University of Virginia Library

CLXXI. Captain Nuce. A Letter to Sir Edwin Sandys
May 27, 1621

Although I haue now written to my L. of Southton and the Coun-
cell in gen9all: wch ɫres I knowe come not last to yor view: yet yor
manifold favors conferred vpon me, and yor Contynuall paynes and care
for the good of vs all here, I thought might iustlie Challenge my more
perticuler regard. And therfore, though in my gen9all ɫres I haue
playnely accordinge to my nature delyverd such thingℯ as I thought fitt
for them to take notice of: yet I shall be bold to goe a lyttle further with
you, in boltinge forth my pryvate Conceipt of the Country §of thingℯ not
vnnecessarie for you to knowe§ since it must be §a§ true informac̃on
from hence that must confyrme or rectyfie yor iudgmentℯ. You will
Consider I haue not had tyme to see much, and therefore I will not
passe the boundℯ of myne owne observac̃on.

The Country, if wee Consyder the ayre, I Conceaue to be of an indifferent
temp̱ature, and such as younge and stronge bodies may well away with
all. But men stricken in years, or Corrupted in their bloodℯ by Nature or
disorder will finde a feirce encounter. If wee Consider the earth, I iudge
it also very fruytfull and apt to p̳duce any thinge wch England affords:
and yet haue wee yet very little of yor Corne or other graine: and I gesse
the reason to be, for that seldome any of our seedℯ Come kyndly or
seasonablie hether. ffor I my self this springe puttinge sondry * * *
sortℯ of gardaine seedℯ into the ground, finde not one of them to come vp.
But aboue all it would be wisht that our Corne might here be found to
p̳sper: and that wee had here more Cattle both for the plough and payle:
for I assure yow the people here lyve very barely for the most part:
havinge no other foode but bread & water and such mann9 of meate as
they make of the Mayze: wch I would to God I Could say they had in
any reasonable plenty. I assure yow the world goes hard with many
even at this tyme. The labor is infynite that they are here putto for
Corne yeerly. In so much that it takes vp att ye least three partℯ of our
handℯ. wch if you Consider, yow will not wonder that so great workℯ as

yow expect to be done haue so slowe p̳gresse. The Gou9nor hath stayed
the Dutch[1b]men yet awhile to see if any fitt water may be found for
their tourne (for yet they meete with none) ffor to send them home
without doeinge that they were sent for would tourne to yor dishonours
and the Countries discreditt. In the mean tyme they are so disheartned
with the entertaynment they finde here, that they are growne very
ympatient of stay. And these men when they fall to worke, must haue
all their help from the Companies people: and it may ffall out to be in
such a place that all yow haue yet will not satisfie. And §how§ shall
they doe that and look after their own lyvelihood? The Collony will
afford no help towardℯ it, since (as they say) the benefitt thereof goes
to ye Company. I am in a straite. How so many people sent hither of
late yeers haue bene lost, I cannot Conceaue vnles it be through water
and want, partly of good foode, but cheifly of good Lodginge: wch haue
bene the onely Causes of the death of so many as came with me, if the
Conceipt of their 7. years servitude did not help them on: wch Course,
I am of opinion, yow should doe well to alter. The half yeere, for wch
onely wee were victualled, since our landinge, is now allmost expyred;
sure I am, our p̳visions are expended, and yet wee here of no supplie.
In so much that yf the Edwin had not stood vs in some stead by fetchinge
vs corne forth of the Bay (wher now we haue good and free trade) wee
had bene distrest. ffor yor p̳visions fall exceedinge short, wch is not my
Complaint alone.

ffor myne owne part I will be bold to say that none could ever be more
honestly or thriftily issued, yet if many men had not died wee had bene
longe since in want. I ymmagine I should haue wronged my self and
abused the Company, if I had not said somethinge in my ɫres concerninge
Huddlestone, in whom you haue bene deceaued, for he ys a dissemblinge
Companion. I haue giuen yow but a touch of his behavyor out of my
respect to Mr Deputy: with whom I haue dealt freelie. Though he
deserue not the best from me, yet I could eazely disgest that, had he
discharged his dutie otherwise. Thincke not therfore I beseech you that
I mallice his person. I haue more to saie then I haue tyme to vtter.
Now therefore hopeinge that you and my good Ladie haue had no worse
health then then I and my wife (I prayse God for it) haue hitherto enioyed,
with the remembraunce of both of our due respectℯ to yow both, gyvinge

yow many thankℯ for yor great favours, I humbly betake you to the dyvine
p̳tecc̃on, and remayne

[2a] Sr, I had allmost forgotten to tell yow houe farre wee thinke those
Com̃odities menc̃oned in yor booke, vndervallued. Especially Silke Coddℯ:
wherin to deale, the people are now very much discouraged. Howbeit I
would to God the seed had come safe that I might haue made tryall
though to my losse, so §I§ might haue gyuen the Companie satisfacc̃on.
Out of all question no Countrie vnder heauen is more p̳p̱ for them. But
I would be glad to vnderstand by those m9chauntℯ who vallue the Codds
at x  x  xd ijs vjd a pound, when this will prooue a Com̃odity for men
to lyue by in this Country, wher wee pay iijs a day for the labor of a man
who hath no other waie but to digg and dealue.

Sure they thought themselues in Italie, Spayne, or ffraunce: Countries
plentifull and populous: wher are thousands of women and children and
such ydle people to be hyred for jd or ijd a day. I am enformed that 20.
ouncℯ of seed, wh[en] it is in woormes will busie forty people daylie duringe
the season. will those m9chauntℯ be contented to take the silke from vs
then, as wee may afford it, payinge for the hire of men as abouesaid?
Nay, men here in that season are not to be gotten at any rate: for the
tyme of their attendaunce falls out to be iust at such a season as wee are
busiest about our Corne: so as no man but he that means to starue will
once looke after them. somethinge I might saie against other things to:
but not wth like reasons. Sr, I am bolde to speake my minde to yow
presuminge yow will not publish my follies: but rather endeavor pryvatelie
to amend.

Since I cannot write pleaseinge thinges, I haue forborne to direct my ɫres
to ye Companie, wherin if yow finde I haue erred, I beseech yow to ioyne
wth my L. of Southton in my excuse, whose favor therin I haue humbly
besought.

I haue bene earnestlie entreated by one that otherwise may §doth§ com-
maund me to take of my complaint against Huddlestone in my ɫres to ye
Councell. I praie Sr, do you therfore take onely a pryvate Notice of his
miscarriage.

My wife would declared hir owne thankefullnes to my Noble Ladie in
wrytinge. But it is not yet two daies since shee added a iolly boy to the
Collonie: and remaines (I thanke God) in good health, considering hir
estate, shee, wth me desires to be remembred to the younge gentlewomen.

[Indorsed by Sir Edwin Sandys:] From Capt. Nuice 27 May 1621. to Sr E.
Sandys. From Virginia.

[Addressed by self:] To the hoble Knight Sr Edwin Sandys these. at North-
borne in Kent or elswhere.