 | The records of the Virginia Company of London |  |
A Preparatiue Courte helde for Virginia on Munday
in the afternoone ye: 26: of Aprill—1624.
| Sr Iohn Dauers. | mr Ryder. | mr Norwood. |
| Sr Roger Twisden. | mr Newporte. | mr Sparrowe. |
| mr Deputie. | mr Boothbie. | mr Cranmer. |
| mr Iohn fferrar. | mr Sheldone. | mr Huddlestone. |
| mr Shepparde. | mr Barbor. | mr Taylor. |
| mr Bland. | mr Casewell. | mr Perrie. |
| mr Palivicine. | Marma: Reynor. | mr Cuffe. |
| mr Copelande. | mr Georg Smith. | mr Woodall. |
| mr Bearblock. | ||
| mr ffothergall. | ||
| mr Andrews. | ||
| mr Pennistone. | ||
| mr Mole. | ||
| mr Ayres. | ||
| mr Stone. wth | ||
| Divers others. |
Wheras Vrsula ffrench Petic̃oned the Company for the freedome of
one Elias Longe her Apprentize in regaurd hee had served out 4 years
of his time and was noe waies able (as shee was informed) to pay her
out of his wages that Proporc̃on of Tobacco towards her mayntenance
as was formerly ordered, nor likely duringe his service to give her any
releife: The Court in Considerac̃on of her povertie orders her case
should be recommended to the Gouernor and Counsell of Virginia soe
as some means might be found to give her releife speedilie.
The Court vppoñ Moc̃on ordered a Comission to be drawen vpp for
Marmaduke Reyner for his Shipp the Sampson of about 100: Tunn
for transport of goodℯ and Passengers to Virginia.
Mr Deputy acquainted the Court that Wheras mr Iames Bagg of
Plymouth had 5 shares given him by a Quarter Court the 25th of Ivne—
1620 as a gratificac̃on for that good service hee had done for the Com-
pany as appeares [380] in that Court: hee desyred hee might haue
the said Shares confirmed vnto him vnder the Companies Seale. Wch
request the Court held very reasonable and ordered a draught therof
to be made against the Quarter Corte as had been §for§ others in the
like kinde.
Mr Deputy moved that wheras Sr ffraunces Wyatℯ Comission of Gouer-
norpp of Virginia expired verie shortly, and that himselfe as appeared
by his owne letter was willinge to resigne his place to some more wor-
thie person The Company would therfore take a bethinkinge against
the next Quarter Court for proposinge some other fitt man to succeed
him: Whervppon divers of the Company declared their opynions
that seeings Sr ffrauncis Wyatt had carryed himselfe soe worthylie in
the place of Gouernor as appeared by the Report of the Planters
themselves now present in Court much commendinge him for his Ius-
tice and æquanimitie towardℯ all men. And consideringe allso how
much the Company are in his Debt and noe means lefte to make good
their promise vnto him, much lesse able to furnish out a new Gou-
ernor, they could not therfore doe better then continue him still;
whervppon the Court generally agreed to recom̃end itt to the further
Considerac̃on of the Quarter Court.
Mr Deputy signified that beinge desired by the former Court to p̢sent
the Companys Petic̃on to the Lower house of Parlyament, hee had
this morninge (for before hee could not) preferred itt. Wherat
there was at first some opposic̃on made; but the house was pleased
notwth standing to entertaine itt verie acceptably, and haue appoynted
a select Com̃ittee to hear itt, who are to meet in the Starr Chamber
vppon the next Wednesday in the afternoone, wher all of the Com-
pany that are members of the Parlyament are admitted freely to com
and heare butt not to haue voyce.
