|
Dec. 2.
Warwick House. |
Minutes as above. Sir Nath. Rich, John Pym, and John Dike to be kept harmless for two bonds of 300l. a-piece for the Company's use. Christ, Sherland to be admitted an adventurer in the room of Gabriel Barber. Committee appointed for furtherance of the voyage now in hand. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., p. 5.] |
| December. 4. |
Patent to Robt. Earl of Warwick, Hen. Earl of Holland, Wil. Lord Say and Sele, Robt. Lord Brooke, John Roberts, Sir Ben. Rudyerd, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Edw. Harwood, Sir Nath. Rich, Sir Edm. Mountford, John Pym, Rich. Knightley, Christ. Sherland, Oliver St. John, John Gourden, Gregory Cawsell, John Dike, John Grant, and others hereafter to be joined with them, of incorporation by the name of the Governor and Company of Adventurers for the Plantation of the Islands of Providence, Henrietta, and the adjacent islands, between 10 and 20 degrees of North latitude and 290 and 310 degrees of longitude., The Earl of Holland to be first Governor of the Company; John Dike, of London, merchant, Deputy, who in future is to be elected in every Easter term. Power to hold a court on the last Thursday of each term for ever, to be styled "the General Court of the Company," to ordain forms of government, and elect officers for the Company and colony; hold ordinary courts at all times, make laws, erect forts, towns, &c.; appoint officers, and ordain magistrates, judges, &c.; to have full jurisdiction of life and death; transport men, women, and children, unless the King "shall expressly forbid any particular person or persons to the contrary;" repel by force of arms all invaders; execute martial law; sole trade and right of habitation; erect mints; appoint a mint master, to strike into coin whatever metals, except gold and silver, and in what quantities and forms the Company shall appoint to be current among the inhabitants of those islands only; administer the oaths of supremacy and allegiance; the inhabitants resident and born there to be free denizens. The King promises to give his assent to these letters patent in case they are confirmed by Parliament. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. IV., pp. 1–10.] |
| Dec. 4. |
Minutes of the above. [Colonial Corresp., 1607, Jan. 9.] |
| 1630. |
110. "NEW ENGLAND'S PLANTATION, OR A SHORT AND TRUE DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMODITIES AND DISCOMMODITIES of that Courtrey. Written by a reverend Divine now there resident. London. Printed by T. C. and R. C. for Michael Sparke, dwelling at the signe of the Blew Bible in Greene Arbor, in the little Old Bailey. 1630." Imperfect. [16 pp. and a Preface, signed M. S.] |
| 1630? |
111. Propositions addressed to the King for a plantation upon an island not named, but described as seven leagues in length and five in breadth. Good climate, healthy, and fertile soil. Its present commodities enumerated, as well as those that should be planted, and the several sorts of victuals it affords. Good store of horses. Strength of the island; only two harbours, one capable of receiving 100 great ships. Advantages of a plantation, convenient to receive a fleet that has a design in any leeward part of the Indies, as Carthagena, Portobello, the Bay of Honduras, Hispaniola, Cuba, or Jamaica. About 500 inhabitants, including women, Negroes, and Indians. Will maintain above 4,000 persons without any supply from England. Means necessary to take and secure possession. Three of the whelps with other vessels, 500 landsmen, and as many seamen required, at a cost of 12,000l. Compared with other plantations. Of all those southern the most important, and of necessary consequence to annoy the King of Spain in the Indies; and without exception the most honourable, serviceable, and profitable to the King and the common-wealth. |
| 1630? |
112. Complaint of certain adventurers and inhabitants of New England, of the seizure of their ship the Fortune, by a French man of war, Capt. Fontenau de Pennart, who took Thomas Barton, master, and the rest of the Company prisoners to the Isle of Rhé, where the Marquis de Cera, the Governor, pillaged all their goods in beaver skins, &c., to the value of 500l., and treated them with the greatest indignities for thirteen days, when they were discharged. |
| 1630–36. |
Notes concerning Virginia; Sir John Harvey Governor. Upon his arrival no other commodity but tobacco in the colony; great want of corn. Dr. Pott, his predecessor, elected by the people, noted for his covetousness and pardoning wilful murder. Harvey began to plant repeseed and potatoes. Upwards of 2,500 inhabitants. Order made for planting one third part less of tobacco, which was sold at less than 1d. per 1b. [Minute. Colonial Corresp., 1609, p. 1.] |
