University of Virginia Library

Att a Quarter Court helde for Virginia on Wednesday
in the fforenoone the 28: of Aprill—1624

Present
the Right Honoble

                                                                                               

Lord Cauendish.		Sr Iohn Brooke.
Lo: De Lawarr.		Sr Iohn Treuor.
Sr Edwin Sandis.		Sr Iohn Bourchier.
Sr Iohn Dauers.		Sr Charles Barkley.
Sr Iohn Oagle.		Sr Lawrence Hide.
mr Deputie.	mr Ditchfeilde.	mr Wentworth.
mr Nich: Hide.	mr Scott.	mr Buckridge.
mr Winkfelde.	mr Wite.	mr Morris.
mr Iohn Smith.	mr Whitley.	mr ffurzman.
mr Iohn fferrar.	mr Robertℯ	mr Meuerell.
mr Purcas.	mr Caswell.	mr Taylor.
mr Bland.	mr Keightley.	mr Collett.
mr Bearblock.	mr ffogg.	∥mr Webb.∥
mr Brooke.	mr Copeland.	mr ffellgate.
mr Hobbs.	mr ffreake.	∥mr Webb.∥
Dor Gulstone.	mr mr Stone.	mr Webbs.
Capt Bargraue.	mr Wheate.	mr Hacket.
mr Moorwood.	mr Ayscough.	mr Ryder.
mr Woodall.	mr Maisterson.	mr Wiseman.
mr Anth: Gates.	mr Iefferson.	mr Garrett Weston.
mr Newport.	mr ffletcher.	mr Wodnoth.
mr Barkley.	∥mr Vyner.∥	mr Norwood.
mr Alden.	mr Perry.	mr Brester.
mr Sparrow.	mr Swinhowe.	mr Hildred.
mr Tucker.		Capt Gefford.
		mr Walker.
	mr Berkeley.
	mr Walter.
	mr Andrews.
	mr Bagell.
	mr Boothbie.
	mr Hurd.
	mr Bennett.
	mr Russell.
	mr Waterhouse.
	mr Bonnell.
	mr Stubbs.
	mr Careles.
	mr Elias Robertℯ.
	mr Rogers.
	mr Sharrowe.
	mr Barkham.
	mr Martin.
	mr De Lawne.
	mr Scudamore.
	mr Colthurst.
	mr Trueloue.
	wth divers others. [383]

Mr Deputy made knowne to the Company what reasons moved the
last Court vppon Consultac̃on first had by a Com̃ittee then appoynted,
and after wth ye Counsell then allso present to order and appoynt the
keepinge of the Quarter Court this day in the forenoone: wch course
and alterac̃on was well approved of by this present Court.

And in regard the Court was now accordinge to the dyrecc̃on of ye
Letters Patents to proceed to elecc̃on of new Officers. mr Deputy
breifley related the reasons yt had formerly moved them to continew
their old Officers ever since the Quarter Court in May—1622. And
for their better sattisfacc̃on read vnto them the seu9all passages in the
seuerall Quarter Courtℯ since touchinge that matter.

And further signified that wheras the Company had made a Lawe for
lymittinge the Treasuror and Deputy to continue in their places but
for 3 years at once the said Law had allso been taken into considera-
c̃on by the former Com̃ittee Counsell and Court, who conceavinge noe
detryment could ensue to the Company by dispenceinge with that
Lawe for the present, but rather a singuler benefitt and advantadge
vnto them as things now stood, did therfore thinke fitt to suspend ye
Lawe allsoe for the present by leavinge itt free for the Company
to make choise of any former Officers although their times were
determyned.

Whervppon itt beinge taken into Considerac̃on by this present Court,
after all reasons heard and debated, itt was at length agreed and
ordered by a generall erection of hands that the Lawe concerninge
the lymittinge of the Office of Treasuror and Deputy to the terme of
3 years should be suspended and accordingly resolvinge to goe to Elec-
c̃on, the Earle of Southampton was generally and vnanimously nomi-
nated and beinge putt in Election with the Right Honoble the Lord
Cauendish, the place fell to the Earle of Southampton by haueinge 69
balls, the Lord Cauendish: fiue and the Negatiue box. 2. whervppon
ye Court besought the Lo: Cauendish and the rest of the Counsell
present to acquainte his Lop: with this choyce and how humbly and
instantly the Court besought his Lop: to accept therof.

ffor Deputy mr Alderman Iohnson and mr Nicholas fferrar beinge
proposed and ballated, the place fell to mr fferrar by haueinge 64 balls
mr Alderman 10. and the negative box: 1. Whervppon mr fferrar
beinge brought to his place tooke his Oath.

Proceedinge next to the choyse of the Auditors, the Court by a generall
rection of hands continued of the old, Sr Edwin Sandis, and Sr Iohn
Dauers in respect of their sufficiencie and long experience in matters
of Accompts with promise allso (vppon their request) that they should
be no other wayes tyed herevnto then as their owne occasions would
permitt. The Court likewise contynued mr Iohn fferrar and mr Keight-
ley, and in regard mr Gibbes and mr Iohn Wroth had long discontinued
from cominge to Courtℯ, there were chosen in their steed mr Bland
and mr Scott.

