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Jan. 4.
Whitehall. |
1. Order of the Privy Council. Upon petition of the owners of the Elizabeth, of London, for licence to transport to New England passengers provided with the certificate required by proclamation, also goods and cattle; referring it to the Sub-committee for Foreign Plantations for their report. [Draft by Nicholas, with corrections.] |
Jan. 4.
Whitehall. |
2. Order of the Privy Council. Upon petition of Walter Barret, Walter Sandy, and Company, of Bristol, merchants, setting forth that they have been many years settling a plantation in New England, which was begun long before such multitudes of people went over; all they intend to send are regular people, neither factious nor vicious in religion; their plantation is apart from all others, and they desire now to transport 180 persons, to provide victuals for furnishing the ships employed in the fishing trade upon that coast, for which they have built and made ready two ships; referring it to the Sub-committee for Foreign Plantations for their report. [Draft by Nicholas, with corrections.] |
| Jan.? |
3. Certain heads of a commission authorizing Sir Fran. Wyatt to be Governor of Virginia. To Exercise the Government during [the King's] pleasure; to continue the Council; follow the directions of the Privy Council of England; and make orders, judgments, and decrees, according to the laws of England. In case of his death, the Council to assume the government. Vacancies in the Council to be filled up by the choice of the majority. |
| Jan. 8. |
Commission appointing Sir Francis Wyatt Governor of Virginia, With powers similar to those granted to Sir John Harvey, and liberty to fill up vacancies in the Council, to be approved by the King or the Commissioners for Plantations. [Docquet. DOMESTIC Car. I.] |
Jan. 11.
Westminster. |
Commission appointing Sir Francis Wyatt Governor of Virginia, to execute the same as fully as any Governor within the space of ten years last past; the Council to elect a Governor in case of his death or absence. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LXXIX., pp. 212–18.] |
| Jan.? |
Instructions to Sir Francis Wyatt, Governor of Virginia. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LXXIX., p. 218.] Minute only that they were the same as those for Sir Wil. Berkeley. [See p. 321, Aug.? 1641.] |
Jan. 11.
Whitehall. |
4. Order of the Privy Council. Upon a representation of the merchants trading to Spain, Portugal, the Streights, &c., complaining that the kingdom is deprived of much trade, the King of much custom and many ships, and seamen of employment, through the proclamation forbidding ships to go to New England without special warrant; granting licence to those ships ready to take freight, to take passengers thither, but as concerning goods and provisions, to be referred to the Lord Treasurer, and declaring that when other ships are ready for the like employment, upon petition of the owners, similar orders will be given. [Draft.] |
| Jan. 18. |
5. Governor Harvey and Council of Virginia to the Privy Council. Have received their letter of 29 July last, requiring that an inclosed certificate from the Sub-committee for Foreign Plantations should be observed [see ante, p. 281, No. 122], until further orders on their answer to the two petitions therein referred to. Concerning the first petition [it will be seen that the Sub-committee in their report above mentioned call this the second petition], a proportion of ammunition from every ship trading with the colony was ordered, by Act of Assembly of 21 Feb. 1632, to Keep up a supply for defence, the fort at Point Comfort being then newly finished, and contributions have been constantly made ever since. How these supplies have been employed for three years past. The King's instructions to Sir Fras Wyatt of 24 July 1621, to Sir Geo. Yeardley of 19 April 1626, to Sir John Harvey of 6 Aug. 1628, and again 22 May 1636, directed that every person arriving in the colony should take the oath of allegiance and supremacy. At a Grand Assembly, 21 Feb. 1632, the fee of 6d. per poll was enacted to be paid to the captain of the fort, who was directed to keep a register of the name, age, and birth-place of every passenger. Difficulties of collecting. Capt. Hook sued and received payment, and the present captain, by his Commission, claims all fees received by him. The King, by letter of 4 August 1636, commanded a fit place for entry of exported goods to be selected, and an officer appointed to keep a register, for whose encouragement an allowance or fee out of the commodities was directed to be levied. Richard Kemp, the Secretary, was appointed, and the Assembly ordered him an allowance of 2d. per cask for tobacco and for other goods, after the same rate. The King's instructions; Kemp's proceedings, and "moderate demeanour;" payments received. As to the three taxations complained of, it will be found that the first has been established seven years, the second in matter of execution seventeen, and payment seven years, and the third by the King's commands. In answer to the second petition, in which the petitioners complain that they had always enjoyed free trade and liberty to unload their goods and commodities, without being restrained to one place, the Governor and Council wonder at the strangeness of the information and such apparent falsities. Do not know what is meant by an order in August last. In the time of the late Treasurer and Company no port was allowed but James Town. Are not able, through defect in the records, to say what instructions were received by Sir Fras. Wyatt, the first Governor, after recalling the Company's patent. Those to subsequent Governors recited. Are compelled to require masters of ships not to break bulk until they arrive at James City. Falsity of the accusation of the petitioners. Intolerable abuse of ingrossing commodities and forestalling the markets, prevented by His Majesty's instructions. Are required to draw the people into towns, to effect which trade must be confined to one place. Act passed last year for a portion of land for a house and garden to be alloted to every person that would undertake to build upon it. Twelve houses and stores since built in this town; one of brick by the Secretary, "the