University of Virginia Library

CCCI. George Sandys. Letter to Samuel Wrote[44]
March 28, 1623

Noble Sr

I am almost ashamed that I haue left yor ɫre vnanswered thus longe: but
a bodie languishinge, well nigh vnto death, and a mynd distracted and
broken with ill successes here, and hard Censures at home haue disabled
me from all dutyes but those wch necessitie inforceth. But now I thanke
God, I haue recovered my health, and a litle cured my thoughtℯ with the
balme of my Innocencie resolving to strive against theis Torrentℯ of
difficultyes till I passe them over, or bee swallowed vp by them: rather
in that I wilbe Constant to my Course, then out of anie hope to gaine
reputac̃on or satisfie your Concepc̃ons. For their affections to this Plan-

tac̃on hath so ou9 hightned eu9ie thinge that it is impossible for our
Indevours to give it that lustre, wch must needℯ redound to the disgrace
of vs, and will, I feare, to the preiudice of the Collonie. I would to God
that some one of Judgment and Integritie whom you trusted might bee
sent ou9 to give you a true Informac̃on of our proceedingℯ and the State of
this Countrye. If then it be found that Wee are faultie let the Censure
and punishment light vpon the ill deserver: for my owne part I will desire
no favour. But if our want of meanes haue frustrated yor hopes, or the
hand of God, by extreame sicknes, and vnheard of mortalitie hath pre-
vented our Indevours, or if wee haue beene inforced by some of yor Instruc-
tions to goe Contrarie to or Judgmentℯ? If wee should imploy our owne or
the Serveantℯ of others (wch would never bee endured) for future expecta-
c̃ons; how in the meane time shall they be fed and Clothed or how shall
wee give a satisfaction to their maisters? It is not a small proporc̃on of
Corne that will feed a man, when that is his onelie sustenance. Had you
no other provisions in England perhaps the land were too litle to sustaine
her Inhabitantℯ. and for apparrell I will giue to the Magazine 10ɫi sterling
a yeare (as the rates here goe) for the Clothing of each particuler Servaunt.
for eu9ie labourer wee giue one Pound of Tobacco a daye, besidℯ his diet
and 3 or 4 §a day§ to Artificers. from whence shall theis paymentℯ arise?
moreou9 so manie come ou9 without anie provision, and those you set out
yorselues so furnished to halues (a maine Cause of their debtℯ and deathes
and of yor small retournes) that they make a dearth of a plentifull harvest.
I protest for my owne part if I knew how to defraie the expences of the
yeare, I would not set one plant of Tobacco whilst I lived in this Countrie:
so much I loath it and onelie desire that I Could subsist without it. Now
if anie will vpraid vs with the successe of this yeare, let them takeheed
least they manifest [2] not themselves to bee of the race of those Gyantℯ
wch made warre with heaven; for who is ignorant how the heavie hand of
God hath suppressed vs? the lyveing being hardlie able to bury the dead
through their owne Imbecillitie, insomuch as I am afraid wee haue not
lost lesse than 500 by sicknes (with a generall weaknes of the rest) wch
taken out of so small a number (farre short of yor Coniectures) I belieue
haue not left behind them so manie able men in the Countrye. And by the
way I would you Could hang that villaine Dupper who with his stinking
beere hath poisoned most of the Passengers, and spred the Infection all
over the Collonie wch before the Arrivall of the Abigall were recou9ed.
lastlie, whereas it was the onelye benifit wch wee reapt from the treacherie
of the Indians in drawing ourselues into a narrower Circuite, whereby the
people might haue beene better gou9ned, and lived with more Comfort
and securitie, publique Charges more easilie defraied, forces raised with
lesse difficultie, and hazard to the Remaynder, townes in short time would
haue beene forfeited, framed houses erected, Orchards planted, and groundℯ
impailed for the keeping of Cattle, staple Comodities the better aduanced,
strength, beautie, pleasure, riches and reputac̃on added forthwith to the
Collonie: by yor Comaunding vs to dispearse wee are like quicksilu9 throwne
into the fire and hardlie to bee found in so vast a distance. But I can but
giue you a touch of theis thinges wch perhaps were better vnwritten then
not written to the full. If God spare me life I will write a particuler
discourse of this Countrie, the hindrances to the Plantac̃on and waies to
aduance it, with an answeare vnto Calumny meane while I referre you to
others for other particulers, and will now addresse my replie to yor letter.