     

Proceedinge next to the choyse of Com̃ittees these five of the old were dismissed namely	mr Bearblock. mr Darnelly
	mr Bland.
	mr Wheatley mr Mellinge [384]

and in their steeds these five new were chosen (vizt)

           

1. mr Roberts.		6. mr Bull.	11. mr Boothbie.
2. mr Morris.		7. mr Casewell.	12. mr Bennett.
3. mr Ryder.	vnto whome were added	8. mr Georg Smith.	13. mr Biddolph.
4. mr ffelgate.		9. mr Wiseman.	14. mr Seaward.
5. mr Kirbie.		10. mr Meuerell.	15. mr Barbor.
			16. mr Covell.

     

ffor Secretary—Edward Collingwood
ffor Husband—mr Wm Webb	were chosen by a generall erecc̃on of hands.
ffor Beadle—Thomas Newton

The last Court beinge made acquainted by mr Deputy wth that notice
that Sr ffrauncis Wyatt had given by his owne letter of the time of the
determinac̃on of his Com̃ission of Gouernorship of Virginia and of his
willinge desire to leaue that waightie burthen to some other more able
person if the Company soe pleased.

And beinge further informed allsoe by the Planters then present in
Court howe much hee was Com̃ended for his Iustice and æquanimitie

towards all men who generally professed his Noble carriage was such
as hee well deserued to be contynued in the place of Gouernor and to
haue a iust recompence for those great losses hee had susteyned
through want of his due number of Tenantℯ and otherwise since his
goinge over. The Company beinge thus confirmed in their good
opynion of him and withall consideringe they had no Stocke att all
lefte to furnish out a new Gouernor conceived they were of necessity
inforced to continue him still, and therfore thought fitt to propound
him at this Quarter Court to stand in Elecc̃on for the said place.

Whervppon Sr ffraunces Wyat beinge proposed by the Court, and
some earnestlie moveinge that Sr Samuell Argall (in regard of his worth
and desire therevnto) might stand in Elecc̃on with him they were
both ballated and the place fell to Sr ffrauncis Wyat by haueinge 69
Balls, Sr Samuell Argall 8 and ye Negative box 2.

And itt was likewise further ordered that a ɫre should be writt vnto
him to pray his acceptance of the said place for 3 years longer, and
further to assure him that the Company would be verie carefull to
giue him a due Supply of Tenantℯ in discharge of their promise and
Covenantℯ wth him att his first goinge ouer.

The Court was moved that wheras in the generall narrac̃on that was
this afternoone to be made before the Com̃ittee of the lower house of
Parlyament there would fall out divers passages touchinge Sr Nathaniell
Rich who beinge a member of that house itt was not fitt to charge him
without leave first obteyned. Therfore that the Company would
please to petic̃on the house, that hee might be ordered to be present
at the said Com̃ittee and here such charges as should be given him.
wch course beinge well liked of by the Court and a petic̃on to that
effect presented: itt was twise read and maturelie considered of: and
beinge approved was by a generall erecc̃on of hands (two onely dis-
sentinge) ordered to be presented to the house in the name of the
Company: And that if itt should com there too late, then to present
itt to the Com̃ittee in the afternoone. [385]

Request beinge made by some that Sr Nathaniell Rich might haue a
Coppie of ye said Petic̃on Itt was by a generall erection of hands (saue
two) denyed itt beinge the Custome of noe Court whatsoever.

The Court takinge into Considerac̃on that the matters to be delivered
to the Parlyament did fall vnder fower generall heads (vizt) the
Matter of Tobacco and all the greivances therin: The buisines of the
Contract, The proceedings of the Comissioners and the passadges
since, and conceivinge that neither Counsell att Lawe could be soe
fully informed as were requisite, and p̱happs would not be soe well
heard, did therefore thinke fitt to beseech the Lord Cauendish Sr
Edwin Sandis and Sr Iohn Dauers to take vppon them the delivery of
the three last partℯ, (vizt) The Lord Cauendish the buissines of the
Comission, Sr Edwin Sandys that of the Contract, and Sr Iohn Dauers
the last: And for ye matter of Tobacco they imposed itt vppon mr
Deputy. His Lop: very Nobly vouchsaffed to promise his p̱formance
of their desires, and the like did the other of their partℯ.

The Court beinge moved that some course might be taken for the
Educac̃on and bringinge vpp of the Indian boy that was lately brought
ouer from Virginia by one William Perry, did thervppon entreate mr
Copeland a Mynister to take him into his care and charge: And did
promise hee should haue allowance for his entertaynement.

The Graunt of fiue shares vnto mr Iames Bagg of Plymouth beinge
ordered by the last Court to be drawen vpp was now presented and
read and beinge approved was ordered to be sealled.

Mr Casewell moved the Court that the two shares wch hee had passed
to mr ffurzman att the last Court as likewise one other share sold him
by Capt Bernard, might be the same Three shares that Captaine
Bernard drew in his life time in Martins Hundred as they are figured
out in the generall Mapp of yt Societie wch request the Court condi-
scended vnto and ratified and confirmed the said 3 shares in Martins
Hundred accordingly vnto mr ffurzman.