The records of the Virginia Company of London

It was my promise to write, as I remember, and you desire to heare from
me, I perswade my selfe you thinke I will not dissemble, and I protest you
are in the right: Now for true newes thus it is, the Indians are drawne of
as farre, as a man can hurle a stone at twice, I make no question, but when
the leaves are greene, they wilbee somewhat nearer, and now forsooth they
would faine have peace, Conditionallie, that they may haue their Corne
at Kiskiek, and Pamaunkok, that is Just at our backℯ, and when their
Corne is readie, haue at yor bucklers you braue §Cow—§ Englishmen. I
was with the Goũnour at James Cittie, and told both him, and the Councell
that I came not ou9 to plant Tobacco, neither for my owne endℯ, although
the Companie was at no Cost with me, but onelie bare passage, neither
was I beholding to them for ought but love, yet if they pleased to accept
of my seruice I would by the helpe of God, and a few handℯ make them
wearie of their lyues; this was well taken, and eu9ie one was perswaded I
would bee as much or more then my word, presentlie ther was a warrant
sent vp for men, and another downe, and all I demaunded was but 40, viz̃t
30 small shott, and 10 men to secure the Boatℯ, but I feare now the Deuill is
the hinderer, for this Caveat is put in, that if theis men should be slayne then
the whole state were ou9thrown this Councell I doubt cometh from the right
worthie Statesman, for his owne profit Sr George. for he well knoweth,
that the Councell Careth not for him by reason of some foule matters, and
now to salue vp that sore he will perhaps take the paynes to burne a few
of their houses, eu9ie yeare like a Surgion, that wanteth meanes, to keepe
one in hand 3 yeares, that maybee Cured in 3 quarters, or 3 monethes:
Now I pray you Sr for my good will in sending you the truth, let me not
haue blame by yor showing of yt. But you may p̱haps say what will you

write that you dare not Answear? Sr I dare avouch it to his face that
dares Contrarie it, on equall Tearmes, but here you know a man may not,
for hee is a Councellor and I a private man, so when God shall send me
home againe, say not but I was readie and wilbe still for my King and
Countries good. I rest:

you may let Sr
Jo: Brookes see it
for he is also my
deare ffreind.[19]

yors

William Capps. 1623

[2] I pray you aske Capt: Butlers opynion of this matter, if you misdoubt
myne, I could beleiue, if I thought it were possible for so wise a man
to bee blinded, as I know our Gou9nour is, that Sr George had throwne a
mist before his eyes, but I dare beleiue and say of him; behold an Israelite
in whom is no guile, verilie wee were farely blest, and you haue obtayned
by him yor desire, wch was that you might have a man to gou9ne like a
Moyses, accepting no person, nor profit. Now Sr her'es another Deuill,
you know amongst most men the old Prou9b is, Charitye first beginnes at
home, take away one of my men, there's 2000. Plantℯ gone, thatℯ 500
waight of Tobacco, yea and what shall this man doe, runne after the
Indians? soft, I haue p̱haps 10, perhaps 15, perhaps 20 men and am able
to secure my owne Plantac̃on; how will they doe that are fewer? let them
first be Crusht alitle, and then perhaps they will themselues make vp the
Nomber for their owne safetie. Theis I doubt are the Cogitac̃ons of some
of our worthier men, If ther bee anie such, I would God had their soules,
and I their meanes. As I live if I had but men of my owne, I would never
aske their helpe to destroye their Enimies. But how haue I behaued my
selfe that might haue had offices, and furtherance in my office by my Lord,
by Sr Thomas Gates, and Sr Thomas Dale, and alwaies refused it, by
reason that was but to secure men that were to worke, at home? but God
forgiue me I thinke the last massacre killed all our Countrie, besidℯ them
they killed, they burst the heart of all the rest. Nowe I protest if this will
not take effect, but that wee shall haue peace, I will forsweare eu9 bending
my mind for publique good, and betake me to my owne [3] profit with
some halfe a score men of my owne, and liue rooteinge in the earth like a
hog, and reckon Tobacco ad vnguem by hundrethes, and quarters, and
serue my owne turne on the Countrye, as other men doe, and when wee
Come into England, wee'le tell what Actℯ wee haue done, in ventureing

our lyues for smoke, like a Companie of Shepbeters as wee are Swoondℯ
I Could Teare myselfe to see what weatherbeaten Crowes wee are, to suffer
the Heathen kennell of doggℯ to indent with us in this order. Vale

[Addressed:] To the worll͠ Doctor Winston at his house in Bishopsgate
streete london theis from Virginia.

[Indorsed:][20] Wyll͠m Capps to Doctor Wynston from Virgin. 1623

[17]

A copy in the same hand as CCCIV.

[19]

Written lengthwise in the margin.

[20]

By Sir Nathaniel Rich.

University of Virginia Library

CCXC. William Capps. Letter to Doctor Thomas Wynston[17] March or April (?), 1623

CCXC. William Capps. Letter to Doctor Thomas Wynston[17]
March or April (?), 1623