Neill's Series of Virginia History. Virginia Carolorum: the Colony under the rule of Charles the First and Second A.D. 1625-A.D. 1685, based upon manuscripts and documents of the period

Preface

The student of the English colonization of America has regretted that there has been so little published, upon the development of the Virginia Colony, during the Carolan period. With the hope, that it might lead to a more intelligent comprehension of the motives, and social surroundings, of the chief men of the era, this work has been prepared. The writer has had no political theory, nor religious party, nor provincial prejudice to sustain. As far as possible those who were prominent in shaping the 1estinies of the Colony, have been permitted to express their views, in their own words, as found in letters to their friends, or in communi cations to the English Government. Their revelations conflict with some traditions, and " old wives' fables," and may not be acceptable to those who dis like " Eecords, on a page, Whence many a pleasant tale is swept away."

PREFA CE The duty of the historian is to be careful not to distort facts, nor to' conceal that which is true. In the preparation of the volume, use has been made of some unpublished papers, in the British Museum, and Her Majesty's Public Record Office in London; and of the records in possession of the Virginia Historical Society, and the counties of Accomac, and Northampton. Rare printed documents of the period have been freely cited, and the quotations, from the early laws, have been taken from Hening's Statutes. It is a pleasure to acknowledge the courtesies extended to me, by Secretary Brock of the Virginia Historical Society, Mr. Gil more Kendall, Clerk of Northampton County Court, and Mr. W. H. B. Custis of the Accomac Court, while searching the records in their keeping. Saint Paul, Minnesota, September, 1886. CONTENTS.

. Additional Notes 403-421 Index and Errata - Hugitria ®iW0lontm,

Chapter I. From The Abrogation Of The London Company's Charter To The

DEATH OF GOVERNOR YEARDLEY. Proclamation of Charles the First. Governor and Councillors A.D. 1624-5. William Claiborne. Secretary Christopher Davison. John Martin suspended from the Council. Yeardley visits England. Letters of Gov. Butler of Bee. mudas. Companion of Pocahontas Married. Mate and Capton of tiie May Flower. Introduction of Negroes. Fear of Spaniards. Death of Ex-Gov. Argall. Re-appointment of Gov. Yeardley. Doctor Pott. Capt. W. Tucker. Edward Blaney. William Ferrar. Claiborne ancestry. Ovid translated by Sandys. Arrival and Departure of Ships. Tobacco Monopoly. Death of Gov. Yeardley. H^j™^|MONGr the earliest acts of Charles the First, after ||fja|| || his coronation, was a proclamation concerning wi^a Virginia. Sir Thomas Smith, the enterprising East India merchant, and Alderman Eobert John son, the London grocer, with their associates, were entirely satisfied with the victory over the Earl of Southampton, Sir Edwin Sandys, and the large majority of the members of the London Company, resulting from the declaration of Chief Justice Ley (Leigh), in June, 1624, that the Company's charter was null and void.

Toward the colonists in Virginia they had no harsh feelings, but their influence was used with the King so to order the tobacco trade, that their friends in London might derive some profit. The ship which brought the news of the death of James the First, also conveyed the views of his successor, as to the Plantation. In a communication of the thirteenth day of May, a.d. 1625, from Whitehall, Charles alludes to the '"Collonie of Virginia, planted by the hands of our most deere Father of blessed memorie, for the propagation of Christian religion, the increase of trade, and the enlarging of his Royal empire." He thought that it ' ' had not hitherto prospered soe happilly as was hoped and desired for, that the government of that Collonie was comytted to the Companie of Virginia, incorporated of a multitude of persons of severall dispositions, amongst whome the affaires of greatest moment were and must be ruled by the greater number of votes and voyces, and therefore his late Majestie, out of his great wisedome and depth of judgment, did desire to resume that popular government, and accordingly the letters pat entes of that Incorporation were, by his Highnes' direction, in a legal course questioned, and therefore judicially repealed and adjudged to be voyd, wherein his Majestye's ayme was onlie to reduce that Government into such a right course as might best agree with that forme which was held in the rest of his Royal Monarchie, and was not intended by him to take awaie or ympeach the particular interest of anie private planter or adventurer, nor to alter the same otherwise than should be of necessitie for the good of the publique."

