CCCXXV. Answer of Adventurers and Planters of Virginia and
Somers Islands to a Petition
April (?), after April 12, 1623
Manchester Papers, No. 353
Document in Public Record Office, London
List of Records No. 444
The aunswere of diuerse of the aduenturers, & planters of Virginia, and
the Somer Ilandes, to a petition, exhibited to his most Excellent
majesty, by the Lord Cauendish & some few others, in the name of
the Companies
1
It is auowed, that Alderman Jhonson, did deliuer to his Majesty, a
petition, which was presented, by the assent of many adventurers, then
personally present, and of many more, that were absent.
2
But, that the informations, in it contayned, were in any part vntrue,
eyther touching ye Suppliantes, or in derogation of the forme of gouern-
ment, established by his Majesty, is vtterly denied:
3
And it is a conjecturall, and vncharitable censure: they neuer haueing
seene, our petition: (as is implied by themselues) in ye next clause of theyr
petition:
4
And the former petitioners conceyue themselues vnworthy such imputa-
tions, considering theyr petition was approued by the honorable borde,
and the branches of the prayer, referred to bee examined by Comissioners:
6
Neyther had they cause, to complayne that Alderman Jhonson, denied
them a copy of the petition, for hee expresly told the comittye, that
required one, hee had no copy which his assertion is true.
Theyr desier, concerninge ye hearinge the complayntℯ cleeringe ye in̄ocent,
and pun̄ishinge ye delinquentℯ, was ye substance of our petition, & wee most
humbly submit our selues, to his Majesties order therein ∥ and as wee
conceyued the Course of com̄ission was the which wee desired was the
onely fayre and ready way to prepare those busines for theyr lordships
hearinge: which theyr honours also approued and ordred:∥ and we have
cause to
The pretended truith, of theyr informations, (contayned in theyr double
papers requires a large discourse, & shall receyue a full aunswere in his
due place: But wheras they fortefy ye verity of theyr relations, by ye
examination & approbation of both ye companies in theyr Courtes; wee aun-
swere, that it was onely propounded, & confirmed in a confused, and
Surreptitious Court; vnseasonably called on Ester euen, & begun at an
early, and extraordinary houre, when men were at theyr devotions; vnto
which very fewe were warned, but theyr freindes, & confidentes; in which
alsoe one vnwarned ∥being ther∥ then by chaũce, there ∥and∥ findinge ye
assembly strange, both for time, persons, & matter then handled, publiquely
demanded, whether sum̄ons were giuen, to those that deliuered ye first
petition; seeing none of them were then present: vnto whom, it was by
one of the most eminent persons in ∥yt∥ Court, as publiquely answered:
That if any of them were ther they shold bee desired to forbeare: And this
is the more worthy consideration, for that ye ordinary day appoynted for
those Courtes, was ouerslipt; and this sodaynly, and extraordinarily called,
onely for this purpose: There being nothing else done therein; which course
hath too frequently bene practised of late: thereby to effect theyr desseignes
and priuat endes:
As for those, sayd to be for sundrie yeeres, the disturbers of the orderly, and
peaceable proceedeinges of the Companies and termed Associates of Alderman
Johnson: wee must professe, we know none suche, and therfore require a
more perticuler Charge: generall aspersions in these kindes being euer to
be suspected, and disclaimed; and this Course is so generally affected by
our Selues; as it is our true desire, that noe priuate man, may euer be
suffred to shrowde him selfe, vnder the cloke of the Publick name of the
Companye, but that euery man may aunswere single for himself.
[Indorsed] The answere to the petition.
