University of Virginia Library

A Preparatiue Coorte on Munday in the afternoone the 7th
of Ivne 1624:

Present
the right Honoble.

                                         

Edward Earle of Dorsett.		Sr Edwin Sandis.
William Lord Cauendish.		mr Rawleigh.
mr Deputy.	mr Hobbs.	mr Balmford.
mr Io: fferrar.	mr Gookin.	mr Georg Smith.
mr Neuell.	mr Widdowes.	mr Baynham.
mr Sandys.	mr Webb.	mr Molins.
mr Sheppard.	mr Newport.	mr Cranmer.
mr Bland.	mr Shelton.	mr Bull.
mr Dr: Anthony.	mr Iadwin.	mr May.
mr Palauycine.	mr Hopkins.	mr Collet.
Capt Bargraue.	mr Copeland.	mr Capps.
mr Casewell.
	mr Lee.
	mr ffothergell.
	mr Norwood.
	Marma: Reynor.
	mr Cuffe.
	mr Nicholls.
	mr Ditchfeilde.
	mr Ewens.
	mr Woodall ∥wth diuers others∥.

The Court of the 21th of Aprill was now read and after some pause
and noe [386] exception taken therto, beinge putt to the Question
itt was by a generall erecc̃on of hands approved to be rightly sett
downe.

Mr Deputy acquainted the Court that although the generall buisiness
of the Company preferred in their Petic̃on had not p̳ceeded in Par-
lyament, yett the p̱ticuler of Tobacco by the exceedinge greate care
and wisedome of Sr Edwin Sandys assisted with the Lord Cauendish
and other worthy members of the Company had a verie happie issue.
The Importac̃on of fforraigne Tobacco wherin Spanish was included
beinge presented to his Matie: as one of the nyne greivances of the
Realme in the matter of Trade wherin the House humbly besought
releife and that for the good of England without any Menc̃on or rela-
tion to Virginia in their Petic̃on,—although hee said hee Doubted not
but in their heartℯ the wholl House had a very speciall regaurd to the
advancement of the Plantac̃ons. And as this course was in itt selfe
as effectuall as if itt had been done by bill to obteyne ye excluding of
Spanish Tobacco, soe itt was much better then if itt had been done by
the bill wch was Drawen the last Parlyament, since wch time the state
& price of Tobacco was soe much altered as itt could noe way now
beare that charge of 12d p̱ pound wch that bill laide on itt butt therby
the Comoditie would haue been as certainely ruyned and ouerthrowen
as any otherwise.

In wch reguard mr Deputy professed that neither himselfe nor divers
others could with any good courrage sett forwardℯ that course of the
bill. But this second way bringinge with itt all the good of the bill,
and leavinge out the evill therof hee thought it could not bee too much
commended nor Sr Edwin Sandis (to whome the Company was behold-
inge therfore) sufficiently thanked.[202]

The Court rested much sattisfied in this matter, and full of good hope
that itt would com to a good end. Butt beinge informed that those
seuerall parties who in other kindes were to receave benefitt from the
redress of the other headℯ of greivances had seconded the House wth
their p̱ticuler Petic̃ons to his Matie: The Court thought itt very neces-
sary and fitt that the Company should doe the like and soe much the
rather in regard that the House of Commons haveinge onelie Peti-
c̃oned for the generall good of Trade wth out refferrence to Virginia the

addic̃on ∥of∥ so weightie, and mayne, a considerac̃on as the vphold-
inge & advauncemt of the Plantac̃ons would in all probabillitie much
sett forward the Execution and p̱formance therof: Whervppon itt was
ordered that a Peticon should be drawen to his Matie: to be presented
from the Quarter Court, pursuinge the effect of that wch the House of
Commons had delivered with the Addic̃on of what p̱ticularly con-
cerned the Plantac̃ons. And further itt was ordered that their Lops:
promise vppon dissoluc̃on of the Contract (that the Plantac̃ons onely
should haue the Importac̃on of Tobacco) should be menc̃oned: wch
their Lops by their order bearinge date the 28 of Aprill 1623 did com-
maund should be signified to the Colony §as§ haveing been most
graciously graunted by his Maty: vppon their Lops Moc̃on.

ffor the drawinge vpp of this Petic̃on the Court appoynted mr Deputy,
mr Casewell, mr George Smith, and further intreated Sr Edwin Sandys
to give them his help therin.

Mr Deputy acquainted the Company hee received late notice of Three
Shipps newly arryved from Virginia wch had made a very speedy pas-
sage and hadd brought good news from thence (viz) that the people
were all in health and the Colloney well stored with Corne and other
provisions.

Hee likewise made knowne how much Sr ffraunces Wyat was Com̃-
ended for [387] his good service and noble Carriage of himselfe in
his Government. And moved that seeings the Company had againe
chosen him for Gouernor for 3 years longer they would also consider
how to supply him for the time to com with his iust number of Ten-
antℯ and to recompence him for the losse hee hath susteyned therby.

Wch beinge taken into Considerac̃on itt was held both iust & reason-
able that the Company should make good their Contract with him.
And thervppõ by a generall erecc̃on of hands agreed and ordered
that signification should be given vnto him of his reelection. And
in respect the Company wanted means to send over more men vnto
him hee should be supplyed with his full number out of the Compa-
nies Tenants there; And for to recompence his former losses itt was
referred to the Considerac̃on of the Quarter Courte.

Vppon the like moc̃on and request in the behalfe of mr George Sandis
Treasuror, It was agreed and ordered by a generall erecc̃on of hands
(onely one dissentinge) that those men wch the Company had promised
to send him, but wanted means to make itt good, should be now like-
wise supplyed out of the Companies Tenants.

Mr Bull Treasuror for the old Magazine moved that wheras mr Alder-
man Iohnson hath ffower Hundred and odd poundℯ remayninge in
his hands long since due to the Magazine Adventurers whose Accompt
in respect of some differrences was referred to mr Alderman Ham-
mersley and mr Wither to examine and arbytrate: that for soe much
as mr Withers was gone beyound Sea they would now therfore
appoynt some other in his steed: and the rather for that mr Alder-
man Iohnson is tyed to give an Accompt before August next. This
was referred to the Quarter Court to consider of.

That wee Edward Collingwood Secretary of the Company for Vir-
ginia, and Thomas Collett of the Middle Temple Gentleman haue
pervsed compared and examined this present booke begininge att
Page: 1o att a Preparatiue Court held for Virginia the 20th of May:
1622 and endinge att this present Page—387 at a Preparatiue Court
held the 7th of Ivne 1624 And wee doe finde that this Coppie doth
perfectlie agree wth the Originall bookℯ of Court belonginge to the
Company in all things, saue that in Page—371: the Graunt of 800 Acres
to mr Maurice Berkley is not entred and saue that in Page 358 wee
wanted the Lords letter to mr Deputy fferrar, soe that wee could not
compare itt, and likewise saueinge that in Page 348 wee wanted the
Gouernor and Counsells Letter from Virginia, soe that wee could
§not§ compare itt; in wch respect I Edward Collingwood haue not sett
my hand to those Three Pages, butt to all the rest I haue sett my
hand seuerally to each in confirmac̃on that they agree truely with the
Originalls, And in wittness, and Confirmac̃on that this booke is a true
Coppy of the Virginia Courtℯ: Wee haue herevnder ioyntly sett our
hands the 19th day of Ivne—1624.