 | The records of the Virginia Company of London |  |
NOUEMBER THE THIRD 1619:
| The Right Honoble͠ | The Lo: of Warwick. |
| Generall Cæsill. |
| Sr Edwin Sandis Knt Thr̃er. | ||
| Sr Tho: Roe. | mr Geo: Sandis. | mr Tho: Keightley. |
| Sr Io: Dãuers. | Capt Argoll. | mr Shepherd. |
| Sr Harry Rainsford. | Capt Bargraue. | mr Edw: Ditchfield. |
| Sr Tho: Wroth. | Capt Tucker. | mr Rich: Wiseman. |
| Sr Nath: Rich. | mr Tho: Gibbs. | mr [14] Bamford. |
| Sr Law: Hide. | mr Rich: Tomlins. | mr Caswell. |
| mr Iohn: fferrar Dpt̃. | mr [14] Steward. | mr Cranmer. |
| mr Dr Gulstone. | mr Geo: Chambers. | mr Hen: Briggs. |
| mr Dr Winstone. | mr Iohn Delbridge. | mr Ia: Berblock. |
| mr Lewson, etc. |
As in the last Court Mr Deputy acquaynted them of mr Thr̃er so he
being now present it pleased him to relate, that although to the
time giuen him by the Companies orders he had beene absent
yet he hath not beene idle to Virginia, as he will giue Accompt
of: And therefore he had to offer to their considerac̃on a Propo-
sic̃on for the inlarging of the Plantation in the publique. And
first touching the Publiq̢, he shewed how farr the Company had
allready proceeded. ffirst in Ianuary last there went ffifty men
wth Sr George Yeardley to be Tenantℯ of the Gouernors land,
whereof there failed by the way two or three, and six were now
remayning to him of Capt Argolls guarde. Afterward in Aprill next
twenty men should haue beene sent by Xofer Lawne vnto the
Com̃on Land, but he deliuered but 15 because the Company per-
formed not wth him, touching the Loane of Corne and Cattle as he
expected: Then 4 more were sent in the Triall according to the
dreth more sent—50—to the Colledge Land and 50 to the Com̃on:
And for one hundreth persons or thereabout wch appeareth to haue
beene sent in these 2 or 3 last yeares at the Companies charges, Sr
Geo: Yeardley writeth of but three to be found remayning for the
Company; So that there is by this Account vpon the Com̃on Land
72 persons, 53 on the Gouernors, and 50 on the Colledges: 175 in the
whole. Therefore he proposed now to be considered of against the
Quarter Court this day fortnight that there might be sent the next
Spring 130 men more, wch will make those allready sent for the Gou-
ernor Colledge, and Com̃on Land the full nomber of Three hundred,
and so the Gouernor to haue 100 men wch will not be lesse worth then
One thowsand poundℯ p̱ Anñ as it is esteemed. As for the benefitt
of their labors of the Com̃on Land, it standeth otherwise, for their
moity is to be deuided betweene the Counsell and Officers there, [36]
and for other publique vses, and betweene the Company here. ffor
the Counsell who attendℯ there, when the Gouernor at all times shall
please to call them, cannot neglect their busines wthout reward; soe
likewise here, the Company may not expect, that although their
Tr̃er for the time past and p̃nte, as also the Deputies of late serue
meerely out of their zeale and loue to the Acc̃on, yet those that
shall succeede will happily expect a yearely gratificac̃on, when the
Company shalbe enabled by their Rents to yeild it. And for the
Colledge, there is noe doubt but the benefitt ensuing will build it,
and raise a Revennue for the mayntenance. He also thought it fitt
to send 100 more to be Prentizes or Servants that the rest may
goe on more cheerefully, wherein he hoped the citty would deale
as worthily as heretofore. Lastly he wished that a fitt hundreth
might be sent of woemen, Maidℯ young and vncorrupt to make
wifes to the Inhabitñntℯ and by that meanes to make the men there
more setled & lesse moueable who by defect thereof (as is credibly
reported) stay there but to gett something and then to returne for
England, wch will breed a dissoluc̃on, and so an ouerthrow of the
Plantac̃on. These woemen if they marry to the publiq̢ ffarmors, to
be transported at the charges of the Company; If otherwise, then
those that takes them to wife to pay the said Company their charges of
Corne being here at home soe cheape and plentifull, and great prom-
ises there for the Haruest ensuing. Then to euery 100 men, he
aduised there might be sent 20 young Heifers wch wilbe Threescore,
and they wth their breed will soone store the Publique. He also
shewed, that the Inhabitants hauing had great ioy by the Charters of
Graunts and Liberties lately sent by Sr Geo: Yeardley, desired now to
haue choise men sent them from the Lowe Countries to raise ffortifi-
cations, whose charge they will beare, wherein my Lo: Generall
Cesills assistance was perticulerly entreated. Then he spoke of the
way of transporting these persons, wch by reason of the intollerable
charge the Company is at by sending ships, that that course should
