LETTER OF GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL.

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dyains may infest us (wch they will continuallie endeauor to doe) nor forraine enemy subuert us, wch wilbe the master peece of this great woorke, for since this late woeful experience hath taught us, That our first and princypall care should haue beene for our safetie, by the neglect whereof the Plantacon though it hath seemed to goe on in a hopefull and florishinge course, yett hath all this while, gone butt soe much out of the way.

Settlements too Scattered.

"And that it could not butt bee subiect to much damages to bee soe dispersedlie and promiscuously planted wth our late reconsiled saluage enymies, y* yc very necessarie for us yett at last to laye better and surer foundations for ye tyme to come. And since the place ys yett to seeke, to make choyce of such nowe, and there to fortifie ourselues, soe as we may be able to defend us even against our most powerfull Enemyes, and therefore we most humblie desire that you would be pleased to giue us leaue to remaine in such a place as wee shall finde most fitt to seate uppon, for the dyscouery whereof wee intende this Summer to use our best endeauors.

Desire to settle in one place.

"And to that ende to haue comissione That the Generall assemblie here may haue full power and Authoritie to remoue to such a place as they shall resolue one, and because we cannott serue ourselues, as wee should unles wee unite together in greate Bodies, where wee must be contented for for a while wth small quantities of Lande according to y

of theire people; that you would bee pleased for a tyme y* noe Pattents be graunted at home to any pticular

plantation to seate when they thinke good, but both for the place and pportione of Lande they bee att the directione and pportionment of the Gouernor and Counsell here.

Necessity for Corn.

"The next matter of greatest ymportance ys how in this tyme of distresse untill ye Plantation hath a little recouered itselfe and is somewhat settled, we shalbe puided of a sufficyent pportione of corne, wherein now the very life of the whole Colony consist, to feede for many monthes, as we heere too third ptes wherof are women, children and unskilfull people since there neuer was more cause to feare the miserable ruin of ye Plantation by a relapse into an extreame famine, than at this tyme unles our wants be supplied from home, (for besides the seasone of plantinge corne almost lost before wee could drawe together many whose labours myght haue beene a great helpe to the encreasinge of our store, must now of necessitie be employed in watchinge and wardinge night and daye for the saftie of the rest of the howses, of the cattle, and of the corne wch shalbe planted, and many must be sent out against the Indyans, that we may be the more quiett and safe at home; neyther can wee now plant corne in so many places as wee could (especially neere the howses by reasone y* proceadeth all ouer the grounde and thick growne) that the Indyans may hide themselues therein, who will from tyme to tyme peeke out many of our people whilst they are about theire weedinge and dressinge thereof, and we haue great reason to doupt since they haue heretofore practized the like, that where wee doe plant any corne they will eyther cutt it downe or destroy it in Summer before yl bee ripe or by stealth share with us at Haruest. And

LETTER OF GOVERNOR AND COUNCIL.

297 as for our last and beste refuge heere which your getting of corne eyther from our freends by trade, or from our enemies by force though we will to our uttermost endeuo both, yl is very uncertaine and hazardous. And therefore we most humbly desire that since a sufficyent pportione of corne and that very good and well chosen be sent as may be able to sustaine the whole colonie this next yeere, yf neede shall soe require, and that noe man be suffered to come hither without a yeers prouision of corne at leste.

Arms Wanted.

"Another thinge of noe lesse moment than the former y Armes and munitions of wch there is heere at this tyme so great wante that at least a third pte of men able to beare Armes are utterly unpuided thereof and without wch we cannot only not goe fourth to reuenge us uppon our enemyes but shalbe euen unable to defend ourselues at home. And therefore shall also desire y* some speedie course be taken for the sendinge of a large quantitie thereof and yl a continual supplie may follow from tyme to tyme.

An Engineer requested.

"And since wee are resolued to bestow much paynes in matter of fortifications where wee seate ourselues, that you would be pleased wth all speede to sende us some Skillfull Engineers fit for such a worke at alsoe great store of spades, shouells, mattocks, prickaxes, and other tooles fitt for that purpose. For wch as also for such corne, Armes, munition or any thing else wch you shalbe pleased to send us, y* is not our desire to be any way chargeable unto you but as we are confident to be able to doe it, notwithstandinge all those misfortunes wch haue befalne us, soe shall wee be

most willinge to giue you such sattisfaction further for them. wth very good Tobacco, and for the pformance whereof we doe by these presents engage ourselues unto you.

"Thus makinge noe question but that yf you shalbe pleased to send us those supplies in our necessities, the speedines wherof will dubble your fauor to us therein. And therfore we cannott but againe with all ernestness ymportune the same, the Plantation will suddenly be in a farr more safer happie, and florishinge estate than euer it was before, We most humbly take our leaues and rest Att yor comands.

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Howes, the Chronicler.

May 20. “Mr Howe the Cronicler1 makinge a request for 12ld of Tobacco wch he pretends was promised him yearely in consideraeon of his paines and willingness to doe the Companie seruice in his Booke relatinge the passages concerninge Virginia. The Court was pleased to graunt his request for this yeare giuinge order that so much should be deliuered. him of the Companies Tobacco wch he thankfully accepted of.

Maids Town.

May 22. "The Aduenturors for the Maides sent the last Somer, hauinge moued for a ratable proporcon of Land to their Aduenture to be laid out together, where they intend to build a Towne wch they desire may be called by the name of Maydes Towne. The Court hath graunted the request and approued of the name they haue giuen thereunto.

1 Edward Howes, gentleman and chronicler, continued Stowe's Chronicles of England, and in his History of Reign of James the First speaks well of Virginia. He was probably the same Ed. Howes, who frequently corresponded with Winthrop of Connecticut.

CHAPTER XIII.

THIRD YEAR OF THE EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON'S DIRECTORSHIP.

Transactions From May 22, Until September, 1622.

M

Annual Election.

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AY 22, 1622. Upon mocon in reguard the Afternoone was farr spent, it was by a generall consent agreed unto that the Court should be continued after 6 of the Clocke till all buisinesses were ordered.

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Imediately after these things were thus ordered, as the Court were proceedinge after their accustomed manner to the eleccon of their Treasuror, Deputy and other Officers for the present yeare accordinge to the direccon of his Mats Letters Patents, Mr Alderman Hamersly1 rose upp and hauinge first excused his seldome cominge to Courte by reason of the officers negligent warninge of him he said,

Calvert has a Message from the King delivered.

"That himselfe and Mr. Bell 2 were both comanded by Mr Secretary Caluert to deliuer a Message in his Mata name unto this Court, namely to signifie, that although it was not

1 Hugh Hamersly, haberdasher, a prominent merchant, sheriff in 1618, mayor of London 1627.

Robt. Bell, for years an associate with Sir Thomas Smith in the management of the affairs of East India Company.