USA > Virginia > Narratives of early Virginia, 1606-1625 > Part 35
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Wherein wee hope yo" Lops will excuse both our playnes 1 and prolixitie, tending to no other end, but only to present unto yo' Lops viewe the cleare state and true neture of the Disease ; that so yo" Lops in yo" great wisdome may the better discerne and provide the proper remedies. Towards wch since yo' Lops have bin also pleased to require some preparative as it were of or opinions : wee will now humbly apply our selves to that consideration wthout wch all the rest were but griefe and labour.
And here first wee are in duety forced to deliver unto yor Lops, that the restoring, supporting and re advancemt of that Plantation, wee hold to bee a worke, though of great necessitie for the honour, yea and service of his Matie, these tymes con- sidered: yet wth all of soe extreame difficultie, that it is not to be rashly and unadvisedly undertaken, but wth great cir- cumspection, care, and preparacon, with assurance also of great assistance.
For not to insist much, upon the nature and greatnes of the worke, so remote from the favourers, so vicine 2 to mighty maligners of it: and inded fitter for the power and purse of a
1 Plainness.
2 Neighboring.
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[1625
Great Prince and State, then of private Adventure's, and those allready exhaust and tyred; the wounds weh since that great wound of the Massacre, it hath more lately receaved, from their handes whome it least beseemed, are still so wide and bleed- inge, that unlesse his Matie, and yo' LoPs as deputed from him, shall vouchsafe to apply a soveraine hand for the healing of them, wee are resolute of opinion, that it is impossible, the Plantation carried as formerly by private persons, should either prosper or long subsist: Those woundes wee conceave are these. First the generall disreputacon of the Business (Reputation being a principall pillar of all great actions) and that partly by some errors, neglects and disasters, but princi- pally by the late faction, though of a few and small Adventurers yet strongly and strangely inanimated and supported agaynst the great Body of Companie: whereof in fien also by under- mining misinformacons they have wrought the Disolucon; and consequently lefte all, both Adventurers and Planters, in an utter uncertaynty of their Rights, Titles and Possessions : though promise was made that they should be reassured to them, wch these men have neglected to see performed.
Secondly the great discouragemt of sundry not of the mean- est both Adventurers and Planters, some of them persons, and others also of good qualitie: by whose cares and labours, to- gether wth their friends and purses, the Plantation having formerly receaved no small encrease and benefit, to the Planters great comfort and content (wch they have not forborne from tyme to tyme to declare): yet have they by the unjust cal- umnies and clamors of these men, bin continually prosecuted wth ch all variety of extremitie, to the rewarding of them with evill for their good deservings, and to the disheartening of all other, to succeed in like care and industry.
Thirdly the present extreame povertie and consumpcon of the Plantacion being for want of the accustomed yearly sup- plies, reduced to that paucetie of men and want of all sorts well neere of necessary provision, that it cannot be restored but wth an huge expence, no less allmost then to sett up a new Plantation.
445
1625]
THE DISCOURSE OF THE OLD COMPANY
Nowe touching the disreputacon of the Action, and the generall dishearteninge of the Adventurers and Planters, such especially as have spared neither paynes nor expence, for the recovering, supporting and advancinge the Plantation: We humbly crave yo' Lops favourable patience, though wee some- what enlarge our selves in this place, to present in part the In- justice and greaveousnes of those wounds to the honoble minds and skillfull hands of yo" Lops: Seeing that in our understand- inge the curing of them by yo" Lops, may be a meanes to re- vive agayne the generally deaded hearts of both Adventurers and Planters and to adde a new lustre and grace to the Action.