He also declared : "Our full resolution is, that there maie be one uniforme course of government in and through our whole Monarchic ; that the government of the Collonie of Virginia shall ymediately depend upon ourselfe, and not be commytted to anie Companie or Corporation to whom it maie be proper to trust matters of trade or commerce, but cannott be fit or safe to communicate the ordering of State affaires, be they of never so mean consequence : And that therefore we have determyned that our Commissioners1 for 1 On the 15th of July, 1624, King James had appointed the following Commis sioners for Virginia to receive the charters, seals, and letters of the Virginia Company, and attend to the affairs of the Colony : Henry, Viscount Mandeville, Lord President of the Privy Council. William, Lord Pagett.

Arthur, Lord Chichester, Baron of Belfast. Sir Thomas Edwards, Knight. Treasurer. John Suckling, " Comptroller. George Calvert, " Secretary of State. Edward Conway, " " " Richard Weston, " Chancellor ot Exchequer. Julius Cæsar, " Master of Rolls. Humphrey May, " Chancellor of Lancaster. Baptist Hickes, " and Baronet. Thomas Smith, Sir Henry Mildmay, Knight, Master of Jewels. " Thomas Coventry, " Attorney General. " Robert Heath, " Solicitor General. Ferdinand Gorges, Robert Killigrew, Charles Montague, Philip Cary, Francis Gaston, " Thomas Wroth those affaires shall proceede accordinge to the tenor of our commissions directed unto them, until we shall declare our further pleasure therein ; nevertheless we doe hereby declare that we are resolved with as much convenyent expedition as our affaires of greater importance will give leeve, to estab lish a Counsell consistinge of a few persons of understand ing and quallitie, to whom wee will give trust for the yme diate care of the affaires of that Collonie, and whoe shall be answerable to us for their proceedings, and in matters of great moment shall be subordinate and attendant unto our Privie Counsell here; and that wee will alsoe establish an other Counsell to be resident in Virginia, who shall be sub ordinate to our Counsell here for that Collonie, and that att our owne charge we will maynteyne those publique offi cers."

John Wolstenholme, ' Nathaniel Rich, Samuel Argall, Humphrey Handford, ' Matthew Sutcliffe, D.D., Dean of Exeter. Francis White, D.D., Dean of Carlisle. Thomas Fanshaw, Clerk of the Crown. Robert Johnson, Alderman of London. James Campbell, Ralph Freeman, Maurice Abbot, Esquire, Nathaniel Butler, George Wilmore, Philip Jermayne, Edward Johnson, Thomas Gibbs, Samuel Wrote, John Porey, Michael Hawes, In conclusion, he wrote that he wished to bring the tobacco trade into one hand, and exclude that raised in foreign lands, and to fix his own price upon that raised in Virginia.1 After the charter of the Virginia Company had been dissolved, James the First continued Sir Francis WTyatt2 as Edward Pallavacine, Esquire. Robert Bateman, Merchant. Martin Bunde, Thomas Styles, Nicholas Leate, Robert Bell, Abraham Cartwright, " Bichard Edwards John Dyke, Anthony Abcly, William Palmer, Edward Dlchfield, Salter.

George Mole, Merchant. Richard Morer, Grocer. Upon the recommendation of the Commissioners for Virginia, the followiug Tobacco Inspectors in London were appointed: Edward Dichfield, Salter; Richard Morer, Reuben Bourne, George Bromley, Grocers ; William Perkyns, Merchant Tailor; and Edward Bennet, Merchant. 1 The entire document is printed in Rymer's "Fœdera," Vol. XVIII., pp. 72,73. 3 Thomas Wyatt, of Allingtou Castle, Boxley Abbey, married Jane, daughter of Sir William Hawte. His estate was confiscated. George, his son, had the estate restored in 1570 by Queen Elizabeth. He married Oct. 8, 1582, Jane, daughter of Sir Thomas Finch, Kt., and he was buried about September 1625, at Boxley Abbey, and left five sons and two daughters. Francis, eldest son of George, in 1618 married Margaret, daughter of Sir Sam uel Sandys, of Ombersley, Worcester.

