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A66818
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A short collection of the most remarkable passages from the originall to the dissolution of the Virgina company
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Woodnoth, Arthur, 1590?-1650?
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1651
(1651)
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Wing W3243; ESTC R8866
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15,816
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26
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A SHORT COLLECTION OF THE Most Remarkable Passages from the originall to the dissolution OF THE VIRGINIA COMPANY LONDON Prined by Richard Cotes for Edward Husband at the Golden Dragon in Fleetstreet 1651. To the honorable Company of the Adventurers for the Sommer alias Bermudas Islands My Lords and Gentlemen HAving received this following Collection some yeares since by the appointment of Mr. W. Woodnoth deceased without further directions then what might be gathered from the Postscript and purpose of the whole Relation I remember the Authour Mr. Arthur Woodnoth to have been a worthy mâ—mber and sometimes Deputy of this Company and an ancient Adventurer and diligent prosecutor of the best ends for the advancement of the Virginia Plantation I conceive his purpose might be to take a fitting time for reviving the originall rights of this Plantation and thereby to encourage this Company in their best endeavours by setting forth the honour and constant goodnesse of Sir Iohn Danvers likely to give the greatest assistance therein And considering the respect and gratefulnesse of most of the members and best interessed persons of this Company in choosing that worthy person Sir Iohn Danvers your Governour and finding his constant endeavours to answer the greatest of your expectations in preserving your just rights and priviledges I judge it now a â—it time to publish the same and shall forbear to say more of his worth so fully charactered throughout this Discourse A. P. An Account and Observation taken by A. W. a true friend and Servant to Sir Iohn Danvers and the Parliament-intâ—rest Containing a great part of his more Publick Transactions concerning the Plantation of VIRGINIA c. AFâ—er some years spent at severall times in travell beyoâ—d the seâ—s he was shorâ—ly after his return into England swoâ—ne Servant to P. Henry of his Privâ—-châ—â—ber in ordinary â—emaining undâ—r the countenance of his favour till hâ—e diâ—d But the light of the Court seâ—ming to him much obscured after the setting of that bright star and some relish taken of the uncertainty of Court-favour towards any that should shâ—w themselves cordiall for Publick good which was alwâ—iâ—â— his aim in Parliamâ—nt or other-where hee was unwilling to fixe himself in any particular depâ—ndâ—nce upon the Court all that he sought was some just râ—commendation from this King who upon that occasion told him that hee would value him with the best of his Servants of his condition for the love he knew his brother bore to him whereunto Sir I. Danvers answered it was so great a favour as that he would ask no better then to be continued in his esteem which he would value as much as if hee had preferred him to some great office or place in his service And further considering the proceedings of K. and Court where the ordinary transactions by men of all conditions were mostly directed towards the advancement of absolute power and tyranny he was lesse frequent in Court and renewed his former care and diligence spending much time in advancing the honorable designâ— for the Plantation of Virginia The Continent of Virginia discovered in the time of Q Elizabeth who gave it that name was in the beginning of K. Iames his reign much advanced in reputation and the advantages promised thereby seemed then worthy the best consideration how to make it a Plantation for the English Whereupon many worâ—hy Patriots Lords Knights Gentlemen Merchantâ— and others held consultation which produced a large subscription of Adventurers of all qualitieâ— in severall proportions to the value of 200000. l. or thereabouts By which time a Patent was procured with great priviledges and immunities for the Adventurers as establishing and impowering a Counâ—ell of State as well as a generall Company whereby the whole affairs of that Plantation sâ—ould in perpetuity bee governed when a great and forward conâ—idence was cast upon Sir Thomas Smith Governour of the East-India and divers other Companies in London who because he was imprisoned in the Tower after the Earl of Essex hâ—d rested at his hâ—use being Sheriffe at that time his Lordship wâ—nt to appeal to the Citizens of London the day of his last restraint waâ— thoughâ— a better Patriot then afterwards approved But he so far prevaâ—lâ—d or some others