Amongst the many glorious workes of the late Kinge, there was none more eminent, then his Gracious enclination, together wth the propagation of Christian Religion, to advance and sett forward a new Plantacion in the new world, Wch purpose of his continued till the last, manifested by his Mat many pub- lique and private speeches by divers L'res of his, and by his sundry Proclamacons, so that their faults are farr the greater, who, as imediatly shal be declared, did malitiously and cun- ningly pervert those Gracious intencons of his Matie by scan- dalizing the Government as it then stood, as neither convenient here nor likely there to advance the prosperitie of the Colonie ; and by insinuating assurances, that they themselves would mayntayne that worke by better meanes. Which his Matie conceavinge (as it was reason) they would not so boldly have promised of themselves, being so great a worke unlesse they had had both knowledge and meanes to goe thorough wth it; did also believe: and so they became the undertakers. And now, as it hath bin ever farr from o" practize and agaynst of present desires to fall upon the persons of any men, where necessitie and justice of the cause doth not necessarilie require it: yet at this tyme it is impossible to cleare this pointe to yo" Lops without naming some of their persons and particulariz- ing their Actions. About six yeares agoe, when by reason of the apparant misprosperinge of the Plantation, and the fowl- nes of the Accounts here, (the then Treasurer being Governour
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of ffower or ffive other Companies,1 wch excused his neglect of attending this business,) the Governemt of the Companie was translated from ST Thomas Smith and Alderman Johnson, into ST Edwin Sandis, and after into the Earle of Southamp- ton's hands and their deputies : it is notoriously knowne how they wth Captayne Argoll and other friends, partly peradven- ture through discontent for being removed from their places, but principally through feare, (their accounts, depredacons, Piracies and misgovernemt being now questioned before the Counsell and in the Companies Courts) perpetuall disturbed and disgraced by severall wayes, both to his Matie and to the world, all the present proceedings of the Companie, to the great disheartninge of the Companie here, and no small disadvan- tage of the Colonie. And of this, and of the bad effects of it, all our bookes and memories are full. But yet by God's as- sistance, and the unwearied courage of the Companie; wee ridd out this storme. The next blowe, as wee had reason to believe, proceeding by their underhand raysinge of new spiritts, drawne to disturbe us for their owne gayne was the bringing in of new and severall projects concerning Tobacco: wch was for the instant the only comoditie whereby the Planters mayn- tayned themselves, and so under colour of advancing profitt to his Matie s 1e sometimes (as hath been before touched) wee were forbidden to bring in any Tobacco, sometimes to bring in but a small quantitie, and sometimes comaunded to bring in all. wch varying directions did so distract and confound the Ad- venturers and Planters, that it had in a manner ruyned the Plantation.
But yet by Gods assistance, and the constancy of the Com- panie, wee ridd out this storme also. The instruments in this worke that especiallie appeared, were the then ST Lionell Cranfield,2 Mr. Jacob and some others : to the extreame damage of the Company, enrichement of themselves, and deceyt of his Matie as was at large expressed and offered to be proved in the
1 Sir Thomas Smith was presiding officer of the East India, Muscovy, Northwest Passage, and Somers Islands companies, as well as of the Virginia Company. 2 Afterward Earl of Middlesex and lord high treasurer.
1625]
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THE DISCOURSE OF THE OLD COMPANY
last Parliament. Thirdly by the procurement of that part, divers scandalous peticons agaynst the company in generall, and many in perticuler did putt us to much vexacon and trouble. But their accusacons were so fals, that wee also overcame this Third assault.
After this another stratagem was obtruded upon us, under pretence of friendship and love of the Plantation. The Earle of Middlesex then Lo: high Treasurer of England who in re- spect of his place, was to take into his consideracon all thinges that had relacon to his Mats revennue, did first propound to ST Edwin Sandis, and afterwards to the Ea: of Southampton, the Lo : Cavendish and S" Edwin Sandis together that the King, he knewe, had by ST Thomas Smithes meanes and Alderman Johnsons, and some great friends and instruments of theires bin strangely possessed agaynst the forme of our Government, and the consequences of it : and particularly that they had made such advantage by traducing the names of the Earle of South- ampton and ST Edwin Sandis, that the business of the Plantacon fared the worse for their sakes. That he had already in Generall spoken wth his Matie and assured him, that the whispers and relacons of those men, had an eye to their owne safetie, and not the Colonie's good; and that thereupon the King referred the whole consideracon of the Plantation, and what was best to be done, to his care.