be left of and rather send by those that trade to Newfoundland at Six
poundℯ a man, wch wilbe found to be great ease vnto the Company;
but for the Catle a shipp must be sent on purpose, vnlesse a bargayne
may be made for them at 10li— a peece, as he hath some hope giuen
him that it may be. The totall charge of all this, furnishing the men
reasonably wth all things requisite, will amount (as he hath computed
it) not aboue ffower thowsand poundℯ; And one thowsand more will
furnish them in best sort. Then how this mony shall come in, he
shewed how much the Company was bound to giue thankes to God for
all his blessings, who continually rayseth meanes for the supporting
of this worke, making menc̃on of one vnknowne Gentleman that hath
offred to send to him 500li— for the converting and educac̃on of
Threescore Infidells Children, whensoeuer he shall require the same
& vndertake that worke. And also that vpon his ɫres he had receaued
advertizement from sundry parts and some of them very remote, that
if they goe on wth this busines they shall not want for money. Like-
wise Gabriell Barbor [37] hath promised of Lottary monies to bring
in before the end of March 35 hundreth poundℯ, wch he intendℯ accord-
ing to the promise made vnto the Lordℯ shall goe to noe other end but
the advancement of the Plantac̃on. And for the Three thowsand
poundℯ, wch was spoken of when he entred to be Tr̃er he hath not as
yet receaued the whole, but as it cometh in, it shall all goe for the
payment of former debts and dueties, whereof he had discharged
aboue 2000li allready, promising that he will not leaue the Company
cac̃on hereof, he referred it to the qrter Cort, onely now proposing it,
that in the interim it might be considered of by the Company.
Next he acquainted, that the Counsell sitting this morning at my
Lord of Southamptons, there were some moc̃ons made for ye busines
at home, one was concerning Tobacco in Generall, that the planting
of it here would be the destrucc̃on of the Plantation, and therefore
that the Company might be humble suitors for an inhibic̃on thereof;
but this was conceaued might be a scandall for Virginia, as that it
could not subsist wthout that weed, intending very shortly to sett in
hand with Iron-workes, & the Country affording diuers other good
comodities, as Silke, Silkegrasse, Corne, Vines, etc. And therefore
it was thought better by the Counsell, forasmuch as the ffarmors of
Impost had it on foote allready that they proceed, and the Company
as they see occasion to assist them. ffor the perticuler Tobacco of the
Adventurers remayning in the Custome howse, he was desired by the
Counsell to drawe a ɫre in their names, and to be signed by them,
wch he promised forthwth to performe, to be addressed vnto the Kings
Lerned Counsell, shewing the priuiledges of their Pattent, and the
Losse they haue sustayned by this extreame delay wth earnest request
of present expedic̃on. And seeing that mr Iacobb contrary to the
priuiledges of their said Pattent; the Letter of his Mats priuy Counsell
in their behalfe, and the Adventurers offer to leaue halfe wth him,
that they might obtaine the other halfe to sell away that it might not
all perish, had reiected all moc̃ons and meanes of agreement, and in
contempt of their Lops Letter refused to deliuer it vpon those reason-
able condic̃ons sett downe by their Lps̃, that therefore he thought it
very expedient (the Lordℯ consentℯ being first obtayned) that the
Company com̃ence an Acc̃on of damages against him, the losse they
haue receaued being estimated by many at—2500li—wch moc̃on so suted
wth the desire of the Court (sauing that the Lordℯ consent was thought
vnnecessary) that for the rest they intreated it might be putt to the
question: wch being done, and also propounding whither the suite
shall proceed at the Com̃on charge, being for the maynteñnce of the
Pattent, and the Magazine to appoint Sollicitors, was ratified by
Sr Lawrence Hide and mr Xofer Brooke; And to sollicite the cause
mr Tho: Melling for the Company, mr Iames Berblock for the Maga-
zine, and mr Richard Caswell is entreated to assist them. [38]
According to the refference in the Last Court his Mats L̃re was now
taken into most dutifull considerac̃on, and it was agreed wth all con-
venience to fulfill his Mats comaund, and to send them ouer to be
servants, wch wilbe very acceptable vnto the Inhabitantℯ, as mr Thr̃er
hath vnderstood from them, and in the meane time till they may be
sent, wch wilbe about Ianuary, Mr Treasuror shewed, that in like case
the Lo: Maior had beene sollicited to giue order for the keeping of
them in Bridewell, wch was answered to be performed allready, and
the Court desired mr Treasuror to giue his Maty an answere by
mr Secretary Caluert.