in his behalfe that he was constituted the â—irst Governour of thâ—t Company but under the title of Treasurer whereby hee had the chief power and purse oâ— the Company And about thiâ— time one Sir Thomas Gaâ—â—s reputed a worthy disâ—râ—â—t and experiencâ—d Soldier waâ— sent aâ— Goâ—ernour into Vâ—rginâ—a which drew on a great increase of people voyaging 〈◊〉 and planting there whâ— were to have â—hâ—pping and provisions sent them by the said Treasurer and Company which accordingly was ordered and in some reasonable manner in appearance performed for the space of three years or thereabouts the time limited for the Government of the said Sir Thomas Gates But in short time the reputation of this undertaking grew so high and the government of Virginia was thought so considerable as it must bee confirmed upon some Peere of the Realm and the L. de la Warr was nominated thereunto and went Governour by Patent from the Company for three years But through the failing of industry upon the place and of supplies of sweet victualls and other accommodations by shipping from England and the sicklinesse the Lord Governour had contracted there hee came home before his time was expired When Sir Thomas Smith used means by his Courtship rather to blame the unhealthfulnesse of that Countrey then to have any fault imposed upon the undertakers for want of sending supplies in due time to Virginia Neverthelesse Henry Earl of Southampton whose goodnesse equalled his honour having long understood as well by the generall notions hee had of the place as by persons partitularly imployed in such discovery that it was no lesse healthfull then fruitfull if rightly ordered by some industrious person his Lordship procured Sir Thomas Dale a worthy and experienced Souldier in the Low-countreys to be sent thither as Governour by whose judicious observation and industry they might be assured of the whole state and condition of the Countrey and People on that Plantation And hee by the ability of his body as well as mind through much indurance by want in the miscarriage of supplies brought home as a great instance of his labours and value of the Countrey at least sixteen severall sorts of staple commodities to be raised and propagated in this Plantation And now the best affected of this Nation having found the pulse of the Court beating wholly in observance of the Spanish Counsells and ends by interrupting at home and barâ—ing our trade to the W. Indies laid hold on this expectation of Virginia as a providence cast before them of double advantage by means whereof those also that would avoid Court dependence might most honourably imploy themselves in attending the meetings of that Company and Coâ—ncell whilst in short time some other
and other American Plantations in expectation to be added therâ—untoâ— from the ampliâ—ude of a lâ—â—eâ— Patâ—nâ— fâ—r comprâ—hending a â—umbâ—r of othâ—r Islands as well as the Bermudas within the limitation of the Virginia Plantation And now it was advertised from the E. of Somerset the then Favourite and Favourâ—r of the Englâ—sh râ—ghts that he understood by confident intelligence that the Spaniards hâ—d a design about a certain time of thaâ— yeer to attâ—mpt the seizing of that â—â—land because it was wholly unprovidâ—d of powder and ammunition apprâ—hended as at this time wiâ—hout viâ—ible possibility of present suppliesâ— But it plâ—asâ—d God through the neâ—lective way of Sir Tho. Smith the goveâ—nmâ—nt of the Island was disposed into the hands of one Mâ—re who upon sight of two Spanish Vessells of good burden approaching towaâ—ds the chiâ—f Castle at the entrance of the Port got powder and shot for the charging only of two peeces of Artillery which levelled and discharged neer at once upon those ships The Commander thinking himself betrayâ—d because he was assured hee should find no manner of ammunition weighs anchor and seâ—s sail away from thenceâ— as the first return of shipping â—rom the â—â—rmudas made clâ—er unto the Company c. This happy escape aggravating the omission or corruption of Sir Tho. Smith seemed to revive and give a new vigour â—o the Partners in this Plantation and there being nothing of more speâ—dy advantage on the place for return to the owners and adventurers then the planting and transporting of Tobacco whilst it might be imported as from Virginia for 5 percentâ— for their custome great store thereof was made and preparing when upon some tender of a large râ—nt for the sole sale of Tobacco an order of the Councell Bord did impose paymâ—nt of the highest custome as to thirty or forty in the hundred upon the Bermudas Tobacco proportionably with all other notwithstanding the â—â—emption within their Paâ—â—nt which with other things much intrâ—nching upon the â—ightâ— and priviledges of the Adventurers gave occasion of a through consultation of the Earls Lords Gentlâ—men and â—â—râ—hantâ— concerned