Upon this he propounded unto those before named, that the best way to engage the Kinge in his care of the Plan- tations, and to make it impossible for any hereafter to disturbe the Companie, as they had formerly done, was to thinke of some such meanes, whereby the profit of his Matie, and the good of the Plantation, might hand in hand goe together. And to speake truth; though those he spoke wth all, were at first very unwilling to swallowe this guilded pill, as having heard of the stile he used in negotiating other businesses of this nature : yet he was so full of protestacons in it, ever pretending the Companies good, and wth all procured further intimacon to the Earle of Southampton, that no service of his could be more acceptable to his Matie then this now propounded: that upon
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY VIRGINIA
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these protestacons and assurance they engaged themselves to treat of a contract between his Matie and the companies. In the making whereof, the said Earle of Midd. remembered not his promised care of the Plantations; but in truth from one degree to another, wrested us to such condicons and such a rate, as was very dammeagh to the Plantacions. But upon serious debate in maney and full Courts, upon the whole matter wee were resolved, considering the protection of the Colonies, and favour promised; and to be free from those frequent projects that in former tymes had soe much wronged and disturbed us, to accept an hard bargayne: conceavinge that though it were not so good as wee desired, and was fitt to have bin offered ; yet by it we shall be in a better case and way of benefitting the Plantations, then formerly wee were.
And so in Michealmas terme, 1622, this contract wch be- gan to be treated of in Easter terme, was concluded by the sub- scription of the Earle of Middlesex his hand, and by sending the company word, that that day the whole Counsell board had given their assent thereunto, wch was the first tyme the Com- pany understood that they had heard of the matter. The con- tract thus concluded, a great Tempest arose by what secrett cause and underhand procurement, wee may guess, but not affirm. But in a Court of the Company upon the 4th of Decem- ber following, one Mr. Wrote 1 Cosen Germane to the Earle of Middlesex, (discontentª also that he was passed over in the election of Officers) did wth a passionate and blasting speech, inveigh agaynst the Contract, and the managing thereof wth sallary : agaynst the proceeding in the Treaty of it, as that it had bin unduly and unjustly carried, that men had bin over- awed, and that it had bin procured to private ends. Whereof not being able to make any shadowe of proofe and persisting still in his violent and contemptuous Demeande, upon a full hearinge he was thrust out of the Companie, and upon that ground joyned himself to ST Thomas Smith, Alderman Johnson
1 Samuel Wrote was son of Robert Wrote of Gunton, in Suffolk, England. He was a leading opponent of the Sandys-Southampton faction, and because of his violent language was suspended by them from the company.
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THE DISCOURSE OF THE OLD COMPANY
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and that opposite party and drewe also with him Two more of his Companions, and so now made shewe of a formall party agaynst the Company. But for all this, wee still mayntayned the reputacon of of proceedings. The next of o" troubles in order, (proceeding from what secrett cause, that weh follows will give yo' Lops more reason of conjecture, then wee will now affirme) was, that this opposite party then attayned to about 25 in nomber, had some secrett encouragemt or other given them, directly to oppugne the Contract; weh as is before de- clared was so formally made: and gave some reasons in writ- ing agaynst it to the then Lord Tre"; who receaving them, gave the company first suspicon of double intelligence and indirect- ness in his dealinges.
But howsoever, the Earle of Southampton, the Lo: Caven- dish, S" Edwin Sandis, and some other, being called by the Earle of Middlesex to his Chamber at Whitehall, then thought, that they had given such answers to them, as that his LopP rested satisfied. But his LopP after, speaking wth the Earle: of Southampton and the rest before named, told them that they that had opposed, were a clamorous Company, and that to make the business goe current, it were best that their objections and o" answers should be heard at the Counsell table. And upon hearing thereof, their accusacons, and o" answers, the Earle of Middlesex, who assumed the chief knowledge and care of that business, did in the close of that hearinge use the words formerly rehearsed, of the leaud 1 carriage in former tymes, and of the latter in a manner miraculous recoverie.
A greater testimony of o' integritie and their guilt, could not be given. But as the sequall will manifest, and as wee have since found in other of his Lop® proceedings, he meant to loose nothing by those words. Howsoever it was, and whatsoever wee suspect, not intending now to dive into those misaries, from that day forward, to the Conclusion of this business he professedly made himselfe the patron to that side, and enemy to the company, for wch wee appeal to yo" Lops better knowl- edge. Afterwards about that Contract were divers meetings
