 | The records of the Virginia Company of London |  |
A Court held for Virginia on Wednesday in yE afternoone
the 21TH of Aprill—1624.
| Earle of Southampton. | Sr Iohn Dauers. | |
| Lord Cauendish. | Sr Lawrence Hide. | |
| Lord Pagett. | Sr Iohn Treauor. | |
| Sr Edwin Sandis. | mr Garrett. | |
| mr Rawleigh. | ||
| mr Deputy | mr Copeland. | mr Widdowes. |
| mr Nicho: Hide. | mr Sharrowe. | mr Purchas. |
| mr White. | mr Balmeforde. | mr Collins. |
| mr Iohn fferrar. | mr Webb. | mr Biddolph. |
| mr Blande. | mr Robertℯ. | mr Nicholℯ. |
| mr Scott. | mr Swinhowe. | mr Lee. |
| mr Pallavicine. | mr Baynham. | mr Waterhouse. |
| mr Hobbes. | mr Rider. | mr Newporte. |
| mr Casewell. | mr ffelgate. | mr Hurd. |
| mr Sheppard. | mr Bennett. | mr Bearblock. |
| mr Trueloue. | mr Morris. | mr Meuerell. |
| mr Hackett. | ||
| mr Buckrdge. | ||
| mr Seldon. | ||
| mr Widdowes. | ||
| mr Swaine. | ||
| mr ffreake. | ||
| mr Cuffe. | ||
| mr Etheridge. | ||
| mr Jefferson. | ||
| mr Perry. | ||
| mr Capps. | ||
| Wth divers others to ye number of about 90 p̱sons. [373] |
Mr Deputy acquainted the Court hee had received by the George lately
returned from Virginia a Packett of ɫers: enclosed in a Box, wch beinge
dyrected to the Earle of Southampton Treasuror hee sent to his Lop:
wch his Lop: haveinge p̱vsed had returned back vnto him: Since wch
time noe Courts had been kept in regaurd of this buissie time of Par-
lyament, and for that little or noe occasion till now, was offered of
callinge a Court. Whervppõ ye generall letter from the Gouernor and
Counsell of Virginia vnto the Company here was read: bearinge date
at Iames Citty the 29: of Ianuary—1623.[200]
Next was read a letter from Sr ffrauncis Wyat the present Gouernor
of Virginia dated att Iames Citty the Second of ffebruary 1623 breiflie
relatinge the manner of proceedinge against the Saluages in divers
places and by what Commaunders the service was p̱formed; And
hopeth that in the generall Assembly now called in Virginia some
good order wilbe taken to maynteyne an Army for securinge of the
wholl Collony.
Mr Deputy signified of certaine other pap̱s that came inclosed in ye
aforesaid Box wch were read wherof one conteyninge certaine exami-
nac̃ons touchinge a differrence betweene mr Pooley and mrs Iourdan
referred vnto the Company here for answere, beinge read the Court
entreated mr Purchas to conferr with some Civilians and advise what
answere was fitt to be returned in such a case.
This Done mr Deputy signified that the cheife occasion of callinge this
Court was to acquainte them with a Petic̃on exhibited vnto the Kinge
by certaine Planters lately com from Virginia, wch his Matie: haveinge
referred to the Lo: Treasuror and mr Chauncellor of the Exchequor
itt was now com with their Refferrence vnto the Company for
answere vnto as much therof as Concerned the Company The Coppie
of wch Petic̃on doth heere ensue.
To the Kings most Excellent Matie: The humble Petic̃on of Iohn Boyse,
Richard Brewster, Henry Wentworth, Williã Perry, William Best and
others the poore Planters in Virginia
Most humbly shewinge.
That where yor Matie for the advancement of ye Plantac̃on in Virginia, &
encourragment of Aduenturers thither was heretofore most graciously pleased
vppon their Tobacco Cr vntill the said Plantac̃on by Peace became somwhat
settled and enabled to returne such duties to yor Maty: aswell in gratefull
acknowledgment of yor Maties: said favour as in regard of ye many great ayds
and supplies they received from many Collections & Contribuc̃ons flowinge
from yor Maties: like gracious disposic̃on towards the good of the said Plantac̃on.
