CCCXLII. Governor in Virginia. Proclamation
Probably before May 7, 1623
Manuscript Records Virginia Company, III, pt. ii, p. 47a
Document in Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
List of Records No. 498
A Proclamation to bee carefull of ye Savadges treacherie.
By the Gouernor and Captaine generall of Virginia.
Whereas the coming of certaine Indianℯ lately to Martins Hundred hath
given vs cause to suspect, that theire intent is only to spy and obserue
the weaknes of or plantationℯ, that they may take the better advantage
to effect any treachearous plott against vs. The Governor considering the
manifold daungers, that may follow by the Indianℯ resorting to privat
Plantacions, and treating wth them, out of his especiall care to p̢vent any
mischeif that may hapne thereby, doth charge and com̃and, that no p̱son
whatsoeu9, (but only the chiefe Comander of any Plantation) shall hold
any conference wth any Indianℯ (if at any time they shall in peaceable
maner resort vnto them, and desire a parley) wthout first givinge notice
thereof to his Comander: And that no Comander of any plantac̃on shall
in any wise giue them pledges, wherevppon if they shall stand out, to shoote
or kill them by any meanes they can: but if they shall voluntarily com in
and yeeld themselues vnto them, then to take and keepe them safely
guarded, vntill they can giue notice thereof to the Governor, or send them
vnto him. And further we require and Com̃and the Com̃ander of each
Plantac̃on, that he see due watch and ward kept, and that he suffer none
to go out to worke but wth theire Armes by them, and Centinellℯ armed to
giue them warning, nor any to straggle for killing of Venison or other
occac̃on, exept wth leaue, and in sufficient parties, and generally in all
pointℯ to be uery carefull and watchfull to p̢vent theire treacheries, know-
ing that (wth Godℯ asistance) they canot hurt vs, through theire strength
but o
r owne carelesnes, being well assured that theire p̱fideous craft is
much more dangerous then open violence. This we shall expect to see
exactly p̱formed from the Com̃ander of each Plantac̃on, to whose direc̃tions
we require obedience from all p̱sons residinge in the Plantac̃on, as he, and
they will answer it at theire vttermost perillℯ. Giuen at James Cittie the
1623.