1 Lewd.
2 G
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY VIRGINIA
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before the Lords, where it was principally inveighed agaynst by S'r Nathaniell Rich; speaking agaynst the injustice and un- conscionablenes of it; protesting that he had ever sold his Tobacco for ffive shillings a pound one wth another, and that every pound cost him Two shillings six pence in the Sumer Islands : and now to give a Third away to the King and perad- venture the price not to be much higher was agaynst justice and conscience. And here by the way, wee humbly crave leave to say thus much, that his conscience now serves him in this new Contract, to force the Planter and the Adventurer to sell their Tobacco, the best sort 284ª and the second sort at sixteene pence a pound. But upon that former Demonstra- tive Argument of his, though it were so fully answered as noth- ing could be more, yet the Earle of Middlesex took his ground to condemn the contract he had signed, as hurtfull to the Plantacions; and to commaund the companies to thinke of propounding a better, and to bring it in writing wthin Two daies : wch was accordingly done : and therein shewed that the hardnesse of this contract, was not by the Companies prop- osition, but by his Lop pressure. And therefore urged what had bin offered to his Lop8 at the first; that his Matie would be contented wth a fourth and not require a third of or Tobacco. To wch in great scorne his LopP replyed that take Two pence out of six pence their would remayne a Groat. But the last Parliament saw that his best invention, was by adding 3£ to 40$ to make up ffive pounds. But in conclusion that Contract was dissolved, and a commaund laid upon the Companies by his Lops procurement to bring all of Tobaccoes in, under colour that Three pence custom was abated; whereas in truth by his admitting also of all Spanish Tobacco, upon S'r John Wolsten- holmes 1 motion wee could not vent a third part of it here: and so by computacon, in respect of the quantitie unvented, wee paid neere doouble as much as before : weh was his only favour to the Plantations.
The contract thus dissolved as publiquely damageable by the incouragement of the Earle of Middlesex, and industry of
1 A leading member of the company.
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THE DISCOURSE OF THE OLD COMPANY
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the ffive and twenty before menconed, (that so place might be made for this latter contract, so privately beneficiall, for so by the effect it hath appeared): the Governmt was now likewise to be questioned and altered, or else they compassed not their ends. Which to bring about, these two wayes were used. First a peticion was delivered to his Maty by Alderman Johnson, in the name of the rest, inveighing against the latter Governmt and magnifying the former. And in the end, de- siring a commission to examine the proceedings of those last ffower.
This peticon was by the Company at large answered to his Matie and wee joyned in the point of having o" actions examined by the Comission: but wch all thought it just, and desired, that their Twelve years Goverment before might be also ex- amined : wch accordingly was ordered. The second means used by them, was to rayse up Captayne Butler, who hasting from the Summer Islands to Virginia, where he stayed but a few weeks, upon his returne delivered to his Matie a paper called The unmasking of Virginia. The substance of wch was first the dispraise of the country and making of it an unfit place for any English Colony; and next scandalizing the Governmt of it, both here, and there. What concerned the colonie, was proved to be false by fforty witnesses : who chaunced to be in Towne then, and had bin often and long in the Colonie : And was endeavoured to be mayntayned by him by two meanes only : one by practizing to gett the hands of Two men unto it, to whome he owed money and deferred payment : who when they heard it read in Cort, protested that they never saw what they sett their hands to, and that Capt: Butler told them it was a Paper, wch he would shew the King for the good of the Plantation : and desired the companies pardon ; for whatever was there said was false. Secondly, he would made it to have bin better believed, by a forged L'e wch hee brought to Sr. John Bourchire from his daughter Mrs. Whittakers:1 who
1 Probably the wife of Jabez Whittaker, a member of the council of Vir- ginia and brother of Rev. Alexander Whittaker, formerly of Coxendale on James River.
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY VIRGINIA
knew it was not her hand. This was alleddged at the counsell Table: and Capt: Butler answered that she was sick and dic- tated it to him, and he wrote it. But since, both shee and her husband being come over, they bothe forsweare it, and say it was none of her doing nor direction. But howsoever, by these meanes the opposite party thus farre obteyned their ends, that by the Defamation, and this trouble ensuinge, a very great nomber that intended to have gone over, were descour- aged.
