CCCLI. Governor in Virginia. Commission to Gilbert Peppet
May 12, 1623
Manuscript Records Virginia Company, III, pt. ii, p. 40
Document in Library of Congress, Washington, D. C.
List of Records No. 502
By the Governor and Capt generall of Virginia
To all to whom these p̢sentℯ shall come greeting in
or Lord God everlasting, Know yee that I Sr Francis
Wyatt Kt Governor and Capt generall of Virginia
(for the better relieueing of the p̢sent necessitie of
this Colony wth Corne) do giue and graunt leaue, power and authoritie,
vnto Gilbert Peppett gent, to embarke himself and his Company in the
good Shipp called the and in such Pinaces, Boatℯ, and Shallopℯ,
as shall accompany the said Shipp and to sett Saile wth the first opor-
tunitie into the Bay, or wthout the Bay (at his discretion) and to go into
any river, Creekℯ, or harbors, wthin the boundℯ and limittℯ of this Colony,
there to trade wth the Salvages for Corne, or any other Comodities they
can aford them. And it is further graunted, that if so be the said Sal-
vages shall deny them trade, or shall giue them any iust occac̃on, or shall
by any privat plott, or opne designe, offer to circumvent, hindr, or entrapp
them, to the danger of theire liues: then it shalbe lawfull for the said
Gilbert Peppett, either by force or by any other meanes he can devise,
to take from them theire Corne, or any other goodℯ of theires, he can
possesse himself of, keeping and enioyeing the said goodℯ, and Corne, to
the vse and behoof of the said Gilbert Pepett, and other the Adventures
in this vioage. And for the better managing of his employmt, and redress-
ing of all disorders & Mutinies incident to such affaires, I do by these
p̢sentℯ giue the said Gilbert Pepet power & authoritie, to punish such
of his Company as shall offend, in any kind according to the lawes &
customes of the Sea (life only exepted) In Wittnes whereof I haue herevnto
sett my hand, and Colony Seale the xijth of May 1623 And in ye xvjth
yeare of this Plantation