fairest ever known in this country for substance and uniformity;" others have undertaken to build framed houses to beautify the place, consonant to the King's instructions not to suffer slight cottages to be built as heretofore. Have largely contributed to the building of a brick church. A levy is raised for building a state house at James City. Order permitting goods to be landed wherever thought convenient until stores were built, found very disheartening. Stores already built to hold far more goods than have been sent this year [i.e., from 25 March 1638]. Insolencies of some of the masters of ships. Believe they are betrayed by those who design an alteration in the government. Are credibly informed that spies are employed in all parts of London, to invite planters from the colony into taverns, and after working upon their weakness with advantage of wine, "drain from them some matter of grievance, which is straightly written down," and the party thus ensnared to justify a complaint without cause. How the King's commands to suppress drunkenness and prevent great quantities of wine and strong waters being sold. have been carried out. Reply to six reasons which the petitioners seem to give against the restraint of shipping to James Town. Assurances of their endeavours, by example, to encourage staple commodities. Four of their number have underwritten "to set the plough on going this next year. Have at present a good quantity of seed corn. Are again beginning with silk worms, and have presented to His Majesty, through Sec. Windebank, a quantity of silk made this year in the country. Acknowledge with thankfulness the favour of being able to clear themselves from these unjust charges, and request that those complaining of grievances may be ordered "to put in caution to prove the truth of them." [Copy.] |
| [January. 18.] |
6. Governor Harvey and Council of Virginia to the Privy Council. Have received their letters of 25 July last, on behalf of Capt. Sam. Mathews, with report from the Sub-committees, and in accordance therewith, have caused all his servants, cattle, and goods to be restored to him. Justify their conduct, finding they are charged with disobedience and illegal, harsh, and severe proceedings against Capt. Mathews. Endorsed by Windebank, "Duplicate, rec.3 March." |
Jan. 18.
James City. |
7. Governor Harvey and Council of Virginia to the Privy Council. Report upon request of Richard Ell, mariner, for renewal of a grant of land in the colony, and to be allowed three years longer to plant it. That Thos. Stegg, a merchant resident there, had been examined upon Ell's complaint of a breach of trust, but the charge could not be maintained, and the land forfeited had been granted to John Flud, an ancient planter. Inclose, |
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7. I. Susan Ell to Thos. Stegg. Directions concerning tobacco owing to her husband by Mr. Osborne, Thomas Clarke, and Nathaniel Hooke. Limehouse, 1636, Aug. 1. |
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7. II. Susan Ell to Thos. Stegg. Concerning debts due to her husband from the colony. Has received letters from Mr. Sypsey and Mr. Osborne. Mr. Drayton has paid Mr. Wannerton, the scrivener of Lombard Stree. Limehouse, 1636, Aug. 2. |
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7. III. Richard Ell to Thos. Stegg. Desires he will either speak to Sir John Harvey to renew his patent or make it sure himself. Deal, 1637, Sept. 22. |
Jan. 18.
James City. |
8. Governor Harvey and Council of Virginia to Sec. Windebank. Have heard with great grief of the many complaints exhibited to the Privy Council against them, which have caused their Lordships high displeasure towards them. Beg that their answers may be read before the Lords themselves without reference to the Sub-committee, against some of whom they may justly take exception. Crave his furtherance in presenting their petition to the King, concerning the scandals and imputations upon the present Government of the colony. Send a parcel of silk to the King, the first fruits of their late endeavours. |
Jan. 18.
James City. |
9. Governor Harvey and Council of Virginia to Sec. Windebank. By the information exhibited against Anthony Panton, clerk, his delinquences, and the motives upon which they proceeded to a decree of banishment against him, will be more at large understood. Desire his favour in case Panton should clamour or complain against them. |
Jan. 18.
James City. |
10. Richard Kemp, Sec. of Virginia, to the Privy Council. Send duplicates of the answer of the Governor and Council to two petitions in the name of the planters, traders, and others in Virginia, referred to them by the Sub-committee for Foreign Plantations for their report. They are much disheartened that the Sub-committee should follow the same strain, and are informed that the chiefest of those Sub-committees have together with Capt. Mathews invited divers of the plantation, to complain against the Governor and Council. Arguments against any alteration in the Government or reducing it to the old terms. Endorsed by Sec. Windebank, "Rec. 3 Mar. 1639." Incloses, |
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10. I. The Governor and Council of Virginia to the Privy Council. Duplicate of the long letter calendared ante, No. 5. Endorsed by Windebank, "Rec. 3 Mar. 1639." |
| Jan. 26. |
Philip Burlamachi to [Sec. Windebank]. The East India Company about to wind up their present capital and form a new. The King has given a most favourable reference to his request concerning the Earl of Carlisle, who, he understands, has made an agreement with the Earl of Warwick for possession of the Barbadoes Islands. Begs he will request Lord Goring to remind the King not to conclude any agreement until Burlamachi's debt is first satisfied. [EAST IND. Corresp.] |
Jan. 28.
Warwick House. |
Minutes of a Court for Providence Island. Order concerning a Spanish vessel of great value taken by Capt. Diego in the West Indies, when in consort with Capt. Newman, and since taken into Holland. Capt. Bell expresses his willingness to have all differences with the Company composed, and moves that they be referred to the Earl of Holland, to which proposition an answer is promised. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. III., pp. 347–48.] |