and in conclusion caused an addresse of themsâ—lveâ— personally desiring audience of K. Iames which being attained and prosecutâ—d by the society oâ— the Earlâ—s of Pembrooke Southamptâ—n and othâ—rs the Lord Cavendish being appointed to expresse the nature of complaint and appeale to the King his Lordship had no sooner eâ—â—red into the matter but that his Majâ—sty began to shew much discontent and with much adoe was drawn to any patience which gave much disâ—ouragemâ—nt in the case and prevented the declaring of the most just cause of importunity appointed to my Lord Cavendish when Sir Iohn Danâ—ers fell on his knee and besought the King to hear him as the first time hee ever had the honour to speak unto his Majesty in a serious businesse and having leave he stoutly inculcated that point of justice which could not be denyed at which the King flang away in greater passion insomuch that the Prince who is now King drew Sir I. Danvers aside as in favor to him desiring he would urge the King no furâ—her and undertâ—ok to speak with Sir I. Danvers and accordingly to move the King at some other time which was unperformed though more then once desired by Sir I. Danvers According to which course or vogue of State some Lords and others though Members of the same Company tâ—ok up speciouâ—ly the corrupt interest of those that had been formerly â—onstituted and imployed in places aâ—fairs oâ— trust belonging to these Plantaâ—ions as some of the former Governours sent in time of Sir Thomas Smiths Government either to Virginia or the Bermudas c. who bâ—ing concurrently obnoxious in point of Account were as firmly supported by him and his friends with the Spanniolized â—action of the Councell Bord and the Kingâ— Bed-chamber Which proceedings excited the better and more consâ—ant faithfull party to the more carefull and laborious peâ—severance when the prospering of the undertaking towards so great an addition of Dominion was from time to timâ— interrupted as about this time by Quaeres to the number oâ— two or three and thirty from the Councell Bord by the Kings speciall appointmentâ— pretending great care that such numbers oâ— his subjectâ— gone to the Plantations might bee circumstantially providâ—d â—or in their laws freedomes c. These Quaeres sent on the Saâ—uâ—day were to bee satisâ—ied the Tuesday followingâ— at sitting of the Councell in the afternoon The Loâ—d Caâ—eâ—dâ—shâ— Sir â—dwin Sandysâ— Sir Iâ—hn Danvers and Mr. Niâ—hâ—laâ— Farrar meeâ—ing by appointment of the Company with power to câ—nâ—ider and present what they should â—ind pertinent therein â—ound a hard â—aâ—ke to answer so many particulars in so sâ—â—â—t time Yet â—inding that the truths câ—uchâ—d or exemâ—liâ—â—ed in the â—eiger-books of the Company would sâ—tiâ—â—â—e the Qâ—aeres and objâ—ctiâ—ns thereupon Mr. Farrar desired the buâ—ineâ—â—â—â—nd sâ—â—rch might be divided into 4 partsâ— wherein hee would take that of greatest labour which waâ— concluded bâ— the other thrâ—e and accordingly brought togeâ—her the Tueâ—dâ—y morningâ— and presented to the Counâ—â—ll Bord in the â—fternoon and gave the Lordâ— a most unexpected satisfaction as was confessed When by way of congratulation it was proposed that now there was so great numbers and Trade like to follow in that Plantation some care might be taken for their safety by special fortifications an account thereof made to the King Whereupon it was ordered at the Bord that William Earl of Pembrooke Southampton and other Lords of the Councell and Company for Virginia should make enquiry and acquaint his Majesty of what was and would be done in that point for preservation of the lives of his subjects against enemies either Natives of Virginia or others since hee had vowed that if he had not satisfaction therein he would think himself bound to take the whole government and the appointing of Governours into his own hands Which occasioned the calling together of a Councell for Virginia of all that were neer who as they cleerly saw the desperate malignity of the Secret-Court-Spanish party so often appearing in persecution of this Plantation so had they a great apprehension the King could not be easily satisfied since the Companies treasure was exhausted and there was little hopes of more contribution or Adventurers whilst they lay under such discouragement Sir Iohn Danvers remembring some notion of hope and looking over the books of Letters from Virginia hee observed that throughout the year past there was never lesse then 17 saile of shipping in Iames River the heart of the Plantation inferring that if the Kings fairer complyance should keep the Company in the same encouragement the strength of so many floting Forts in that flat scituation would be equivalent to if not exceeding any possible speedy fortification which the E. of Pembrooke c. conceived fully sufficient to satisfie the King if he had not an inveterate