University of Virginia Library

LXXXI. Sir Edwin Sandys. A Letter to the [Earl of Southampton]
September 29, 1619

[1b] Right Honorable

Beeing advertized of yor Lps return to London, it trowbled me much
that I could not sodainly wayt upon yor Lp: beeing detained here by
a coorse of physick, imposed upon he §me§ for som tyme, yet, in
way of prevention. I am also put in som hope & expectance, that
my L. of Doncaster wilbe pleased to take my house in his way: at wch
tyme I should be exceeding §very§ loth to be absent, beeing so much
beholden to his Lp as I am. Mean tyme I am, & have §& wilbe§ been
carefull, that there should be no §defect§ neglect found in or Virginia
busines. The chief whereof is now, the paying of mariners wages, &
fraight of Ships returned: wch is all well performed by my §honest§ faithfull
& carefull Deputie; whom I have furnished for that purpose wth §above§
One Thousand pounds & upward; so that all men have been satisfyed
iustly at their days. Only one thing dooth much perplex me, wherein I
shalbe bold to crave som Direction from yor Lp. The Governor Sr George
Yeardley, having taken exceeding pains for the setling of all things
§matters§ in order in Virginia, & for laying the foundation of a regular
State, according to his Instructions & other Directions; hath sodainly
fallen into a violent resolution of quitting his Place, (grounding himself
upon an errorr,) & ceaseth not by all his letters publick & private to impor-
tune it. The error is, that he conceiveth Sr Thomas Smyth still to be
Treasuror, wth his Alderman Deputie: & supposeth that he shalbe there

the Subiect of their malignancie, & so as to be wronged & disgraced by
them in his place & actions §be his Industrie & Integritie never so great§
Sr Th Smyth was highly offended wth his §Sr George Yeardleys being§
knighted: aleging that §it§ beeing doon contrarie to his pleasure, yet both
his name, & the whole companies name, were used in it §either§ whereof
[in truth] was so. Before Sr Georges Departure, I both labored & effected
a Reconciliation, (thinking it very unfitt that the Treasuror of the Com-
panie, & the Governor of the Colonie, should be at Variance: & mutuall
offices of love §& frendship§ & kyndnes did passt on bothe sides. After
Sr Georges §was gone§ departure, I §perceived§ saw my woork to be
unsound. ffor upon occasion of a motion made openly against Sr G.
Yeardley by a noble person in favor as §contemplation as seemed§ was con-
ceived of Captain Argall, Sr Thomas taking the advantage renued his
former [2a] displeasure; not long after upbraiding again in open coort his
unduely procured Knighthood: Mr Canning also muttering our matter of
disgrace by §to§ his wife: & this against a man, to whom they §had§
professed frendship, §who was§ chosen by themselves, & sent §by them
(in great part at his own private charges)§ to so difficult a service. The
report hereof coming (as dooth now appeare) to Sr G Yeardley, (for his
owne brother was present), hath bred in him this discontent, & hastie
resolution, not to serve under his controll, whose hatred §though causeles§
was so strong, as to break thorough the §nue§ bounds of a publick recon-
ciliation. Yet he offereth, that beeing dismissed of the place of Governor,
he will continue in that Contrie, & prosecute wth all care or Smiths Hundred
busines. wch in particular for or Societie were a matter of much benefit:
but the well carrying of the publick is of more importance. To the setting
up whereof, we have this yeare already sent three Fifties of persons: One
in Januarie wth Sr G. Yeardley, for the Governors land: & the other two
now lately, for the College & Companies lands. There were also in March
last 20. sent for the Companies land in Captain Lawns Ship: & 4. in the
Triall: & about 10. more for the publick wilbe recovered in the Contrie.
My Desire is to make those Fifties up so manie Hundreds, to be sent
away in the end of Januarie next. To wch purpose I cast about for supplie
of monie: & am in good hope to bring it to effect. I suppose there is no
man that knoweth the Contrie, but will easily acknowledge, that the profit
of the labors of these three hundred men §once setled§, redounding equally
to the Governour, College, & Companie, can be esteemed at no lesse then
a Thousand pounds a yeare to each; & I hope §in som short tyme§ double
that sum. wch wilbe a fair ground §whereon§ to reedifie that state: &
wch, if §former§ my persuasions had taken anie place, had not been now
to doo for the Governor & Companie. But this my good L. cannot be
doon wth out great charge. wch causeth the wthdrawing of publick monie
out of private mens hands: whence riseth this name of Accounts, so
mortally hated.

I had thought that no man, carrying the face of an honest man, could
have been displeased wth beeing called to an Account: being the onlie
iustification & discharge of a true man. But it §hath§ fallen out other-
wise. In steed of thanks for my labor, I have reaped a masse of malignitie:
under wch (had it not been by the help of yor Lps §noble§ Justice) I might
have quailed. But in affiance of §the blessing of God first & next of§
the continuance of yor Lps §Constancie§ good favor, I will not faint in
§persisting to goo on to§ dooing that, wthout wch this woork can not be
doon. But touching Sr George Yeardley, the assurance wch I gave of his
faithfulnes, §experience§ honest care sufficiencie & industrie, dooth cause me
§much§ to desire it exceedingly that the woork wch in my yeare dooth moove
from hence, may passe on §unto§ under to his hands to be the establing of
§there§ established of it there. Men of greater place or higher thoughts
may perhaps [2b] folde their §owne§ particular mynds: wch heretofore I
doubt hath doon little good to the Colonie. Besides I hold fit that no
mutation be made, till Sr Thomas Dales return: that we may first knowe
what coorse he §then entends to§ will take. Sr George Yeardley hath
written of late twice to the Counseil, once by the Diana, & as wch came to
my hands; & since by the Prosperous, wch are delivered to Sr Thomas Smith.
The former packett I opened, having present oportunitie to write back
unto him: & now have sent it to or Deputie Mr Ferrar, to be presented
to yor Lp wth the rest of the Counseil, when yor Lp shall be pleased that they
be assembled. My humble suit to yor Lp is, only for the §if it shall seem§
good of Virginia §for§ the service §of Virginia§ no advantage be taken of
Sr Georges has rash offer over (nothing dowting but §conceiving that§ by
this tyme §seeing his error§ he would recall it,) if he could: but that it
either §it§ may be passed §past§ clene over in silence, or reserved held in
suspence till som farther oportunitie may §better§ discover what is fittest

to be doon. About Alholantyde, not to faile if God permit, I purpose to
present my personall service to yor Lp. Meane while my best prayers
shall alwaies thether ascend, whence I beseech §that§ all best blessings
may descend upon yor Lp. And so wth all duetie I take humble leve & rest