∥And∥ at a great many of Plantac̃ons belowe Iames Citty and allmost all
aboue they may att all times Land dry.

3 To ye first they Answere that the winter is the most healthfull time & season
for arrivall of new Com̃ers True itt is yt as yett theris noe Guesthouse or place
of interteynmt of ∥for∥ Strangers. Butt wee averr yt itt was a late intent
and had by this time been putt in practise to make a generall gatheringe for
the buildinge of such a Convenient house wch by this time had been in good
forwardnes had itt not pleased God to suffer this Disaster to fall out by the
Indians. But although there be no publique Guesthouse yett are new Commers
entertayned and lodged & p̳vided for by ye Gouernor in pryvate houses; And
for any dyinge in the feilds (through this defecte) & lyinge vnburied, wee are
altogether ignorant, yett yt many dy suddenly by ye hand of God, wee often
see itt to fall out euen in this flourishinge & plentifull Citty in ye middest of
our streets, as for dyinge vnder hedges theris noe hedge in all Virginia. [276]

4 True itt is yt English meale hath of late since the Massacre been sould for
Tenn pounds of Tobacco ye bushell wch no vnderstandinge man can there value
aboue fifteen shillings sterlinge and here wee finde (wthout a Massacre) by
the iudgment of God for our murringe §murmuringe§ att plentie Wheat
hath this yeare been sould and still is in many places at three times the rate
itt hath borne wthin two or three years last past: And againe Indian Corne
hath heretofore comonly been sould after the rate of five shillings the bushell,
And farther meale bore so high a price this year as itt cost redy mony in Eng-
land together wth the fraight & other charges neer vppon twelue shillingℯ soe
yt if itt were sould att Tenn pounds of Tobacco ther will not be gayned twenty
in the hundred.

5. ffirst that the houses there were most built for vse and not for ornament
and are soe farr from beinge soe meane as they are reported yt throughout his
Mats: Dominions here, all labouringe mens houses (wch wee cheifly p̳fesse our
selvs to be) are in no wise generally for goodnes to be compared vnto them
And for the houses of men of better Ranke and quallety they are soe much
better and convenyent yt noe man of quallety wthout blushinge can make
excepc̃on against them; Againe for the Creeks and Swamps every man ther
that cannott goe by Land hath either a Boate or a Conoa for ye Conveyinge &
speedy passage to his neighbors house. As for Cottages ther are none in Vir-
ginia that they knowe.

6 Itt is true theris as yett no other artificiall ffortificac̃ons then Pallisadoes
wherof allmoste everie Plantac̃on hath one, & divers of them hath Trenches,
And this last yeare Capt Eache was sent for yt purpose As for great Ordi-
nance there are fower peeces mounted att Iames Citty and all serviceable, ther
are six Mounted att fflowerdue hundred all of them likewise serviceable, And
three mounted att Kiccoutan and all of them serviceable, there are likewise
att Newporte Newes three all of them serviceable ther are likewise att Henrico
seaven peeces and att Charles hundred two, and in other places, besides ffowlers
and Murders att divers places.

7 That ye Country yeilds divers vsefull & rich Com̃odities wch by reason of
ye Infancie of ye Plantac̃on, and this vnexpected Massacre, cannot yett be
brought to p̱feccon, & is no lesse hindred by ye emulous and envious reports
of ill willers whose pryvate ends by time wilbe discoured and by God recom-
penced. And wee doe further answer yt this Country is a moste fruitfull
Country, & doth certainly p̳duce divers rich Comodities. Itt is true yt the
Ironworks are wasted & ye men dead, but yt was by the Massacre wch if itt
had not happened ther had been a good proofe of yt Comodity. for ye works
wer in a very great forwardnes. As for Vines likewise ther were divers Vine-
yeards planted in sundry places butt all of them putt back by ye Massacre,
butt for ∥the∥ peoples derydinge of these Comodities or ∥the∥ books sent by
ye Compa: wee have neuer heard of any such scoffinge or derisions butt as the
Gouernor and Counsell ther are very desirous and haue sett forth Proclama-
c̃ons to cause all men to sett both Vines and Mulbery Trees, so ye people
generally are very desyrous & forward to rayse those former Com̃odities of
Wine and Silke, & likewise divers other good Comodities. [277]

All these wee leave to be answered by the Gouernor and Company some of
them beinge vnfitt to be determyned of by vs. And for ye last wee being
ignorant how many haue been transported or are now lyvinge there.