If I could be proud yor Censure had so made me for that slothful worke
wch I was ashamed to ffather. Notwithstanding it begat a desire to pro-
ceede: but heare my owne Author.

Yet amongst the roreing of the seas, the rustling of the Shrowdℯ, and
Clamour of Saylers, I translated two bookes, and will perhaps when the
sweltring heat of the day confines me to my Chamber give a further
assaye. for wch if I be taxt I haue noe other excuse but that it was the
recreac̃on of my idle howers, and say with Alciat.

[3] As for dubius accusac̃ons, Custome and the meanes of the man hath
made me insensible of such Injuries but more ignoble was that, though pro-
ceeding from a nobler Person who said wee held not our selues secure with-
out the guard of a Thowsand men: when it is well knowne, that I receiued
not one man in to my Plantac̃on though I had at sometymes not five
that were able to beare Armes, and for the Gou9nour I my selfe was an
Eye witnes, that the Councellors themselues were Constrayned to watch
nightlie by turnes, vntill the Countrie allowed him a Guard of thirtie. for

whose intertaignment he is yet vnsatisfied. O what a lying deuill is a
mallice! And nowe alitle to degresse (for I write as thinges Come into
my mynd and expect from so worthie a freind as you are a Pardon of
Errours, since I haue not the leazure to read ou9 what I haue written)
what a flagitious offence was that in vs to fetch of men from their dividendℯ
who had neither food nor Munic̃on nor in Nomber able to defend them-
selues in the Cultivateing of the earth, or guard of their Cattle, all being
slaine about them and wee vnable to supplie anie one of their wantℯ
without the ruyne of others! must they not haue beene left of necessitie
a pray either to slaughter or famyne? or how would their weakenes have
indured the want of their ablest men to haue gonne vpon the Indians, when
out of the whole Collonie wee Could but raise 180 (whereof 80 were fit onelie to
Carrie burthens) to incounter 1000? wch had put all in hazard if God had
not taken their heartℯ from them: though as valiant as lyons against one
another, and as skilfull in their bowes as the Beniamites with their slinges;
haueing manie peeces besides, with Powder and Shott, and knoweing too well
how to vse them, how §am§ I touched in particuler about that ignominious
proposic̃on of removeinge to the Easterne Shore, when I onelie related
the Argumentℯ, and nomynated the Author, And although the Gou9nour
and my selfe gaue way that the place might be survaid for the planting of a
Partie there as better furnished with all sortℯ of prouisions and fit there-
after for fortificac̃on: yet neu9 was it so much in or Thoughtℯ (though
manie ranne violentlie that waye) to quit the places wch wee held and
I for my part would first haue beene torne in peeces. But I wilbe more
warie hereafter what I write.

I vsed Mr Calthrope at his landinge with all the Curtesie I Could and
brought him acquainted with the Gou9nour. I proferd him the Enter-
tainment of my house, and my owne Chamber to lodge in [4] wch he
refused in that I was to bee but seldome there my selfe, in regard of my
almost dailie attendance at the Councell table (for besidℯ our owne partℯ,
wee are faine to discharge the Offices of others: if Mr Secretarie had beene
good for anie thing wee would never have suffred him to haue gon home,
and what a pittifull Councellour haue wee of yor Doctour!) I haue giuen
from time to time the best Councell I am able. At the first he kept
Companie too much with the Inferiours, who hung vpon him while his

good liquor lasted, after he Consorted with Captaine Whitacres (a man
of no good example) with whom he is gone into Kicotan, yet wheresoeuer
he bee, he shall not been without the reach of my Care, nor want for anie
thing that I or my Credit can procure him.

I kindlie thanke you for yor Gray hound the fairest that ever I saw; yet
the want of his stones haue deaded his Courage and made him altogether
vseles. But I haue written too much and yet nothinge Inopem me copia
fecit. I cease to trouble you but never to loue you

I pray you remember my best loue and wishes to worthie Mr. Gibb
James Cittie 28 Martij 1623