LIX. Treasurer and Council for Virginia. A Letter to Sir
George Yeardley
June 21, 1619
Admiralty Court, Instance and Prize, Libels 80, No. 123
Document in the Public Record Office, London. In the Records of the Suit of the
Virginia Company with Wye, 1620
List of Records No. 110
Sc̃da schedula de qua fit menc̃o in arlis p̃ntibus annexis
A coppy of a letter from the Treasurer and Counsell for Virginia to Sr
George Yardly Knight Governor of Virginia dated at London 21
June 1619 and sent by the Garland
After or very harty comendac̃ons, we have wth great ioy vnderstood of
yor safe arrivall in Virginia, and of yor firme resolution to reforme those
errors w
ch have formerly been com̃itted One chiefe whereof hath byn
the excessive applying of Tobacco, and the neglect to plant Corne w
ch of
all other thingℯ is most necessarie for the increase of that planta-
tion. Wee therfore much com̄ending yo
r resolution therein doe w
thall
earnestly pray yo
u that nothing whatsoever may divert yo
u from
that worthy Course. The rather for that it is now high tyme
(all thingℯ considered) to settle the Plantation in that proportion of
strength as to defend it selfe against all forraigne enimyes, w
ch cannott
be don w
thout multitude of people to be sent, whereof there is no other
soe forcible attractive as the plenty of Corne, and other p̳vision to enter-
taine them (by way of loan) at their first arrivall. The hope that is
conceived of yo
r industrious and iust carriage for the publique & generall
good doth cause great expectation of prosperous successe in the speedy
bringing of that plantation vnto that p̱fection w
ch hope wee pray yo
u by
yo
r best endevo
rs to encrease there, And we assure yo
u that on o
r partℯ
there shalbe nothing defective to correspond w
th our like endevours here
to the vtmost of our powers vpon all occasions.
Wee cannott but in p̱ticular com̄end yor carefull lie vpon the p̳ceedingℯ
of the Treasurer sett out by Captaine Argall and concurr wth you in
opinion of the importance thereof wee pray you therfore according to
our former instructions that nothing be neglected in that busines. And
that you geve diligent order that the shipp be seased vpon ymediatly
vpon her returne, and examynac̃on taken of her course and p̳ceedingℯ,
that Justice may be don to all parties as the case shall require. And wee
pray you to certifie vs at large, of yor doingℯ therein ffor the rest wee
referr you to our first instrucc̃ons nothing doubting according to yor
promise and our trust you will in all thingℯ observe them to the vtmost
of yor power.
The outrage don by the Chekohomini deserveth a sharpe revenge, and it
standeth you vpon in matter of state to p̳ceed therein wth a strong hand,
not only to the p̱sonall destruction of the murtherers, but the removing
that people further of from our Territories by all lawfull meanes if the
same be not allready don by Captaine Argall, as he seemeth to in sinuate.
But for the rest mainteyne amity wth the natives, soe much as may be
and p̳cure their Children in good multitude to be brought vpp and to worke
amongst vs Wee are now in setting forward a shipp vnto yo
u w
th one
hundred able p̱sons victualled for a yeare and well furnished and armed
fifty whereof are to be placed in the publique land of the Company, and
other fifty vpon the colledge land at Henrico. Wee sett them out soe as
to be w
th yo
u in October next. Wee praie yo
u very hartily to make such
p
rparation for them in both places against theyr com̄yng as that they
may be well harboured against the winter and loose no tyme to p̳ceed
w
th their busines And soe wee betake yo
u w
th all yo
r charge to the pro-
tection and blessing of the highest and rest
yor very loving freindℯ
London 21 June 1619