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| [Sept 2.] |
Petition of Howard Horsey to the King. An annual rent of 12d. upon every 50 acres in Virginia, reserved to the King, has never been paid, and the Receiver General is lately dead without giving any account of his service, in regard to his great charges and trouble, because of the wildness of the plantation. The rent being a badge of sovereignty which ought not to be omitted, and the petitioner settled there having great experience, and able to raise the rent to a good value, prays for a grant of the office of Receiver General, and a lease for 14 years, or the nomination of two lives at a reasonable rate, for which he will pay a yearly rent, to be estimated, with power to compound for arrears, and survey all lands granted by patent or order of Court. With reference to the Lord Keeper, Lord Treasurer, Earl of Dorset and Lord Cottington to report on the whole business. Whitehall, 1639, Sept. 2. [DOMESTIC Car. I., Entry Bk., Petitions, 1638–40, p.. 43.] |
| Sept 4. |
36. The Company of the Somers Islands to the Governor and Council there. The Archbishop of Canterbury has been informed that a great part of their Company in general, the Governor and Council and others in special, are non-conformists. They are therefore strictly required to carry out the directions received about two years ago, that the Books of Homilies and Common Prayer be read in all their churches; that when the Holy Sacrament is received the reverent posture of kneeling be adopted, and that the ministers use the accustomed prayers and decent ceremony of signing with the cross in baptism. Endorsed, "Copy of part of the letter sent by the Dorset to the Somers Islands." |
| Sept.? |
37. Petition of the merchants, masters, and owners of four ships bound to Virginia to the Privy Council. For licence to clear their vessels, passengers, and provisions at Gravesend, and that the passengers may be there examined, and take the oaths of allegiance and supremacy as is usual. Annexed, |
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37. I. List of provisions on board the William and Sara, the George, the Charity, and the Charles, with100 passengers on each [not named]. |
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37. II. Licence for the William and Sara, with passengers and provisions, to pass on her intended voyage to Virginia 1639, Sept. 15. [Draft.] |
Sept 29.
Ferryland. |
38. "Reply to the answer to the description of Newfoundland." The last design presented to the King by the present Lords Proprietors of Newfoundland for plantation, fortification, trade of fishing, and imposition of strangers, having been strongly opposed by the merchants of the West of England, a brief description of that country and the commodities which might accrue to adventurers was delivered to Philip Earl of Pembroke, 25 Jan. 1639. On 7th Feb. answer was returned in confutation of the pretended commodities. This paper is the reply divided into eight separate heads: fishing, buying and making of salt, making of pot-ashes, brewing and baking, ironworks, impositions upon strangers, and trade. "Against our hopes of trade" is an account of the barbarous slaughter of Frenchmen by the Indians, who, clothing themselves in the apparel of the slain, surprised and killed 21 more on the next day. About 20 years since Alderman Guy, of Bristol, who remained with his family two years in Newfoundland, especially aimed at a trade with the Indians. Curious description of the success of Capt. Whittington, employed by Guy for that purpose. Reasons why the Indians, every fishing season, do all the mischief they can amongst the fishermen. The writer is not without hopes that they may be brought by fair entreaty, to trade again, which may be very profitable, and their Lordships are strongly encouraged to proceed in the course begun, because of the weakness of the reasons against it. Endorsed by Archbishop Laud, "Rec. Feb. 9, 1640." |
Sept 30.
Warwick House. |
39. Robt. Earl of Warwick to Sec. Windebank. Sends declaration of Capt. Newman's case and beseeches him to prosecute their [the Company of Adventurers for Providence Island] relief, accord-ing to the King's direction. The delays interposed by the state of Flanders, have been very prejudicial and chargeable. The close of the declaration for restitution of the ship and goods in question, and release of the master, contains the suit of himself and those interested. Incloses, |
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39. I. State of the matter in difference, concerning the taking by a freebooter of Dunkirk of Capt. Thos. Newman, and the ship and pinnace set forth by the Company of Adventurers for the plantation of Providence Island. |
