CLIII. Sir George Yeardley and the Council in Virginia. A
Letter to the Earl of Southampton and the Council and
Company for Virginia
January 21, 1620/21
Manchester Papers, No. 290
Document in Public Record Office, London
List of Records No. 229
James-Cittye, Januar̃. 21o A. D. 1620
Right Honble etc.
The people here haveing taken notice of his Maties late Proclamation
against the Importac̃on of tobacco into England, haue offered vnto
vs the petic̃on herewithall sent, desireing vs to bee a meanes to
Com̃end it vnto you, as that it maie bee presented to his Matie, and
his gracious aunswer therevnto obteyned, which their desire, together
with our owne, wee do hereby offer vnto you, humblie entreating it maie
bee deliuered in as humble and effectuall manner as maie bee, b§s§eeing
the life of the Plantac̃on dependeth vpon the wellfare of it, and so wee
leave you and the successe therof to the Blessing of th' Allmightie, and
rest,
This Coppye ex-
actlie agreeth with
the originall sent
for England in
the Temperance.
Jn
o Porey secr̃
Most humblye at yor Com̃and
George Yeardlye:
George Thorpe,
Tho: Nuce;
Nath: Powle:
Sam: Maycock:
Jno Pory secr̃.
John Rolph,
John Powntesse
To the Kinges moste excellent Matie
The humble Petic̃on of the distressed Collonye in Virginea Sheweing that
whereas it pleased yor Matie that now manie yeres since, owt of yor
Religious desire to spread the Gospell of Christe, and Princelye Ambition
to enlarge yor owne Dominions to geve encouragemt vnto vs yor Maties
poore Subiects by manie goodlie priueleges and liberties vnder yor Maties
great Seale of England (then which wee could account no earthlie thing
more firme) to aduenture our lives and fortunes hether for these intentℯ,
XII. Signatures of Officers of the Colony.
1.
An autograph letter, signed, from John Pory, secretary of the colony, to Sir
Edwin Sandys, January 13, 1619. Ferrar Papers.
2.
An autograph letter, signed, from Gabriel Barbor, the manager of the lotteries,
to Sir Edwin Sandys, October 2, 1619. Ferrar Papers.
In which enter prize to tell how great things manie of vs have suffered
through hunger alone, would bee as incredible as horrible to reporte to
yor sacred eares, which difficultie, wee by the fauor of God haueing in
some sorte overcome, and brought our selves to some abilitie of substance
without anie other helpe from England, but onelie by course of Mer-
chandize, are now like to be returned to the same or worse difficulties, by
the sinister practize of principall persons of our Companie at home, who
p̢tending yor Maties proffitt, but intending their owne more, have gone
about to blowe vs vp at once, with a p̳clam̃ac̃on which they haue p̳cured
from yor Matie (as wee hope, vpon some false grownds) prohibiting our
Importac̃on of tobacco, the onely Com̃odity which wee haue had hetherto
meanes to rayse towardℯ towardℯ the aparelling of or Bodyes and other
needfull supplemtℯ, Other thingℯ of more reall valewe and constant sale
requireing more time §in§ the growth then our necessities would allowe,
and more helpe to practize then wee (till of late) have beene furnished
withall, By wch course wee are plunged in so great extremities that now
remayneth neither helpe nor hope, but that wee must all here perish for
want of clotheing, and other necessaries, such as both our natures some-
times, and breeding maie require, whereby yor Matie shall not onelie loose
so manie good and loyall Subiects, as haue hither adventured theire liues
and substance in Gods seruice and yor Maties but with them the hope of
a Territorie as large and as opulent to bee made, as anie of those King-
domes you now possesse.
Maie it therefore please yor Matie out of yor Princelie Compassion (since
wee are assured, that you tender the lives and wellfares of yor Subiects
beyond thouzands of gould and silver, and yor Royall word ratified by
yor great Seale, farr above both) either to revoke that Proclamac̃on, and
to restore vs to our ancient liberty, or otherwise to send for vs all home;
and not to suffer the Heathen to triumph over vs and to saye Where is
now their God? So shall wee all (as wee allredie are in dutye bound)
praye for yor Maties long life and happie Raigne.
[Addressed:] To the right honbɫe, the Earle of Southampton, and others the
Lords, and to the right worll the Knights, and the reste of the Councell
and Companye for Virginea. In London
[Indorsed:] From Sr George Yeardlie to the Cowncell. The Collonies
Petic̃on to the Kinge about the Tobacco 21 Januarye. 1620.