And now for soe much as this meetinge fell out vppon the Quarter
Court day in the afternoone wher the Lord Cavendish himselfe and
vppon the said Com̃ittee. And for that allsoe the Earle of Southamp-
tõ their Treasuror was himselfe out of Towne, they were of neces-
sitie to alter and transferr the vsuall time of keepinge their Court
that day, from the afternoone to the forenoone Whervppon the Let-
ters Patents beinge p̱vsed itt playnly appeared itt was free for them
soe to doe, and although by their owne Lawe they had appoynted
their Courtℯ to begin at two in the afternoone yett vppon soe greate
and vnavoydable necessitie as now fell out itt was conceived the Com-
pany had power to dispence wth that Law. [381]
And itt was further offered to the Considerac̃on of the Court that
wheras the Earle of Southampton had been Treasuror now allmost 4
years, itt was against the Lawe of the Company to choose him againe,
and yett the necessitie and occasion of the Company were such as noe
other fitt choyse could be made; Whervppon ye Court thought fitt to
be humble suters to his Lop: that out of that extraordinary Noble
Zeale wch hee had with soe much trouble and paynes Demonstrated,
hee would be pleased be pleased once againe to accept of the place
of Treasuror and for removeinge the Obstacle that was by the Com-
panies Lawe, itt was thought fitt to suspend the force of that Lawe
for this time; Whervppon ye Courte beinge acquainted that for the
abrogatinge or suspension of a Lawe itt was to be done by the same
stepps and ∥degrees∥ as itt was made, did first appoynt a Com̃ittee to
advise about the suspenc̃on of those Lawes for the present, for wch
purpose these were nominated. (vizt)
| mr Iohn fferrar | mr Cranmer |
| mr Whitley | mr Ryder |
| mr Pallavicine | mr Copeland |
| mr Casewell | mr Cuffe |
| mr Barbor |
who withdrawinge themselvs out of the Court and haueinge deliberated
theron came and declared their opynions to those of the Counsell that
were present who concurringe with them, and afterward the Court
likewise, Itt was generally conceived very necessary and expedient
the Clock in the afternoone and for lymittinge the Treasuror but for
3 years att once should be suspended for the present.
Sr Thomas Hamon brought to the Court one Sydrac Soan, and Martha
his sister who made claime vnto 3 shares due vnto their Brother Ioseph
Soan deceased by a bill of Aduenture of 37li: 10: 00 paid vnto Sr
Thomas Smith wch they say Ioseph Soane did devize by his will vnto
one Ganesford Soane and the ∥sd∥ Sydrack and Martha: wch Gainsford
they certefie to be dead: So that the right now did wholly belong to
them two. They allso presented the Coppie of the said Will wch Sr
Thomas Hamon testified to be a true Coppie, Butt the Court beinge
desyrous to see the bill of Aduenture, because there appeared butt
25li of itt acknowledged in the printed booke: Sydrack made answere
hee had pawned the said bill for 30s to mr ffotherby.
The Court at length ordered that the said Three shares should be
ioyntly passed vnto the said Sydrack and Martha as beinge ioynt and
Coheirs to ye said Inheritance.
Mr Webb haueinge testefyed to the Court that mr Garrett Weston
transported to Virginia att his owne charge his brother * * * *
§ffrauncis§ Weston and three servants (vizt) William Dansey, Robert
Miller, and Iames Bradford, The Court ordered that hee should haue
the proporc̃on of 200 Acres allowed him for their p̱sonall shares.
There was brought to the Court an Indian Boy by one William Perry
lately come ouer from Virginia, for whome a moc̃on was made for
some Contribuc̃on towardℯ his mayntenance, wherby to bring him vp
in Christianitie and some good course to live by. Whervppon itt was
thought fitt a Role be drawne for men to vnderwrite what they please
freely to contribute that way. [382]
Mr Richard Casewell made knowne to the Court that wheras Capt
Iohn Bernard deceased had sould to mr Georg ffurzman three old
Shares of 12li: 10s: 00 p̱ share and likewise supplyed them in Martins
Hundred to the value of tenn pounds p̱ share Itt appeared afterwards
to the Auditors that two of the said Shares were ye Inheritance of the
heirs of mr Iohn Iames deceased, whose wife although Captaine Ber-
from the aforesaid heirs: Wherfore to supply and make good againe,
the full number of Shares that Captaine Bernard had assigned vnto
the said George ffurzman mr Casewell declared that att the request of
Capt: Bernardℯ Executors hee had assigned and past ouer to the said
George ffurzman and his heirs for ever two Shares old Adventure of
12li: 10s p̱ share, And therfore desyred the Court to ratifie and confirme
vnto the said George ffurzman as well the two shares hee had assigned
and passed ouer vnto him as that other Share wch Captaine Bernard
had sold him formerlie, and the Thirty poundℯ supplyed by Captaine
Bernarde as aforesaid. So the Court takinge itt into their Considera-
c̃on haue accordinglie ratified and confirmed the said Three shares
vnto mr George ffurzman and admitted him to be a ffreeman of the
Company: And haue allso agreed and ordered that the said three
shares shalbe the same, wch Captaine Io: Bernard in his life time
drewe by lott in Martins Hundred as they are laid out and figured
vnder his name in the Generall Mapp of ye said Society.
| The records of the Virginia Company of London | |