University of Virginia Library

CCCLVIII. The King. Letter to the Governor and Company of
the Somers Islands
May 20, 1623

James Rex.

Trustie and welbeloved wee greete you Well. Wee have taken notice that
wednesday the 21th of this moneth is the day appointed by your ɫres
Pattentℯ for choice of a Governour, Deputie, Assistantℯ, and other Officers
of the Summer Islandℯ Companie; and vnderstanding of the greate dif-
ferences, and distractions that have happened by meanes of divers turbu-
lent spiritℯ Persons, as well as in your as in the Virginia Companie, where
some few distempered spiritℯ collecting latelie togeather scandalous im-
putac̃ons against men of note, and quallity amongst you, did vpon Wednes-
day the seaventh of this moneth openlie publish the same, in one of
their generall Courtℯ (a Course most displeaseing vnto vs, as tendinge
onelie to faction and disorder) and further takeing notice that of late in a
confused manner, the two Companies of Virginia and the Summer Islandℯ
have binne warned to meete togeather, at one time, and place, wch Wee
by no meanes like, they being two severall bodies and inioying their owne
particuler Governours, and Officers, Therefore to prvent theis and the like
disorders hereafter, and out of our speciall Care to the good and welfare
of that Plantac̃on, Wee haue thought good hereby, to let you knowe our
expresse will and pleasure to bee, that you doe not for this yeare ensueinge
make Choice to the §office of§ Governour, or deputie of yor Companie
anie of those Persons, who either for their late offence are restrayned, or
had their hand in contriveing or councelling of the aforesaid scandalous
Writeingℯ, wch Were read on the seaventh of this moneth in the Virginia
Court, nor anie that have formerlie borne those Offices amongst you, The
first whose names you shall find in the margent, being in the nature of
delinquentℯ, and the Governmentℯ of the other being subiect to question
by the Comission nowe on foote. Our Will and pleasure is also that you
make Choice of a Secretarie or Clearke of yor owne, and not of anie that
is, or shalbee at the same time Secretarie or Clearke to the Virginia Com-

panie, it being most prop̱, that everie Court should have their owne officers.
And for yor place of meeteinge to keepe yor Courtℯ, wee will not in anie
sort that it bee hereafter at that house, [2] where the Virginia Courtℯ
were kept this last yeare, but doe rather hold it fit, that you appoint some
fit and convenient place, for your owne Companie to keepe their Courtℯ
by themselves, Wee vtterlie forbidding that both Companies should meete
in one place, neither will wee that anie bee present at yor meetingℯ, who
are not free of the Companie. According to theis directions wee require
that you forthwith to proceed to your elections, hopeing that wee shall
find such an obedience from you, as shall more and more plant you in
or good opinion, and give vs cause to bee ever most tender and Carefull
for yor good.

To or trustie and welbeloved the Governour and Companie of the Summer
Islandℯ.

[Indorsed:] A Coppie of his matℯ letter to the Summer Islandℯ Companie.
May 20. 1623.