CCCXXXVI. "A Note of Some Things fit to be Inquired into by
the Comrs"[146]
May (?), 1623
Manchester Papers, Nos. 331, 332, 333
Document in Public Record Office, London
List of Records No. 447
A note of some thinges fit to bee inquired into by the Comrs. for the better
discouerie of the true estate and Condition of the Plantations, and of
the proceedeinges and cariage of that buisinesse.
And first for that of Virginia.
This Inquirie is to respect two severall times, viz̃t the time when the affaires
of those Plantac̃ons were chiefelye directed by Sr Tho: Smith (wch was
about the space of ten or twelve yeares) and the tyme since hee gave over
the said Government to this p̢sent.
Concerning the first, for a more distinct proceeding in this Examynac̃on,
theis things amongst manie others may bee inquired into.
1.
When the first Pattent beganne, how by degrees that Plantac̃on was
prosequuted, by what rules those affaires are, and haue binne governed,
and whether the same shalbee thought fit to bee continewd, or altered to
a better.
2
What moneyes were received in the severall yeares of Sr Thomas Smithes
Government, to whom they were paid, who kept the Accompt of them,
howe the said moneyes were severallie brought in, vizt. what by Lotteries,
what by other Collections, and what by voluntarie Adventures, and how
those moneyes haue bynne accompted for, and what discharges thereupon
given.
3
What ships, men, Cattle, munic̃on, and furniture were set forth in the
said severall yeares.
4
What publique Workℯ were effected dureing this Government, viz̃t what
houses or Townes built, what bridges, what fortℯ, what Churches &c. what
Nomber of English persons were resideing in Virginia, when Sr Tho: Smith
left the Government, and whether the said Persons were sent, and the said
buildingℯ and publique workes performed by private Adventures, or vpon
the publique stocke and for the benifit of the publique,5
What were the vsuall prices of Corne and Provisions in the Collonye
dureing the time of Sr Thomas Smithes Government, how were they sup-
plied of victuall &c from hence, whether vpon the publique stocke, or by
private Adventurers that made Comoditie, and advantage of what they
sent thither.
6.
What magazines were set vp in Sr Thomas Smithes time, and by whom,
what were the vsuall prizes at wch the said magazines bought and sold,
by whom were the said magazines cheifelie mannaged, and what gaine or
losse came to the Adventurers thereby.
7
What staple Comodities were raised and what attempted dureing the
time aforesaid.
[2] 8
Whether was there anie open and notable differences and dissentions,
among the Companie here, dureing the time aforesaid, if anie how did
they growe, and how were they compounded, or was there a generall
Concord, and agreement amongst them, and in what Tearmes stood the
Collonies there at at that tyme in regard of peace, or enmitie with the
Savages.
9
Howe came the lotteries first to be invented, and by whom, when did
they beginne, who directed that buisines, and who were imployed as Agentℯ
in it, what fraudℯ or abuses were comitted in the cariage of them, howe
were the said lotteries furnished, and by whom, whether vpon the publique
stocke, or by private men, and who were they that did s helpe to supplie
it it with prizes, or Comodities of their owne prop̱ goodℯ, money, plate, or
Jewells &c. what were the particulers that were so put in, and vpon what
Tearmes, and what gaine or losse came to such private Persons, in lieu of
the said Comodities.
What were the valewe of all the prizes in the said lotteries, were the prizes
that were drawne dulie paid, what was the totall Sum of money collected
by the lotteryes, and in what places were the said moneyes collected, what
course was held for secureing a true Accompt to bee given, of all the said
moneyes, what Charges for dyet, horsemeat, and travaileing expences were
demanded, by those that mannaged that buisines, and what for those
Charges was allowed, and by whom was the said allowance of ordinarie
Charges made, what rewardℯ were given to anie Person or Persons whatso-
ever out of the said lotteries, and by whom, and in what respect, what
Accompt was made of the moneyes, &c thus Collected, and by whom,
who tooke th'accompt, to whom were the said moneyes paid, and what
discharges haue binne given for it.
How long did the said lotteries Continew, did they for a time cease, how
came they to cease, and how, when, and by whom were they againe set vp,
and how came it to passe that at last they were quite taken away.
[3] The like Course of Examynac̃on to bee held for the 4 yeares since Sr
Thomas Smith mutatis mutandis. With a particuler direction, exactlie
to distinguish the men, munic̃on, Cattle and other supplies sent by private
Pattentees, and such as were sent vpon the publique stocke. (for it is to
bee observed and remembred, that divers have taken Pattentℯ and planted
at their owne Charge, wch is no part of the publique.) As also to Inquire
throughlie what Commoditie hath ben produced dureing the said last
yeares in lieu of the great expence of this§e§ publique Treasure, raised by
lotteries, collections, voluntarie Contribuc̃ons &c. who hath had the
benifit hereof if anie hath ben made, what new offices haue bin in this time
invented, who are the principal Officers, what allowance is made vnto
them, and by whom, and what Charge haue they put the Companie to
That the Comrℯ inquire carefullie vpon what groundℯ good and warrant-
able groundℯ the Companie adventured to send such multitudes of people
theis 4 last yeares, whether the sending of so manie people hath not vndis-
creetelie wasted the whole publique stocke, and bin a meanes to cast
away the lyves of so manie of his matℯ Subiectℯ, therefore to know what
Intelligence they kept with the cheife of the Collony there, to vnderstand
whether they were able to lodge, and feed so great a number as were from
time to time transported thither. That the Comrs cause that vpon oath
they produce all their ɫres to that purpose p̱swadeing or diswadeing the
sending of so manie p̱sons, and vpon oath to inquire whether at one and
the same time from some one or the same p̱son, or by some other of good
Credit, there were not private ɫres written to some cheife men of the
Companie, concerning the true estate of the Collonies, contrarie to those
that were read in publique, whereby the Courtℯ were deluded and drawne
to Consent to the vast Proposic̃ons of some, who it is to bee feared ayme
[147]
more to obtaine the fame of sending great multitudℯ of people in so short
a time, could not or would not see the daunger of the way they tooke to
arrive at that End.
[4] To bee verie carefull to examyne the magazines of theis last 4 yeares and
the prices thereof, here, and in Virginia and who made the benifit of them.
To Inquire into the Causes of the last massacre. And what indeed is the
true Condition, and estate of the Plantac̃ons at this present, what publique
stocke remaynes, and vpon what groundℯ the Plantac̃on is like to subsist,
and growe, and of all Incidentℯ whatsoever concerning all, or anie the
Premises.
[Indorsed, in the copyist's hand:] Notes of some speciall Instructions to bee
given to the Commissioners for the Plantacons in Virginia.
