University of Virginia Library

CCCXLIV. Adventurers and Planters. Petition to Privy Council
Between May 7 and 13, 1623

The humble petition of sundrie the Adventurers and Planters of the
Virginia and Summer Ilandℯ Companie:

Sheweth that whereas yor Lops vpon heareing the late Complaintℯ and
differences of the said Companies, out of your singuler wisedomes and
Care for preservac̃on of Peace, and that the buisinesses of the Plantac̃ons
might better proceed, did amongst other things most straightlie charge
and Com̄and, that euerie man in the said Companies in our Courtℯ, and
Comon meetinges should vtterlie forbeare to medle with anie matters of
Controversie or difference, and that all matters of that nature should bee
wholie referred to the heareing of the Comissioners, appointed by his matie
for that purpose; and were pleased likewise to intymate that you would
proceed to punish anie whosoeuer should violate yor order, and direction
therein, as disturbers of the Comon peace, and Contemners of yor authoritie.

Neverthelesse so it is may it please yor good Lops, that directlie contrarie
(as is Conceived) to your expresse Command as aforesaid, euen some of
the cheife Officers, and members of our Courtℯ, who were present when
yor Lops gaue that Commaund, and haue diuers tymes beene put in mynd
of it, and who should of all others haue binne most Carefull to haue seene
the same perfourmed, haue by their propositions & bitter Invectives, pub-
liquelie produced in writeing, and openlie read, most notoriouslie shewed
their disobedience to your Lops order therein. And more especiallie at the
Court holden on Wednesday last the 7th of the instant moneth, to wch
both Companies after a new confused manner were summoned, there being
an extraordinarie great Concourse (and manie straungers placed in a lattised
Gallerie that lookes into the hall, where the Companies meete, to bee
hearers and Spectators of what passed) amongst other proceedinges opposite

to yor Lops said order, a large writeing of diuers sheetℯ of pap̱ full of most
greevous Calumnies, and reproachfull accusac̃ons tending onelie to the
defamac̃on of yor Petitioners in generall, and in particuler of the Earle of
Warwicke, and diuers other Gentlemen, and Citizens of qualitie, was pro-
duced and publiquelie read by Mr Nicholas ffarrar himselfe, being Deputie
of the said Companie, And the said asp̱sions by the Lo: Cavendish (being
Governour of the Summer Islandℯ Companie) allowed to bee all of them
punctuallie true; Nowe in as much as some of yor Petitioners thus pub-
liquelie traduced were absent, and so not able to answeare for themselues,
and others notwithstanding this straunge kind of provocation, and not
heard of but onelie in those Courtℯ, and notwithstanding their owne
Innocencie, yet in obedience to your Lops Command, did forbeare all
manner of offensiue Replie.

It may therefore please your good Lops to take this extraordinary Case
into your most noble and tender Considerac̃on, and to provide that some
reparac̃on may bee made vnto yor Petitioners, in their reputacons (much
dearer vnto them then their lyves) wch in this practise (although in high
opposition to yor Lops Authorityes) is like the to suffer the rumour thereof
being alreadie spread farre and neare, And the rather for that this Course
tendℯ onelie to deprave, defame, and so to disable your Petitioners from
doeing your matie seruice, in discouering the truth of some thinges before
his matℯ Comrs, appointed to examine the proceedinges of those Plantac̃ons.
And to th'end yor Lops may bee the better satisfied of the Justnes of yor
Petitioners Complaint, they do humblie pray that you wilbee pleased, forth-
with to Comaund the Lo: Cavendish Sr Edwyn Sandys, Mr John and
Nicholas ffarrar, to appeare before your Lops, and to bring with them all
and euerie of those writeinges, wch were openlie read the said last Court;
that so yor Lops may take such further order therein, as to your wisedomes
shall seeme meete, and Convenient.

[Indorsed:] The petition touching my Lo: Candish &c about the Court held
7° Maii 1623