Wee whose names are herevnder and hereafter written have vppon mature
deliberac̃on & after full examinac̃on and considerac̃on of the premises drawne
vpp these answers beinge such as wee finde in our consyencies to be true, and
shall att all times iustifie them vppon our oathes In wittnes wherof wee have
herevnder sett our hands.

I William Mease Mynister haveinge lived tenn years in Virginia ∥and∥ affirme
all the answeres aboue except that of the Ordinance and Pallisadoes.

I Marmaduke Raynor haue gone 3 seuerall times Mr of Ships to Virginia and
lived 16 monneths there together and affirme all the answers aboue

I Iohn Procter haue lived 14 Years in Virginia & doe affirme all the answers
aboue except that of the Ordinance and Pallysadoes but I knowe ther are ∥is∥
neer vppon 20 peeces of Ordinance.

I William Ewens have gone Mr of Ships to Virginia 4 seuerall times & lived
one wholl year ther or ther aboutes, and affirme all the answers aboue except
that of the Ordinance and Pallisadoes.

I Iames Carter Mr of ye Trueloue doe affirme all the answers within written
butt yt I haue not seen the Ordnance att Henrico and Charles Citty butt all
the rest I have.

I Gregory Pearle hauinge been Maistersmate and lived in Virginia 16 monneths
doe affirme all the answers wthin written save that I have not seen the Ordi-
nance att Henrico and Charles Citty

I William Green beinge Chirurgion in the Temperance haveinge lived 17
monneths in Virginia doe affirme all the answers wthin written except yt I
have not seen the Ordnance att Henryco.

I Henry Hitch Chirurgion of ye Iames haveinge been 2 seu9all times in Virginia
and lived att one time there about 5 monneths doe affirme all the Answers wthin
written save yt I know not of ye Matters about Iames Citty.

I Edward Sanders haueinge lived 3 years in Virginia doe affirme all the
answers within written except that of the Ordinance and Pallysadoes and other
matters yt aboue Paspahay.

I Iohn Dennis Mr of ye Marmaduk affirme all ye answers within written except
yt of the Guesthouse ye Ordinance, & ye Palisadoes.

I Tobias Felgate haue gone Mr and Mate of Ships 5 times to Virginia & affirme
all the Answers ∥aboue∥ except that of the Ordinance onely.

I Samuell Mole haue lived 3 years or ther aboutes in Virginia beinge a
Chirvrgion and affirme all the Answers within written save that I have not
sene the Ordinance att Henrico & Charles Citty nor haue been in Henrico.

I Thomas Prosser haue gone 3 times Mrs Mate to Virginia and have lived att
one time aboue 3 qtrs of a year there & affirme all the answers wthin written
save yt I haue not seen ∥except of that of∥ ye Ordnance & Pallysadoes.

I Robert Dodson haueinge been twice in Virginia ∥do∥ affirme all the answers
wthin written for all matters from Iames Citty Downeward saveinge yt I doe
not knowe of ye Proclamac̃ons for Vines.

I Maurice Thompson haue liued 6 years in Virginia doe affirme all ye answers
wthin written saue yt I know not any thing of the Ordinance att fflowerdue
hundred nor att Henrico and Charles Citty.

I Iohn Snoade haveinge lived 3 years and halfe in Virginia doe affirme all ye
answers wthin written except §savinge§ yt I §have not seen§ ye Ordnance and
Pallysades and other matters aboue Paspahay att fflowerdue Hundred ∥and∥ Henrico and Charles Citty.

And it was further ordered, that this their Answere should be pre-
sented to ye Comissionrs when they should sitt.

