University of Virginia Library

LXXIII. Sir William Throckmorton and his Three Associates
A Commission to Captain John Woodleefe
September 4, 1619

[59] To all xr̃ian people to whom theis p̢sentℯ shall come wee Sr Wilɫm
Throkm9ton of Clowerwall in the county of Glouc̃ knight and baronet,

Richard Berkeley of Stoke Gifford in the said County, Esq̢ George Thorpe
of Waneswell in the said County, Esq̢ and Iohn Smyth of Northnibly in the
said county gent doe send greetinge. Wheras wee the said Sr Wilɫm
Richard George and Iohn doe intend within ten dayes next at the farthest
to send one ship furnished called the Margaret, and in her thirty men or
therabouts for plantac̃on in the land of Virginia, and the same number
of men to increase at other subsequent voyages & returnes of the said
ship or some other, and there to erect and build a towne to be called
Barkley and to settle and plant our said men and dyu9s other inhabitants
there, to the honor of allmighty god, the inlargeinge of xr̃ian religion and
to the augmentac̃on and renowne of the generall plantac̃on in that cuntry,
and the p̱ticular good and profit of ourselves men and servants as wee
hope. And wheras also for the better orderinge and governement as well
of our our said people and men nowe ready to bee shipped and of those
that shall hereafter bee sent in augmentac̃on of their number, and fower
others already there, as also of our affaires and busines of what kind
soever in that Cuntry happeninge or arisinge, wee have agreed wth Cap-
tayne Iohn Woodleefe of Prestwood in the County of Buckingham Esq̢,
to take vpon him the labor care charge oversight and governmt both of
our said men and businesses (aswell p̢sent as future) to bee directed to
him. Nowe knowe yee That wee the said Sr Wilɫm Throkm9ton Richard
Berkeley George Thorpe and Iohn Smyth by vertue and force of the
authority and power given vnto vs in and by one Indenture bearinge date
the third day of ffebruary last past before the date hereof made to vs and
Sr George Yardley knight nowe governor of Virginia, by the Treasorer
and company of adventurers and planters of the City of London for the
first Collony in Virginia with the advise and consent of the counsell of
the same, Have nomynated and appoynted And [60] by theis p̢sentℯ as
farre as in vs lyeth doe nomynate authorize and appoynt the said Captayne
Iohn Woodleefe to be Captayne and governor of our said people and
servants to p̱forme and execute the said office and authority of Captayne
and governor by and accordinge to the power and authority vnto vs
given by the said Indenture from the Treasorer and company of Virginia
aforesaid, and accordinge to the ordinances directions and instructions
by vs lymited and appoynted subscribed, herewith also delyu9ed vnto
him, and of such other as hereafter we shall p̢scribe and not otherwise.
Givinge likewise and grantinge vnto the said Captayne Iohn Woodleefe
full power and authority as much as in vs lyeth, aswell by way of expor-
tac̃on out of England as by way of trade either with the natives of Vir-
ginia, or with the English there residinge or to bee residinge, to bee our
cheife marchant and to comerce trucke and trade as to him shall seeme
best, to and for vs and to our vse and behoofe, Theirby to bringe or
send vnto vs by way of importac̃on any such marchandizes as the said
Cuntry of Virginia doth or shall afforde All which the said Captayne
Iohn Woodleefe faithfully promiseth to p̱forme accordingly. In witnes
wherof we have hereto put our hands and seales the fourth day of Sep-
tember .1619. in the xvijth yeare of the raigne of our sou9aigne lord kinge
Iames of England ffrance and Ireland and of Scotland the liijth.