Mr Iohn Delbridge moc̃on for a Pattent to be graunted him and his
Associats intending to transport—200—men was assented vnto and
referred to the Auditors vpon Monday morning to haue his Pattent
perfected.
Whereas mr Wm Canings complaint the last Court was referred vnto
this present to be heard betwixt Captaine Bargraue & him, he being
now absent was by diuers now present censured to be a great disturber
of the peace of the Company, & molester of the Courts wth matter of
ffaction: Therefore when the Counsell meetes, that he be warned to
attend them to receiue admonic̃on and if that after he continue in his
wonted byas, that then he be disfranchized according to a standing
order in that behalfe.
And whereas formerly a seale for the Company called the Legall seale
was referred vnto a Comittee to consider it §in§ what manner it should
be, and nothing as yet done therein; It was agreed that Mr Claren-
tious be intreated to giue the Auditors sometimes a meeting at Sr
Edwin Sandis, where they will deuise to take a Cote for Virginia and
agree vpon the Seale.
fforasmuch as noe deuision of the Iointstock is yet made to the
Adventurers, according long since to promise, nor any acco heth-
erto presented (though often called for) whereby they may vnder-
stand the state of the busines, and other Accounts intermixed
wth them be cleered; therefore vpon generall request of the Ad-
venturers now p̃nte, it was agreed that the Counsell be entreated to
take the busines into their handℯ, and to call the Officers of the
Magazine before them to giue vp their Acco, as also to heare aswell
the obiecc̃ons of the Adventurers, as the answeres of the Officers,
that soe right be done, and the differences Long depending may be
freindly decided and ended: Wch moc̃on was also extended to such
accompts of the former Magazine as remayne yet vncleared. [39]
And although the Company is allready exceedingly behoulding to my
Lord of Southampton for his many honoble fauors & nobly counte-
nancing them in all their businesses, and especially such as is of great-
est importance; yet notwthstanding the Cort are most humble suitors
vnto his Lõp, that he would please also in these businesses of so great
importance, and wch haue beene the onely cause of distracc̃on and dis-
cention in the Company, to vouchsafe his presence at that meeting of
the Counsell, that by his Lops and their authority, those differencs
might be concluded, the Comp̃ satisfied in their right, and all occa-
sion of continuing iealousies and displeasures be remoued: Wch moc̃on
being made by mr Thr̃er was by Generall erecc̃on of handℯ confirmed
noe one dissenting.
Mr Thr̃er also moued, that Captaine Bargraue should be desired by
the Court, that at leastwise after the examinac̃on of his witnesses
(vpon wch he resolutely insisted) he would then be content to referr
the Controuersy betweene him and some other of the Company, to be
heard in like sort and arbitrated by the Counsell, that so all cause of
scandall and discord amongst the Company might haue an end: Vnto
wch Captaine Bargraue gaue his consent, and the same was generally
well approued of by the Court.
| The records of the Virginia Company of London | |