Butt now soe itt is that aswell ye generall State of yt Plantac̃on, as the p̱ticuler
of every Planter beinge fallen into a farr worse and poorer estate then they
were in former times when yor Matie spared to demaund those duties. And
yor Petic̃oners p̱takinge in the generall Calamitie of famine and scarsitie, sick-
nes, mortallitie and bloody Massacre wch hath befallen the said Collony, haue
p̱ticulerly been more neerly pressed then ever, not onely with the now vrginge
and Continuall assaultℯ and surprizes of the incensed enemie wherby they are
inforced by one halfe of their men to secure and gaurd the §labour of ye§ other,
butt allsoe by the many Imposic̃ons and Levies laide and made vppon them
towards the support of the Company from whence heretofore they were wont
to receive releife. By wch occasions beinge impoverished if they shalbe com-
pelled to pay yor Maties: Imposic̃on vppon Tobacco (made cheap by the great
glutt of that Comoditie from Spaine and other partℯ) beinge 6d p̱ pound, and
the Custome 3d p̱ pound (the Customers haueinge abated 3d) this 9d wth other
incident charges will make the cleered proffitt soe little that out of that (though
yor Peticonrs: sole help) itt wilbe impossible for them to raise such supplies of
provision as must necessarily be returned thither, much less shall they be any
wayes enabled to send such more Company of men and servantℯ as they doe
otherwise intend for and towards the advancement of the said Plantac̃on. [374]
The Petic̃oners most humbly therfore pray
That yor Matie out of yor Princely Compassion to the many endurances of yor
Peticoners (many of them haueinge been the ruynes of the late Massacre) and
most gracious affecc̃on to the good of that Plantac̃on for releife of yor Petic̃on-
ers and encourragment of them to continue and others to becom Adventurers
in the same, Graciously consideringe the premisses and that as greate or greater
causes returne for contynuinge of yor Maties former favour to them, will ther-
fore be graciously pleased.
To abate for the present yor Maties: Impost of 6d p̱ pound vppon the
Tobacco now brought in by the said Planters wherby they intend not to
preiudice yor Matie for the future butt onely to releive and able them-
selvs for the present to returne and settle in their Plantac̃ons, And by
yor Maties: most gracious takinge yor said Planters into yor Royall mercie
and Protecc̃on to free them for ye future from the greivous Imposic̃ons
of the said Company wherby they shalbe better enabled herafter to
render more cheerfully yor Maties: said Duties: And yor petic̃oners Cr.
Att the Court att Theobalds 8th Aprill 1624:
His Matie beinge verie Compassionate of the miseries and povertie of the
Planters (and willinge they should haue releife) is graciously pleased to referr
the Consideracon therof to the right Honoble: the Lord Treasuror and Mr
Chancellor of the Exchequor yt some good order beinge established amongst
them they be not soe much opprest by the Company as is alleadged and that
they haue such releife concerneinge ye Impost as they in their wisedomes
(weighinge the Petic̃oners necessities) shall finde most Convenyent. wcihinge
Whithall the 14th of Aprill 1624:
The matters of this Petic̃on doe p̱tlie concerne the Kings Matie and p̱tlie the
Virginia Compa: therfore lett this Petic̃on be delivered to the Gouernor that
hee and the Company may consider therof and returne their answere in
writinge for soe much therof as concernes them and wee shall therevppon
consider heerof further as concernes them, and wee shall thervppon consider
thereof further accordinge to his Maties: Commaundement and good pleasure
within signified.