But yet for all this, the Companie knewe their cause to be just and justifiable, that they did not abandon it: but pre- pared themselves to give divers charges before the commis- sion's, agaynst divers of the partie opposite; and professed themselves ready to make their owne defence whensoever they. should be charged. But whilst the comission sate farther to descourage us, first all o' Bookes, and after the minutes of them were sent far away from us; that none of the L'res that then came from Virginia were to be seene by us, being all seazed on by the Comission's. But touching the rest of the caridge of that comission, because it was at large delivered in Parliment, and offered to be proved, if further proceedinge in that businesse had not bin forborne upon a L're written to the house from His Matie wee will now to yo" LoPs say only this : That whatsoever was brought by us concerninge accounts, depredacon, misgovernement, and divers other crimes, agaynst perticuler persons, was by this comission, (especially directed by the Earle of Midd.) shuffled of for all the tyme, till the comis- sion was even at the end nothing done upon them. And on the contrary, whatsoever could be gathered out of the frag- ments of L'res from discontented persons in Virginia concern- ing either the place, or governemt was diligently collected by them, and receaved by the Earle of Middlesex as a great testi- mony agaynst us; and would not take those other L'res for proof weh wee ever guided o" selves by; and came from the Governour and counsell there. And lastly some three dayes before their Comission ended, they putt us on a sodayne to answere to 39 Articles, or else they would take them pro con-
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THE DISCOURSE OF THE OLD COMPANY
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fesso. This they thought for us impossible to doe. But wee deceaved their expectacon; and they could not find in the least perticuler, any just ground to make any report agaynst us.1
By all this the Earle of Middlesex and that partie, perceav- ing the companie would not be beaten off a good cause; there was a practise to try whether wee had rather part from the business, or from our mony. Where upon wee were called before the Counsell agayne, and there that side as compas- sionate affecters of the Plantation, urged the want of corne and other necessaries there, and that they were like to perish for want of provisions. The Earle of Midd. replied, it was a matter of so great importance, and concerned the lives of so many of the King's subjects, that if the Companie would not presently take order for sending supplies, the state would call in their Pattent. Whereupon the Companie conceaving that if they did send supplyes, their Pattent would not be taken from them, underwritt to a Roule (though they knewe the necessitie was nothing so great) foure thousand and odd pounds, weh was paid and sent : and those Gentlemen that before seemed so zealous, subscribed Twelve pounds, and paid it not. Upon wch com- parison wee leave it to yo' Lops to judge weh party was the true father of this child. This then not succeeding according to their desires, certayne obscure persons were found out by the Earle of Midd., to be sent into Virginia, as Comission's for these two ends, as wee have since found. First to sifte out what they could agaynst the forme of or Governmt here and there: and next to persuade the people to become Peticon to his Matie for a newe 2 Wch succeeded not according to their ex- pectacon. For by the Colonies Peticons, answeres to those papers that had bin delivered agaynst them, and divers other remonstrances to his Matie from a Generall Assembly there they shewed the misery wherein they lived, or rather languished
1 The answer was prepared by Sir Edwin Sandys, Nicholas Ferrar, and Lord Cavendish, who scarcely slept in the interval. Carter's Ferrar, p. 71.
2 Form of government.
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NARRATIVES OF EARLY VIRGINIA
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in S'r Thomas Smithe's tyme; and their happy estate in this latter Government: concludinge that if his Matie intended to alter the Government, and put it into the former hands, their humble suite to him was; That Comission's might be sent over to another purpose before declared. The writinges themselves will manifest this more at large. These comis- sioners thus sent to Virginia, the Earle of Midd. and the rest were not idle in further distractinge the Companie, to give their assent for surrendring their Pattent, and altringe the forme of Governmt; and a newe one was proposed. Weh according to order they takinge into consideracon, wth duetie refused: ren- dring also in writing the reasons of their refusall. Whereupon a Quo Warranto was directed by the Earle of Midd. suggestion for the calling in of their Pattent.
In the meanetime, to affright men, both from cominge to and much more from speaking in Courts, mens wordes were then carped at and complayned of : and their persons by the Earle of Midd. prosequution, were upon quick hearinge sent to prison.
Yet for all this the Comp" stood to their owne Justificacon, and defence of their Pattent. Now Mr. Atturney,1 according to the duty of his place and instructions given him, urged the misgovernemt of the Companie, and consequently the ruyne of the Plantation. To wch point we were willinge to joyne issue. But afterwards in o" reply to his pleadinge wthout further enquiry of the former allegation, advantage was taken upon or mispleading, and in fine wthout any farther ground that wee knowe of, the Patent was Trinity terme following, condemned : But for anything that we have yet seene no judg- ment entered. Yo" Lops by the perticulers before related do see by what courses wee were reduced to this extremitie. One thinge yet wee thinke most necessary to adde; It hath bin said by many, and perticulerly by some principall persons of the opposite partie, that the dissolutions of these Plantacons was part of the Count of Gondomars Instructions. And cer-
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