CCCXLVI. Governor in Virginia. Proclamation
May 9, 1623
Manuscript Records Virginia Company, III, pt. ii, p. 47a
Document in Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
List of Records No. 500
A Proclamation for planting of Corne suficient.
By the Governor and Captaine generall of Virginia
Forasmuch as this Colony hath been many times in danger of famine
through the peoples great neglect of planting Corne, notwthstanding very
strict decrees and Proclamations in former times Com̃anding the same:
And that nothing can be more dishonorable to or nation, then to stand in
need of suplies of or most necessarie food from these base Salvages nor more
dangerous, then to haue or liues, and the life of the Colony it self, to
depend vppon the vncertaine hope of trade wth them. Yet so measurable
is the coveteousnes of of [sic] many in planting Tobacco, and so great
theire improvidence, as to neglect the planting of Corne, to p̢serue the
liues of them and theire families. The Governor therefore, w
th the
advice of the Counsell of State (out of theire care to p̢vent the danger
that might heareafter befall this people and Commonwealth, by the
neglect of planting Corne) haue ordered and appointed, and by these
p̢sentℯ do straightly charge and Com̃and all p̱sons whatsoeu
9, w
ch now
do or hereafter shall inhabitt in this Colony, that they plant at least a
sufficiencie of Corne for themselues and theire families, and that they do
not hope or rely vppon any supply of Corne, by trade w
th the Indians,
w
ch wilbe in vaine, since leaue and license to trade w
th them, shalbe very
sparingly grannted to any, and not at all to such, whose want of Corne
hath proceeded from theire neglect of planting thereof
These Com̃andℯ they require and charg all men to obey, as they will
answer the contrary at theire vttermost perill. Given at James Citty,
May the 9th 1623