Mr Deputie acquainted the Court that vppon the first Deliverie of this
Petic̃on to him on ffryday sennight by some of the Planters, hee
desyred them that they would sett downe in writinge those greivances
and oppressions wch they menc̃oned in generall that soe they might
haue a ready and full answere Whervppon they p̳mised to doe itt,
butt the next morninge they came to him and tolde him they had
thought vppon the matter and would not deliver the p̱ticulars of their
greivances and oppressions butt before the Lo: Treasuror to wch mr
Deputy made answere that hee would acquainte my Lord and the
Counsell therwith, and if itt caused any delay in their buisiness it was
their owne fault, yett afterwards they brought him a certaine writinge
(Article wise) conteyninge divers matters butt without any hand vnto
itt although in the end they say wee who haue vnderwritt itt will
maynteyne itt on our oaths, whervppon hee desyred them to sett their
hands to the said writinge that itt was their Complainte: wch they
promised to doe butt afterwards they sent him word, they would not
sett their hands to itt: Whervppon the Company not conceivinge itt
fitt that a writinge of such a nature should be openly read without a
the Counsell to p̱vse itt, and deliver their opynions whether itt were
fitt to be read: wch beinge done ye Counsells opynion was that itt
ought not to be read for that itt conteyned Cryminall charges of a verie
high Nature and some of them Capitall against the Gouernor and
Counsell in Virginia; Soe as some very worthy Lawyers affirmed that
the p̱sons that had presented itt except they would maynteyne it had
incurred the penalty of Lybellers. The Counsell further delivered that
of all the Articles (beinge Nyne) there was onely one that gaue any
charge to ye Company [375] here at home all the rest being dyrected
solely against the Gouernor and Counsell in Virginia wheras their
petic̃on to his Matie: was penned against the Companies greivous
oppressions, wherof beinge desyred to deliver the p̱ticulers they had
onelie instanced one: By wch manner of proceedinge the Court con-
ceived this to be a malicious practize of some of their enemies to
Defame and disgrace them with his Royall Maty: and although some
would haue gone about to excuse itt through simplycetie of the
Planters that did not soe exactly distinguish ye Gou9ment here and
there, butt p̱haps thought that because the Company hath the Com-
maund and authoritie of the Gouernor there, that therefore the default
by them in Virginia might be imputed to the Company here: This
excuse gaue noe manner of sattisfacc̃on att all; for itt was answered
that the Company here was not any way guilty of their misgover-
ment, except vppon knowledge therof they had neglected or denyed
to reforme itt, butt these things were never complayned of.
Butt because itt was reported that there was one of these Articles
that touched the Company the Court desyred itt might be read being
ye 8 in number as followeth.
8: Eightly Wheras vppon Complainte made to his Matie: of the miserable
estate and Condic̃on of the Planters in Virginia for want of Corne the last
year: It then pleased his Maty: in Comiseration of their distressed estate to
cause the Company of Virginia to send ouer prouision of Meale for their
releife, the saide Company to receaue of them in Virginia for the saide Meale
the monny they laide out for the same togeather with the charge of transpor-
tac̃on wth out any further gaine. Notwithstandinge the saide Order, when the
said Prouision came into Virginia in a Ship called the Hopewell the Cape
Meale Vnto ye saide ffreemen in Virginia at excessive and vnreasonable rates
as Seauenty, or eighty Pounds waight of Tobacco a Hogsheade.
Mr Casewell herevppon (beinge appoynted heretofore by the Aduen-
turers to buy the Meale) declared that at the time the said Meale was
bought it cost 9s p̱ bushell, wch with Custome petty charges, and
freight made itt i3s p̱ bushell Soe that a Hogshead Conteyninge 9
bushells came to 5: 17: 00 wch beinge sould for 80 weight of Tobacco
valued now here in London by the Customers themselvs att 18d p̱
pound one with another as by the Customers Certificate vnto the Lord
Treasuror appears: after the Deduction of the Charge of Custome
Impost and freight with allowance of shrinkadge there will scarce
remayne vjd cleare vppon each pound to the owner: But though itt
should be solde to cleer js wch was more then any man could hope the
80 pound waight would com to butt 4li: wheras itt cost 5li: 17s.00d Soe
that a Third of the principall would be lost besides the time and
Adventure. Butt mr Casewell himselfe and divers other principall
Adventurers in yt Magazine did openly make offer to sell their whole
Adventures for halfe ye principall if any man would buy it.
