University of Virginia Library

CCCXLI. Anthony Hilton. Letter to his Mother.
May 4, 1623

From the Isle of Waight this 4th of May 1623

Loveing mother my humble dutie vnto you remembred, desireing your
dailie prayers to God for me. my last letter I hope you haue long since
receiued, wherein I writt you of my intended voyage for Virginia, that
hopefull, and happie soile: for wch voyage this day being the 4th of Maye
and the Sabboth day wee haueing the wynd faire (that messenger of God)
haue dispensed with the Saboth and hoised vp saile this daye and failed
§sailed§ some part of our Journeye, But you may now please to vnderstand,
that my honest Carefull, and loveing Maister John Hart my first, and

onelie best maister, hath wrought for me better hopes then formerlie I
writ you of for my preferment, wch is that by his liberall Comendac̃on of
me, and earnest Intreatie for me, As also that good likeing wch that hope-
full and religious Gentleman Mr Gabriell Barbor marchant of London, and a
man of great Estate, hath entertayned of me, haueing had some Conference
with him, Concerninge my partℯ and abilitye of performance in his hopefull
Imploymentℯ, hath verie willinglie entertayned me, and taken me bound
vnto him for some few yeares, to make me a ffreeman of London And hath
set forwardℯ provideing me of all necessaryes for our intended voyage,
wch is in a good ship named the Bonnie Besse, built at the Cowes in the
Isle of Wight being a new §ship§ of fourescore and ten Tunnes, or there-
about, full fraught with all kind of prouision for 2 yeares, as also with 45
brave gallant Gentlemen, and some of them their Wyues, and Children with
them richlie set forwardℯ for to plant in Virginia. Amongst wch there is
one Mr Robert Constable brother vnto young Mrs Place of Dinsdaile a
verie honest, loueing and kind Gentlema[n] and one that hath behaued
himselfe here so Ciuillie and [2] vpon all occasions so soberlie as that it
hath much rejoiced me: seeing sometymes the disordered Cariage of the
rest and there too lavish Expences. who hath him Comended to my
Brother and also to my kind cozen Robert Ward vnto whom wee did often
drinke and remember and often wish his Company if his ffather and
mother might like of it vnto whom I pray you also Commend me, vnto his
ffather and mother and vnto that true Trojane my beloued Schoolefellowe
and brother in affection John Ward whom I did not see before my departure
to whom I wish the Accomplishmen of all good fortunes: and by the way
I cannot but remember his Care I meane Mr Robert Constable vnto
his brother Mr Philip whom he hath striuen to humor and giue Content
vnto as if he had beene a Child, yet did such a Conceit take him in the
head as that he would not go to Virginia nor would hee or rather Could not
giue anie reason Wherefore wch caused Mr Robert to sell some part of
his prouision to furnish him with moneye, yet am I glad that I haue
occasion to showe my thankfulnes and due respect if not vnto the worll͠
Mr Place and Mrs Place yet vnto their Kinsman whom he shall find vpon
all occasions readie to pleasure him to my power wch is as much as anie
mans in the Ship excepting the Mr of the ship who hath the first Com̄and.
But now to retourne §vn§to a relac̃on of what wee intend, it wilbe tedious.
yet thus much in short. Wee are first to land our Passengers and their
goods in Virginia wch done wee are to proceed vpon the discou9ie of that
famous river named Hudsons riu9, first found out by him, yet neu9 was he
further then in the mouth thereof, wher hath beene had rich Trade for
Beaver skins, pearles, and dyamondℯ and manie other rich Comodityes,
And indeed wch river by the probable Conjecture of manie and learned
Navigators is the verie passage Called the Northwest [3] Passage so often
sought after by the Northerne Seas. yet never found, wch Wee are by
Comission f§r§om the Lord of Southampton Governour of the Companie
and other the Learned Councell, and diuers great lordℯ to dicou9 the verie
topp and head of that River, and if wee there find anie straungers as
Hollanders or other wch is thought this yeare doe Adventure there, we are
to giue them fight, and spoile, and sincke them downe into the Sea, wch to doe,
Wee are well prouided with a lustie ship stout seamen, and great Ordnance I
pray God prosper vs therein, and I hope we shall returne with rich la loade-
inge, a famous discou9ie, and much Credit eu9ie day Way. wch our
retourne wilbe I hope about 2 yeares hence, if not sooner, all wch shipmen
and goodℯ are set forward at my Mr his proper Cost and Charges, Coun-
tenanced by all the rest of the Companie of Virginia, and lordℯ and ffavour-
ites of the same. Of all thinges Concerning Virginia you may fullie
vnde[r]stand by a booke latelie set forth in 1622 the last Edition wch you
may procure at Darlington, if not send to Yorke for yt. Thus with my
dailie prayers to God for yor health and happines with my loue vnto all
my Sisters but especiallie vnto my sister Jane whom I did not see theis
manie yeares, and instead of me shee may behol[d] my true shadowe I
[m]eane * * * Picture both of bodie face and apparrell. if shee bee not
yet Come ou9 I pray you vse meanes to send for her, least her long stayinge
being sy§i§cke burst her heart among those disdaynfull proud Peacocks.
I pray you write me of all thinges at large inclose within a ɫre vnto my
Cozen Tho: Robinson in the royall Exchange at the signe of the Angell
dwelling wth one Mr Wadson and he may send them by a ship Called the
Hopewell, wch must meete vs with prouision to supplie or Wants Thus
once againe Comitting you to Godℯ protect̃on & my selfe to the vast ocean
I rest