There was likewise read the attestac̃on of one Iohn Seuerne and one
Iohn Lowe, being as followeth.[138]

It being moued that Capt Butler might haue a copie of this Answere
deliuered him, the Court by erecc̃on of handℯ denyed it, vntill such
time as the Comissionrs sitting, it might be first presented vnto them.

After this was read the Letter written to the Gouernor and Counsell
in Virginia, being the selfe same in all pointℯ wth that wch had beene
confirmed in Two former Courtℯ, except an addic̃on signifying the
breach of ye Contract directly according to their Lops comaund.[139]

Whereas it was signifyed, that the Lo: Treasuror out of his noble
respect and fauour vnto the Companies made offer, that they should

haue ye farming of ye 40000 wtt of Spanish Tobacco at ye rent of Six
thousand poundℯ p̱ Añu. for Two, Three or more yeares, as them-
selues should thinke good: It was after Long debate adiudged impossi-
ble for the Generall Companies (hauing noe Stock) to vndertake the
same. Wherevpon diuers Proposic̃ons were made, some supposing it
might be done wth Loane mony, if men would lend the Company some
mony for a yeare Gratis; And to this end the Earle of Warwick offered
to Lend One hundred poundℯ, Sr Nathaniell Rich One hundred poundℯ;
mr Ditchfield ffiftie poundℯ, & mr Woodall ffiue & Twenty poundℯ.

Mr Caning likewise made a Proposition, that a Booke might be drawne
wth a Preamble for men to vnderwrite what somes they will aduenture
towardℯ a Ioint stock for bringing in the aforesayd quantity of 40000
wtt, he supposing that—8000li—would manage [280] the busines. And
in reguared for ye better reputac̃on of this busines, it would be neces-
sary to haue ye aid and assistance of the Companies, the Vndertakers
out of their cleere gaynes should giue the Company a fourth part.
Wch Proposition was generally well approued of, if it could be effected,
and thought fitt to be referred to a Comittee to consider thereof; as
also to consider of all other wayes, how ye farming of this 40000 wtt
might be soe vndertaken as ye same might beneficiall vnto ye Com-
panies. Wherevpon ye Court nominated for ye Comittee these follow-
ing viztt

                 

Ea: of Warwick.	Aldr̃an Iohnson.	mr Wilmer.
Lo: D'Lawarr.	mr Gibbs.	Cap: Butler.
Sr Ed: Sandis.	mr Io: fferrar.	mr Bennett
Sr Io: Dauers.	mr Nich: fferrar.	mr Moorer.
Sr Nath: Rich.	mr Morrice Abbott.	mr Scott.
Sr Sam: Argoll.	mr Caninge.	mr Edw: Iohnson.
Sr Io: Bourchier.	mr Palavicine.	mr Edwardℯ.
Sr Io: Wolstenholme.	Cap: Haruy.	mr Ditchfield.
		mr Woodall.

Vpon moc̃on order was giuen for Drawing Vp Two Comissions, the
one at the request of mr Bennett for his shipp called the Godsguift
being to transport Passengers to Virginia, and the other Comission at
ye request of mr Thomas Shiers & his Associatℯ for the William &

Thomas for transporting of Passengers to their owne Plantac̃on. Wch
Comissions were ordered to be drawne vp & sealed.

Mr Deputy propounded the passing of three shares from mr Scott to
mr Thomas Culpepper of ye Middle Temple London Esq̢, that if noe
excepc̃on be taken hereat, betweene this & ye next Court he may be
admitted.

Vpon the humble request of Iames Dauies, the Court hath ordered
that vpon proofe made, that he is ye imediate heire to his deees
deceased vnckle Walter Dauies, his petic̃on shalbe recomended to the
Gouernour & Counsell of Virginia, that he may haue the possession
of that estate, that is befallen him there by the death of his said
vnckle, wth this Caution that if ye Peticonr hath any Brothers or Sis-
ters Liuing, they shall haue their partℯ in ye Goodℯ according to lawe.