The vniustnes and absurditie of this Complainte of ye Planters did
much greive the Company, that where they deserved thankℯ for their
Charitie they should be Complayned of for Oppressors, and the falsi-
tie of itt did make them suspect that those against the Gouernor and
Counsell in Virginia were of noe greater trueth for what would they
feare to say of them beinge absent and not able to answere for them-
selvs, when they durst complaine of the Company to the Lo: Treas-
uror of a thinge soe evydently false: Besides those planters present
in Court togeather with all others giveinge ample testimoney of ye
worthie proceedings of Sr ffraunces Wyat whome in their Consciencies
they p̳fessed to esteeme a most iust and sincere gentleman, and free
from all manner [376] of Corruption or pryvate ends: itt was
dyrectly Contradictory that hee should be guilty of such oppressions
or misdemeanors. Whervppon the Court demaundinge againe of some
of the Planters who had brought these greivances beinge then in
Court, whether they would avowe and maynteyne them, and itt
confessed that although the last clause was in these words.
Lastly the greiuances aboue mentioned, and other abuses offered to particular
Planters by the Gouernors & Counsell in Virginia, hath caused the Parties
whose names are subscribed to these greiuances (and an infinite number of
others soe resolued) to quit Virginia and betake themselues to a more pryuate
life, wch wilbe a means to ouerthrowe the Plantac̃on there, & abate the bene-
fitt of his Mats: Customs here: All wch greiuances wee or some of Vs can
iustifie vppon oath, and haue likewise been desired by our frends in Virginia
to prefeer these greiuances to his Royall͠. Matie.
Yett they had noe Comission noe authoritie from the Planters in Vir-
ginia to Complaine, butt the Petic̃on and greiuances were framed here
at home In these regaurds the Company thought to pass itt ouer in
favour of the Planters who they p̱ceived had been abused and drawne
to this Course by some others.
Butt for the Petic̃on ittselfe to his Maty: the Court thought fitt that
sume Answere should §be§ returned to the Lo: Treasuror and mr
Chauncellor: Whervppõ entringe into an examinac̃on of the parts
therof: They enquyred of the said Perry and others, what Imposic̃ons
they had ever paid to the supporte of the Company, wherof they were
not able to alleadge one. Next the said Perry and others beinge
Demaunded touchinge the Clause of their Petic̃on in these words:
Haue perticularly been more neerly pressed then euer, not onely with the now
vrginge, and Continuall assaultℯ and surprises of the incensed enimie, whereby
they are inforced by one halfe of their men, to secure and guard the Labours
of the other, butt allsoe by the many Imposic̃ons and Leuies laid ∥and made∥
vppon them towards the support of the Company from whence heretofore
they were wont to receive releife.
Mr Iohn fferrar informed the Court that Richard Brewster one of the
Petic̃oners had told him that this last yeare, wth noe more then three
men and himselfe hee had made 2800 waight of Tobacco §besides§
:100: bushells of Corne. Butt mr William Capps openly delivered on
the fayth of an honest man that with Three boyes onely, wch hee said
were not a man and a halfe hee had made Three Thousand weight of
Whittakers and kept besides that 60: barrells for his owne store, and
all this hee had p̱formed by the labour of those three boyes onely him-
selfe haveing never done (as hee termed itt) one stroake of worke:
Vppõ wch Reports and divers other the like, the Company conceived
that insinuac̃on of soe much daunger and disquyett from ye Salvadges
was extended farr beyound trueth.
Next they tooke into their Considerac̃on an other clause in the said
Peticon in these words.
