|
March 1.
Brooke House. |
Minutes of a Committee for Providence Island. Proposals to Mr. Rogers, the minister, setting forth the situation, strength, fertility, and healthfulness of the island, and offering encouragements for him to settle there. That men of quality will be admitted to places of council and magistracy; that every man transporting himself and family with six men servants shall be a freeholder, have land assigned to him, and a voice in choosing the government and making laws; that they shall name their own ministers, and have the ordering of all Church affairs, &c. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III, p. 319.] |
March 3.
Brooke House. |
Minutes as above. Means of carrying on business. To petition the King for certain privileges. Similar commission to the Earl of Warwick's, but with additions. Allowance of 6,000l. per annum out of the imports and exports from the island. Liberty to transport goods from thence out of England. Customs to be stinted from time to time. No Admiralty dues for prize goods. Licence to receive ten lasts of powder from the King's stores yearly, at the old rate. "That His Majty will countenance any of the Company or other persons of quality that shall go to the island in their own person to settle things there." Proposals of Mr. Donington to send over men to procure ores; he finds specimens very rich. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 319–20.] |
March 6.
Brooke House. |
Minutes as above. Purchase of a ship capable of carrying 150 men. Wil. Woodcock to provide 150 men by the end of March. 2,500l. to be procured before the Company engage themselves and fit commanders are decided upon to accompany the men. Capt. Axe to be nominated, who is desired to stay in the island until things are settled; a course to be taken for securing the Company's debts, particularly from the Earl of Warwick; and the rest of the Company treated with, for continuing the former order nine years, the undertakers having disbursed about 10,000l., and sent 300 out of the 500 men. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 320–21.] |
| March 7. |
Minutes as above. Capt. Axe's account of Providence. The island mountainous, "the valleys clay," the grass being much overspread, and growing a finger's length in a night. The Spaniards value not the island, but look upon it as very offensive, and in four days may provide good strength to assault it. Very strong in defence. Will maintain 1,500 men, if kept only for provisions. Great store of hogs. Corn will not keep above four months. Cattle thrives, and all poultry but turkeys. Fruit. Describes the Cape [Gratin de Dios]. As fair sugar canes as any in the world. The only clothes requisite are linen, shoes, and hats. The Indians number about 300 in 300 miles. The same privileges to be continued to the undertakers, and three years to be added to those that remain. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 321–22.] |
March 8.
Brooke House. |
Minutes of a Court for Providence Island. Capt. Butler to be Governor of the island if he will accept it; Capt. Axe to have command of one of the pinnaces, and Capt. Bardsey of another. Charges of the voyage. Mr. Tinge treated with about the hire of the Expedition. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 322–23.] |
March 9.
Brooke House. |
Minutes as above. Consideration of the difficulties of raising the money necessary for setting out the pinnaces and 150 men. The pinnaces only to be dispatched with 100 men; Capt. Axe desired to search the river for pinnaces fit for the service. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 323–24.] |
March 10.
Brooke House. |
Minutes as above. Receiving encouragement in experiments with ores made by Mr. Donington, articles are agreed on with Mr. Tinge for hiring his ship to take over 150 passengers. Commission for prizes to be granted to the master of the Expedition, upon certain conditions. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 324.] |
March 13.
Brooke House. |
Minutes as above. Concerning the taking up 150 men by the 29th inst. In the bill of provision these items appear: 200 doz. shoes, 100 doz. shirts, 100 doz. linen suits, and 60 doz. stockings. The order for nine years is debated, but the confirmation deferred. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 324.] |
| March? |
87. Petition of Cecil Lord Baltimore to the King. Desirous to plant an English colony in some part of Virginia, the King granted him a patent for Maryland. Sets forth the proceedings of Claybourne and others against it by petition in May 1633, and the order of the Privy Council of 3 July following, upon which the petitioner planted divers colonies at great charges to the benefit and security of the inhabitants of Virginia. But Claybourne has endeavoured since, by many unlawful ways, to destroy those plantations, and now whilst a prisoner, for contempt of the Government of Virginia, has obtained a reference for granting some part of the petitioner's country to him, and for examination into some pretended wrongs. Seeing that his patent has passed so many trials, and that he hath expended a great part of his estate in planting that country, prays that the above order to leave the petitioner to his right, and Claybourne to the course of law, may be confirmed, and the reference upon Claybourne's petition revoked. That no grant may be allowed to pass to him, or any other, of part of the petitioner's country, and that an examination into Claybourne's pretended wrongs, may be referred to the Governor and Council of Virginia, when it will appear that Claybourne and his servants are guilty of piracy and murder. |
March 16.
