University of Virginia Library

CCCXX. Council in Virginia. Letter to Virginia Company of
London
After April 4, 1623.

Wee haue by a succesfull stratageme, not onely regayned our People, but
cutt of some kings, and divers of the greatest Comanders of the Enimy,
amongst whom wee are assured, yt Apochancono is one, it beinge ym-
possable, that he should escape, ye designe beinge Chieflie vppon his
p̱sone, and that happiely exposed to the princypall dainger; by holdinge
them in a longe hope of peace, Wee have come to knowledg of their places
of residence, & theire Corne ys now soe forwarde, that is to late for them
vppon this fresh occasione to remoue, So that wee doupt nott, to geve
them shortly a blow, That shall neere or altogether Ruinate them.

The fforte goeth Cheerfullie one, for the number of our people, and the
many services they are to be ymployde in, and we conceaue it woulde
bee of specyall Consequence, yf you would bee pleased to graunt A Comis-
sione for 2000 acres of lande of inheritance, to such, as shalbe willinge to
plant aboute it (wch the socyetie may well spare) there beinge lande ynough
besides, & better then that for 20000 planters, Wee desire you we may
have yor peremptory answer, to this poynte, for the faylinge of the
like, to divers of our Letters, hath beene a great hinderanc, to our p̳ceed-
ingℯ. The like respect must bee hadd to all p̱tes where Cytties & fortified
Townes are to be builte, there beinge many fitt places for that purpose
in this River, And many forwarde planters alredie wante Roome to
seate on.

Martins hundred alsoe would be taken into your regarde, wch greatly
ymporteth, the security & plentie of this Plantatione, & wthall the dis-
tructione of the Salvages, in that we shall haue thereby a swifte passage
to theire princypall seates, and the better Comande both of this & the
other River, Which must be supplide, and that speedelie * * * §with§

greater numbers, that may make good, this theire now Inhabited seate,
& that of Chesceak, A pale beinge runn betweene Wynns the whole forest,
and makes it inaccessible to ye Salvages, An excellent place & not fitt to
be left unpeopled any longer, And to the ende theire bad returnes, may
no longer Discorage them, Wee thinke it the best course, both for them
selves, their officers and Servantℯ, yt the Comanders be agreede wth for
a Certen rente yeerly, for every one by the pole, that shall live, under-
takinge also for all publique Charges, & advancement of Staple Comodi-
ties, Men seasoned, & experienced in this Countrey wilbe fittest to
Comand. by this means, they may alsoe haue a stock of Corne to Victuall
such People as they shall send over heerafter, to the great dim̃inition of
theire Charges, The like course we could wish, might be Taken, with
other Socyeties (as we haue forme[rly] advised for the Compenies Ten-
antℯ) Submittinge our opiniones, to your better Judgmentℯ

Wee desire to know yor pleasures (since it is not mentioned at all in your
Instructions, haveinge bee[n] doupted by divers, and leaue not graunted
by any late Comissiones, whether wee shall make prize of such dutch,
& french, as wee shall finde to trade with the Salvages wthin our Limitts.

The Colonie (God be thanked) hath recovered health, and nothinge
wantℯ more, then sudden and great Supplies of people, well furnished,
to give perfectione, to this noble Accione, wch wee beeseech the Allmightie
to p̳sper, both your and our endevors

Thvs wee humbly take our leaues & remaine