But now for it is that as well the generall state of the Plantac̃on as the per-
ticular of euery Planter beinge fallen into a farr worse and poorer estate
than they were in former times, when yor Matie spared to demaund those
duties: [377]
Wch the Courte Conceived to be one of the most vntrue and iniurious
suggestions in all poyntℯ that could be devysed, the Collony notwith-
standinge all these Calamities of late in number of people multitude
of houses and Plantations aboundance of Cattle and provisions, tenn
times exceedinge the generall estate of those former times wch they
spake of, and aboue five times better, then itt was lefte by Sr Thomas
Smith, and Sr Samuell Argall, and for the estate of p̱ticuler Planters
itt was by many p̱ticulars instanced, that divers pryvate Planters had
this yeare for themselvs brought home more goods and to a greater
value then the wholl Collony and Plantac̃on did then returne.
Mr Deputy moved yt for as much as Sr ffrauncis Wyatℯ Comission of
beinge Gouernor of Virginia would shortly expire, and that hee was
willinge as appeared by his owne letter to resigne that place to some
more able man. The Company would therfore please to bethinke
themselvs against the next Quarter Court, either of Contynuinge the
present Gouernor, or of choosinge a new to succeed in his place.
Touchinge wch the Court conceived they had time ennough to resolve
between this and the Quarter Court.
This present Court by a generall erecc̃on of hands is ordered to con-
tinue after 6: of the Clocke duringe pleasure.
Mr Deputy acquainted the Court that the Counsell of Virginia vppon
ye Companies earnest and importunate sollycitac̃ons had drawne vpp
a Petic̃on to be presented to the Parlyament, wch beinge read was as
followeth.
To the Honoble house of Com̃ons assembled in Parlyament
The humble Petic̃on of the Treasuror, Counsell & Company of Virginia.
Shewinge: That after divers Discoveries had confirmed an opyneon, that ye
Country (now Virginia) was scituate in a temperate wholsome Clymate, and
that the Soyle was exceedinge fertell, the Parts watred with fruitfull, and
Nauigable Riuers, wherby our men and Shippinge through a fair Sea might
haue a Comfortable fallinge on a saffe Choast; It pleased God to affect the
myndes of many worthily disposed Noblemen and Gentlemen and others to
vnderstand itt a matter of great Religion and honour to endeavour the propa-
gatinge of Christianytie amongst those Barbarous People and gaine such a
hopefull addic̃on of Dominion to his Matie: most deservinge the highest honour
of such an Enterprize: who beinge informed therof and apprehendinge the
great honour and Comoditie might arrise to this State, by p̱fectinge a Christian
Plantac̃on in those partes. Itt pleased his Matie: by his most gracious Letters
Patents of Incorporation (from tyme to time renued & enlarged) to conferr as
ample pryviledges and immunities both for their Assistance, who should becom
Directors, or Gouernors in the buissines, and for their comforte, who should
be willinge to settle and inhabite in Virginia as could then be foreseen or
desyred: wch gaue so generall an encourragement, that Noblemen, Knights,
Gentlemen Cittizens and others in great numbers, originally named in the
seuerall Letters Patents became Aduenturors, who besides their monneys gaue
many folde helpes with Industry to advance the p̱fecc̃on of this glorious worke.
