University of Virginia Library

A Præparatiue Court held on Monday in the Afternoone the 17th
of Nouember i623

Present

                   

	the Right Honoble	Lo: Padgett.
		Sr Walter Earle.
mr Nich: ffarrar Dp̃ty.	mr Barbor.	mr Geo: Smith.
mr Iohn ffarrar.	mr Caswell.	mr Scott.
mr Tomlins.	mr Newport.	mr ffelgate.
mr Binge.	mr Berkeley.	mr Balmford.
mr Shippard.	mr Bromefeild.	mr ffreake.
mr Wheatley.	mr Wreosly.	mr Rider.
mr Paulavicine.	mr Bennett.	mr Cuffe.
	mr Steweard.	mr Sparrowe.

             

mr Gilbert Moorewood.	mr Hackett.
mr Kirrell.	mr Russell.
mr Robbins.	mr * * Waterhowse.
mr Colt.	with some fewe others.
mr Woodall.
mr Roberts Iuñ.
mr Marmad: Rayner.

The Cort held on Wedensday the 12th of Nouember was read and by
a generall erecc̃on of hands approued to be rightly sett downe.

Mr Deputie acquainted the Court if it pleased the Commissioners on
ffriday last to p̱mitt the readinge ouer of the generall Letter to the
Companie from the Gouernor and Counsell of Virginia wch did beare
Date the 5° of Iune last wch havinge diligently obserued and since also
hauinge conferred wth some others then p̢sent he said he would the
deliuer the contents thereof vnto them

         

The ɫre was from Sr ffrancis Wyatt	Rogr Smith
Geo: Yeardley	Io: Pountys
Io: Pott	Raph Hamer
Geo: Sandys	Christo: Dauison
	And directed to t[he] [346]

Ea of Southampton and the rest of the Lordℯ of the Counsell for
Virginia: And began thus That by a succesfull Stratagem they had
not only regained their people but cutt of diuers of the Indian Kinges
and great Comaunders: Amongst whome they are confident that
Opachankano was one it beinge impossible for him to escape, beinge
the designe was chiefely on his person and that exposed to the prin-
cipall danger: That hauinge held them in a longe hope of Peace they
had gained the knowledge of their places of residence and that their
Corne was nowe so forward as it was to late for them vpon this fresh
occasion to remoue so that they doubted not to giue them shortley a
blowe that shall neare or altogether ruinate them: That the ffort goeth
on cheerefully (consideringe the number of their people and the many
imploymts they haue besidℯ:) And two thousand acres of land ∥of
inheritance∥ should be sett out for such as shalbe willinge to plant
about it there beinge land enough: And the like respects for all partℯ
where Citties and fortified Townes are to be built: They wish also
that Martins Hundred might be taken into reguard because it greatly
importeth the security and plentie of the Plantac̃on and wthall the
distrucc̃on of the Sauadges in that they shall haue thereby a neare
passage to their principall Seates and the better com̃and both of that
and the other Riuer wch they wish might be supplied and that speedily
with great numbers to make good their nowe inhabited Seate and that

also §of§ Chescack, And that if a Pale were sett to ruñ between, it
would gaine the whole fforest and make it inaccessable to the Sau-
adges, And they aduise that the Comanders be agreed with, for a
yearely rent by the Pole: They desire likewise to knowe the Com-
panies pleasure (because it is not mentioned in their Instrucc̃ons)
whither they may make prise of such Dutch and ffrench as they shall
finde to trade with the Sauadges within our Limitts.

Lastly they certifie that the whole Collony God be thanked haue
recouered health and that nothinge wants more then sodaine and great
Supplies of People well furnished to giue perfecc̃on to this noble
Acc̃on And so ended their letter, whereat the Companie did much
reioyce praisinge God for soe good newes.

And one mr Raymond likewise beinge nowe present in Court acquainted
the Companie that he was in Virginia in May last when I=otan the
great Kinge sent to Sr ffrauncis Wyatt word that if he would send vp
some ten or twelue Englishmen vnto him he would deliuer all the rest
of the Captiue English he had and would also deliuer his Brother
Opachankano who was the Author of
the Massacre into the hands of the English either aliue or dead: And some fower dayes before that,
he the said Raymond came from Virginia, Captaine Tucker with some
Twelue more was gonne to do this exploite wch nowe it seemed by the
Report of this Letter was performed.

The Companie beinge informed that the foresaid generall letter was
still in the Com̃issioners hands desired mr Tomlins and mr Copland
to repaire vnto them sometime to morrowe and to entreat them that
the Companie may haue the originall or at least a Coppie thereof to
be read at their Quarter Court for the generall satisfacc̃on of all men.

Whereas the Companie heretofore in a thankfull acknowledgemt of
the great & extraordinary care and paines that the
Right Honoble the Ea: of Southampton and Sr Edwin Sandys haue taken for the good
of the Companie and aduancement of the Plantac̃on did giue vnto
each of them 20 shares of land of old Aduenture: It was nowe moued

that the said shares might be confirmed vnto them vnder the Compa
Seale wch moc̃on the Court generally condiscended vnto and therevpon desired

     

mr Tomlins	mr Bromfeild
mr Copland	mr ffelgate
mr Seaward	or any two of them

to meete at mr Deputies to [347] morrowe about 10 of the Clocke
to ioyne wth the Auditors and Com̃ittees about ye preparing of some
fitt Draftℯ against the Quarter Court for that purpose as also for
drawinge vpp of those seu9all Securities that were appointed to be
donne at the last Court wch seuerall thingℯ were ordered to be passed
at the Quarter Court.

And whereas it was also moued by some of the
Aduenturers of the Blomery worke that they might haue a Patent wth a full proporc̃on of
land due for their Aduenture and for the number of persons that they
haue already or shall hereafter transport for aduancement of that
worke: The Court generally agreed therevnto recomending it to the
care of the former Com̃ittee to conceaue the forme of a Patent and to
make it ready against the Quarter Court: And also to thinke what
further benifitt or priuiledge the Companie might graunt vnto them
wch they were willinge to doe, so much they prized and esteemed this
Supplie.

Mr Berkley presented his petic̃on to the Court wch beinge read the
Court thought fitt to referre it to the considerac̃on of the former
Com̃ittee who are to certifie their opinions what they shall thinke fitt
to be donne therein.

The Court havinge considered also of ffrauncis Carters petic̃on are
pleased this offer be made vnto him. vizt that for the 60li remayninge
due for his wages he shall haue fiue shares of 12li 10g p̱ share and
shall likewise haue giuen him eight shares more in reward of his good
seruice wherewith the Com̃ittee are to make him acquainted and if
he shalbe contented therewth the Comp̃ doth promise they shalbe con-
firmed vnto him at their next Quarter Court.