Brooke House. |
Minutes of a Court for Providence Island. Agreement concluded with Mr. Donington; ordered to be engrossed. |
| March 17. |
Agreement with Mr. Tinge sealed. Adventurers in the new stock to bear each his proportion of what is due. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 325.] |
March 17.
Ashdon. |
88. [William Lord Maynard] to Archbishop Laud. Mr. Nevill has already told him of the intention of divers clothiers of great trading to go suddenly into New England. Hears daily of incredible numbers of persons of very good abilities who have sold their lands, and are upon their departure thence. Danger of divers parishes being impoverished. So much corn carried over that there will hardly be enough left in this great scarcity, to last until harvest. Is informed there are 14 ships in the Thames to be ready for that voyage by Easter day. |
March 20.
James Town,
Virginia. |
89. Jerome Hawley to Sec. Windebank. The Assembly met on the 20th Feb., and after a month's debating came to a resolution to reform the abuses in tobacco, from which he presumes great good. Far greater quantities of tobacco come from the Caribbee Islands, whence the like conformity should be gotten. |
March 20.
Brooke House. |
Minutes of a Court for Providence Island. Bonds sealed. Order concerning the nine years agreed on. In confidence of some members of the Company going over, 6,000l., new adventure, is underwritten; Earl of Warwick, Lords Mandeville and Say, and John Pym, 1,000l. each, and Lord Brooke 2,000l. Mr. Donington's articles for sending over two provers sealed. Robt. Littleboy promised a free passage in the next ship, and liberty to dispose of himself as a free man. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 325–28.] |
March 22.
Virginia. |
90. Gov. Sir John Harvey to Sec. Windebank. An Act of Assembly has been past for regulating tobacco, both in quality and quantity; "the contract sticks still;" finds no inclination to embrace it in the colony; afraid of being reduced to the hard condition of the Bermudas. |
March 22.
Lord Gorges'
House
[St. Martin's Lane]. |
Minute of the late Council for New England. Grant to Edward Godfrey and others, of Dec. 2, 1631, to be renewed. [Colonial Correspondence, 1631, Nov. 4, p. 38.] |
| March 23. |
91. Dr. Edward Stanley to Ed. Nicholas. Is earnestly solicited by John Osgood to write to him for a pass for New England. Would not hinder Osgood in his journey, though maybe he that should do so would be his best friend. The bearer will pay any money due for this business. Endorsed by Nicholas, "Mr. D. Stanley, schoolmaster of Winton." |
March 24.
Brooke House. |
Minutes of a Committee for Providence Island. Capt. Underhill entertained in the Company's service, on condition of a free passage for himself and servant, allowance of 100l., and victuals provided for one year. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 328–29.] |
March 26.
Brooke House. |
Minutes as above. Capt. Butler to have a salary of 80l. per ann., in lieu of 20 men in the island. Jo. Briggam offers with 20 men, to raise provisions for the maintenance of 200 persons. Capt. Axe declares, that he will have nothing to do [in the island] with Capt. Elfrith; the latter to be recalled, and his employments disposed of. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 329.] |
| March 27. |
92. Wil. Hapgood to Wil. Watkins. Entreats him to procure with all convenient expedition, a protection for the master and company of the Charity, of Southampton, ready for a fishing voyage to Newfoundland; 20 persons are named. |
March 29.
Brooke House. |
Minute of a Court for Providence Island. Lord Brooke requested to inspect the ship, which Capt. Butler conceives unfit for transportation of so many men. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 329.] |
March 31.
Brooke House. |
Minute as above. Bond sealed for payment of 624l. to Hugh Hubbert, gent. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 330.] |
| March? |
93. Contents of the will of Sir Nathaniel Rich, concerning his bequest to Thos. Grymesditch, of seven shares in the Somers Islands Company, on condition of residing there with his family within one year; also the King's letter excusing Grymesditch from doing so, by reason of his continual attendance on His Majesty, and the infirmity of his wife. |