And notwthstandinge a multitude of Accidentℯ and disasters incydent to a new
Plantac̃on in a remote and Sauadge Country: It pleased God to refresh their
hopes by such an vndoubted probabillitie of attayninge (at least for the pub-
lique of their Country and Posteritie) a most beneficall Retribuc̃on for all their
expence and paynes, as in the end might Crowne their endeavors with as much
Glorie, Honour, & Proffitt to this Kingdome as could be wished or expected
haueinge in their Contemplac̃on the groundℯ followinge. [378]
- The Conversion of Saluages to Christianytie and establishinge the first
Plantac̃on of the reformed Religion. - The removeinge of the Surcharge of necessitous people, the matter or
fewell of daungerous insurrections, and therby leavinge the greater plentie to
susteyne those remayninge within this Land. - The lardgnes of Territory knowne greate, may prove much greater, the
fertilitie of the Soyle and temperature of the Clyme chearishinge our people
and produceinge by nature and industrie, what soever vsefull Com̃odities are
found in any knowne Country. - The beneficiall ffishings discouered wch togeather wth the continuall enter-
course betweene People of one and the same Nation is an exceedinge encrease
of Nauigac̃on. - The multitudes and quantities of materiallℯ for the buildinge & settinge
forth of Shippinge beinge there in p̱fecc̃on especially excellent Timber wherof
great scarcitie is found throughout Christendome. - The assurance of many rich Trades that by a Plantac̃on setled in those p̱ts
might be found out and dryven to the incredible benefitt of this Kingdome,
besides noe small hopes of an easy and short passadge to the South Sea, either
by Land or Sea. - An inestimable advantadge, that would be gayned to this state of England
in case of Warr both for the easie assaultinge of the Spanyards West Indies,
from those parts, and for the relievinge and succouringe of all Shipps and
men of Warr that should goe on Reprysalls, there beinge none of those
daungers or discom̃odities whatsoever that in former times ouerthrew soe
many Voyadges butt wilbe by the Plantac̃ons of Virginia and Summer Islands
supplyed and prevented; Soe that our benefitt and the enemies harme and loss
wilbe certaine.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
Butt soe itt is that now when the naturall difficulties incydent to all new Plan-
tac̃ons are by tract of time and good dilligence, & especially by the blessinge
of Almighty God in great part overcom: Yett on the other side the vnnaturall
and faultie impedymentℯ arysinge by ffaction and discord, runinge courses and
practizes of some tendinge wholly to pryvate proffitt, misimployment of the
Stocke, false Accomptℯ and the like diversions from the faire hopes in the
Action are soe encreased and vpheld by strong hand as doth threaten speedy
ruyne and destrucc̃on to this excellent worke of God and his Maty: if remedies
be not timely applyed.
Wee therfore the Counsell and Company (not a little differinge from other
Companies both in our Composic̃on consistinge of principall Noblemen, Gentle-
men, merchants and others, and in the ends for wch it is established beinge not
simply matter of Trade, butt of a higher Nature, yett findinge nevertheless
our selvs in our body as itt is now distempered vnable to be our owne Phisic̃ans
without higher Assistance) doe thinke our selvs tyed in Conscience, Duty &
reputac̃on and for the deliverance of our owne soules, and for dischardg of
the Kingdome exposed as in the Wilderness to extreame daunger and as itt
were fayntinge and labouringe for life.
Humbly entreatinge this Honoble house to take into yor Comisserac̃on this
Distressed Collony and oppressed Company and to be pleased to receive from
such of his Maties Councell for Virginia (beinge members of yor Honoble house)
as haue been appoynted by vs the Company a full relac̃on of those oppressions
and greivances wch though in sundry kindes (haue as they doubt not to make
evydent) had either their originall [379] or strength from the now Lord
Treasuror out of his pryvate and most vniust ends, not onely to allmost the
vtter ouerthrow of this noble worke butt allsoe to the Deceipt of his Maty: in
his proffitt and to the great preiudice of the wholl kingdome in matter of Trade,
and daungerous consequence to the liberty of their p̱sons. And thervppon
accordinge to yor most graue wisedomes to devise some remedy for removeing
of the impedimentℯ, repressinge of the abuses encourradginge Adventurers
and fynally for the establishment of the Collony.
Wch beinge twice read after some pause the Company were desyred to
speake freely to itt, and declare their opyneons whether they did
approve therof as itt was, or would haue itt amended in any parte, or
any thinge added therevnto: Whervppon allthough some tooke excep-
c̃ons to some p̱ticulers therin, yett after great ∥exact∥ Debate and
Considerac̃on it was agreed and concluded by a generall erection of
hands (onely one dissenting) that the Petic̃on should stand as itt was
drawen. And the Court entreated mr Deputy and those other of the
Counsell that are allsoe members of the Honoble House of Parlyament
would please in the Companies name to p̢sent the said Petic̃on to the
house of Commons and to prosecute the matters therin conteyned with
all expedic̃on.[201]
| The records of the Virginia Company of London | |