University of Virginia Library

XXIV. John Rolf. A Letter to Sir Edwin Sandys
June 8, 1617

The many courtysies and favors I haue receaued at yor hands shall
(during my life) bynd me to you in my best service: and so often as
occasion shall offer itself, I will not forgett to express the same. At this
p̢sent I haue breifly noted to you, in what estate wee found the Colony;
and of or speedy passage hether.

Upon the 10th of Aprill wee departed from Plymouth, and the next daie
lost sight of the Lyzard, having the Treasurer in or Company, wch kept
wth us about 3 weeks: at what tyme we lost her in foggy weather wch
contynued after 20. daies, in wch tyme wee hadd hardly a daie to make
a certeyne obseruacon. The same daie month (according to the daie of
the weeke) that we lost the lands end, we fell wth the dangerous shoulder
of Cape Codd, runnying in one glass from 20 to 5 and 4 fathom water,
not able to see (by reason of the thyck fogg) halfe a Cables length from
the shipp. Here wee ancored all night, and the next daie wth no small
p̱ill gott cleere of them. From heare wee shaped a Course along the
Coast of Virginia, keeping our lead all the waie, wch was or best guide
having so good a Pylott as or Gournr, the fogg still contynuyng, and
arryved at Point Comfort ye 15th of May, all or Company being in good
health, only one man dyed, who was sickly before we came from England.
Thus it pleased God to bless vs wth a speedy and p̢sperous passage, yea
hadd wee not bene troubled, to free or selves from those showlds, and

wth mysty weather, we hadd assuredly (by Gods help) arryued in Virginia
in a months space. The next daie befo Two, or 3 daies after arriued
Captaine Martyne wth the pynnace all his men in good health to increase
or ioyes.

Wee found the Colony (God be thanked) in good estate and inioyng a
firmer Peace and more plenty, howeur in buildings, fortyficac̃ons, and
for want of boats, much ruyned and greate want. Or p̢sent Gournr at
James towne is repayring and making straight what he fyndeth decayed
and crooked, to whose good indeavors and noble disposicon or Colony
hath bene, is, and wilbe much indebted. All men cheerefully labor about
their grounds, their harts and hands not ceasing from worke, though
many have scarce ragges to cour their naked bodyes. English wheate,
barly, Indyan Corne, Tobacco greate plenty in the ground. Hemp and
flax seed distributed to most men by the Gournr and is putt into the
ground: nothing neglected, wch any waies may be avayleable to advance
the Colony, and to give incouragemt to yorself and the rest of the Hoble
Company. The Cattle thrive and increase exceeding well, the ploughes
yerely worke and oxen are plentyfull. The Indyans very loving, and
willing to parte wth their childeren. My wives death is much lamented;
my childe much desyred, when it is of better strength to endure so hard
a passage, whose life much greately extinguisheth the sorrow of her loss,
saying all must die, but tis enough that her childe liueth. I know not
how I may be censured for leaving my childe behind me, nor what hazard
I may incurr of yor noble loue and other of my best frends. At my
departure from Gravesend (nothwthstanding I was ymportuned) I hadde
no such intent. But in or short passage to Plymouth, in smothe water,
I found such feare and hazard of his health (being not fully recouered of
his sicknes) and lack of attendance (for they who looked to him hadd
need of nurses themselues, and indeed in all or passage p̳ved no better)
that by the advise of Captaine Argall, and diuers who also foresaw the
danger and knew the inconvenyence hereof p̱swaded me to what I did.
At Plymouth I found Sr Lewes Stukely so nobly mynded toward me,
that he most earnestly intreated to haue the keping of him, vntill my
Brother tooke further order. I thought good to rectyfie you hereof, and
desyre yor self and all the Company, for those causes, to hold me excused,
if in their iudgemts I may be censured to haue erred herein. A firme

contynuance of yor favor and love toward me I daylie praie for. And
although greate is my loss, and much my sorrow to be depriued of so
greate a comfort, and hopes I hadd to effect my zealous intenc̄ons and
desyres as well in others, as in her whose soule (I doubt not) resteth in
eternall happynes: yet such temperance haue I learned in p̳sperity, and
patience in adversitie, that I will as ioyfully receiue euill, as good at the
hand of God: and assuredly trust that Hee, who hath p̢served my childe,
euen as a brand snatched out of the fier, hath further blessings in store
for me, and will give me strength and courrage to vndertake any religious
and charitable ymploymt, yorself and the Hoble Company shall com̄and
me, and wch in duty I am bound to doe. Now my last request at this
tyme is to yorself, whom I haue found a father to me, my wife and childe,
and will eur acknowledg it wth the best gratefullnes my hart and penn
can offer, that you would be pleased as you haue begun and ben the one of
ye principall instrumts herein, to contynue yor noble favor and furtherance
even for my childe sake, being the lyving ashes of his deceased Mother,
and that you will still be the meanes, that yor owne free lib'ality and all
others by yor p̱curemt in obtayning so liberall a stipend, may not die wth
my wife, but contynue for her childes advancemt, wch will the better
inhable myself and him hereafter to undertake and execute what may be
com̄aunded and requyred from us, Thus refering myself to yor approued
wisedom craving p̱don for my boldnes, desyring no longer to liue, then
when I shall cease from studying and indeavoring to bend my best strength
to p̱seuer in this Accon for the advancemt of the hour of or God, King and
Cuntry, wth my humble remembrance to yorself and yor noble and virtuous
Lady whose requests I will not forgett to satisfie wherein I may when
tyme shall serve I take my leave and rest