University of Virginia Library

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Records of the
Virginia Company of London

I. A Justification for Planting Virginia
Before 1609

It was proposed;[1] that some forme of writinge in way of Iusti-
fication of our plantation might be conceiued, and pass, (though not by
publique authorytye) into many handes. The motion seemed to have
these inducements.

1.

• First, yt it mought give adventurers, a clearnes and satisfaction, for
  ye Iustice of ye action, and so encourage them, and draw on others.

2.

• That ye Spaniard might out of this intimation reasonably collect, yt
  wee vnderstood our owne case to be such, yt the state would neyther feare,
  nor be ashamed to proceed in yt persecution ther of, if any Course should
  bee held agaynst yt: and yt this Iustification of our owne title, would
  deterr, or at least retard ye Spaniard from suddayne attempting vs.

  And though it were sayd then; That this was a lowe and impotent way to
  convey it by such a close scedvle; yet [xx] seemt, not to want example of
  other things carried in yt manner: and yet to haue wrought ye same effect,
  as a more publique declaration of ye state could doe.

  They wch differed from him had these motiues;

1.

• That it conduc'd not to his first hope of encouraging, or inciting
  adventurers: for, they in this poynt needed it not, nor require yt. That
  

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  ther is much of a Confession, in euery unnessary Apology: yt to moue
  scruple, especially of Conscience, wher ther is afore quiettnes and no
  doubting rather shakes and deterrs, then settles, or confirmes. And yt
  already some of best Iudgement, startle vpon ye first noyse of yt. That

2.

• That ye Spaniard hath already seene more publique, and authentique
  testemonyes, of ye States good affection to ye Iourny, by establishing it
  vnder ye great seale: and by ye seconding, and Iterating supplyes, then
  this way can giue him:

  Besides it is more then probable yt his Ambassador will forthwith expos-
  tulate wth his Matie about this writing, and then it is not conceau'd how
  far his Matie wilbe pleasd to avow yt, wch may intimate disavowing:

  Besides yt it seemed not to worke these good effects wch were pretended,
  it hath these euident dangers in yt.

1

• It will rather hasten ye Spaniards rage, then retard yt; because he will
  see it, to grow euery day harder for him to defeat vs.

2

• It will rayse vndisputably, two pen-adversaries of diuers sortes: The
  first are perfect Spaniards, who will defend yt title vpon ye Donation, of
  Alexander, wch is so grounded vpon the principles of theyr religion yt
  some of ther best authors haue pronounced yt Heresy to doubt yt. And
  wee, (though wee want not inducinge and Convenient arguments from
  God, and Nature and Nations) yet haue no such convincinge and obliga-
  tory * * * * * * irs,[2] especially towards them, and their ground.
  [2] The second sort wilbe neutrall writers, but of Spanish affections:
  who because they cannott thereby hurt ye Spaniard already established
  there, but may slacken vs, if they can cast scruples into our Conscience
  §[3] will wright agaynst ye lawfullnes of plantation in these, as well by ye
  Spaniard, as by vs, or any, wch must necessaryly grow to disputution of
  so much intricasy, perplexity, and replication, as shall conduce vnto
  theyr end of slackning ws. if no farther. For when at first discouery of
  these partes, ye Spaniard did subiect ye Consideration of yt to Casuists,
  and Confessors, it became so indeterminable, yt he was forced to resolue
  roundly vpon ye worst way, least he should haue none, to prosecute ye
  

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  Indians as Barbar's, and therby Naturally slaues. When after 50 yeares
  his Fryars declyn'd him from yt seuere and vnIust course, and he labourd
  by men of all learninge to prouide himselfe of a more acceptable title, all
  ye reasons, wch were prepard to him, by men of discourse, from ye Indians
  transgressing ye Law of Nature; from his [ciuilians] for their denying com-
  merce: from his Canonists, by ye Donation: and from his Deuines, by
  preparation of religion, were so incohœrent and so resisted by one another,
  as many bookes written in his defence, were suppressed in his owne
  Kyngdome, and at this day, from all ye authors extant, in yt pointe,
  (though they admitt ye purpose of ye donation, yet departing from ye
  very lettre) can be gathered for him no title, of Dominion or property,
  but only a Magistracy, and Empire, by wch he is allowed to remoue such
  impediments, as they had agaynst ye knowledge of Religion.

Because therfore, we shalbe putt to defend our title, not yet publiquely
quarreled, not only comparatiuely to be as good as ye Spaniards (wch we
doubt not is easy enough, when it shalbe impugned,) (agaynst wch not
wth standinge to gouerne them, ther arises ye Donation, and yt wee
seek Dominion) but absolutely to be good agaynst ye Naturall people:
some thought it better to abstayne from this vnnessisary way of proui-
cation, and reserue ourselues to ye defensiue part, when they shall offer
any thing agaynst vs: wch will more easyly and satisfactoryly be donne,
and we are like enough to bee too soone putt to yt by them, when they
see ye proportion and forwardnes of this present supply.

§ if ye first way fayle (because I doubt not of ouerthrowing ye Dona-
tion) then this will follow, wch if we could mayntayne yet wth such
subtelty of distinction, as ye merchant wilbe vncapable of satisfaction
therby[4] §

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[Indorsed:] ∥Reasons against publishing the King's title to Virginea.∥