He was buried at Boxley Abbey August 24, 1644, and his wife March 27, 1644-5. Hawte, brother of Francis, was inducted Rector of Boxley October 3, 1632. He died July 31, 1638. He was twice rmrried, and some of his descendants are Governor. While he had confidence in the motives of those who had directed the affairs of the Company, Wyatt found that their plans were at times impracticable. In a letter to his father he alluded to the " antipathy " caused by the great demands of the Corporation, and the ' ' grumbling obedience " of the colonists, and he wished "that little Mr. Farrar was in Virginia, that he might add zeal to knowledge." His wife, a daughter of Sir Samuel Sandys, who passed some time in Virginia, was a cheerful person, willing to accept the hardships of a new settlement. His deportment was correct, and a captious fellow could only write :l " The old smoker, so good, so carefully mild, religious, just, honest, that I protest, I think God hath sent him, in mercy, for good to us" said to have settled in Virginia.

There was a Ralph Wyatt who married the widow of Capt William Button, of Virginia, and Anthony Wyatt a member of an early legislature. Eleanor, sister of Francis, was the first wife of Sir Thomas Finch, Speaker of House of Commons, 1627. Hotten in Lists of Emigrants gives The Mdster of Sr Thomas Wyatt, Kt., taken in January, 1625. " Sr Francis Wyatt, Kt., Governo' &c, came in the George, 1621. [Wife had gone to England on a visit.] Servants. Christopher Cooke, age 25, in the George, 1621. George Hull, age 13, in the Supply, 1620. Jonathan Giles, 21, in the Triall, 1619, John Matheman, 19, in the Jonathan, 1619. Jane Davis, 24, in the Abigails, 1622" 1 Letter of William Capps, an old planter, in "Virginia Vetusta " p 129- Munoell's Sons, Albany, N. Y., 1885. The Councillors, as their muster-rolls show, were chosen from among the more prosperous and influential.

Francis West1 preceded his brother, Lord Delaware, and in a.d. 1608 first arrived. In November, 1623, he was appointed Admiral by the Council for New England, and sailed for Plymouth Harbor, but finding that the fishermen insisted that the fisheries should be opened to all, he returned to Virginia. 1 Alexander Brown, in " Mag. of American History," 1883, p. 461, communi cates the West Genealogy from the Bennet Roll. From this are gleaned the following facts : Thomas Sd Lord Delaware, second son of second Lord, " was born the 9th of July, between 2 and 3 o'clock in the afternoon, 1577." Francis West, fourth son, was born the 28th Of October, 1586, between twelve and one o'clock noon. John West, fifth son, was born the 14th of December, 1590, between five and six o'clock in the afternoon. Nathaniel West, sixth son, was born November 3, 1592, between two and three o'clock in the morning.

Doyle, in "History of the American Colonies," speaks of Francis, a nephew of Francis, who was drowned. In January, 1625, Captain Francis West was living on the Company's land at Elizabeth City. The census-roll then taken, printed in Hotten, had the following : "Captain Francis West, his Muster. Capt. Francis Wesf, Counseler, aged 36, in the Mary Ann Margaret, 1610. Mrs. Francis West, Widdowe, in the Supply, 1620. Nathaniel West, born in Virginia. Servants. Joane Fairchild, aged 20, in the George, 1618. Benjamin Owin, aged 18, in the Swan, 1623. William Parnell, aged 18, in the Southampton, 1622. Walter Couper, aged 22, in the Neptune, 1618. Reinould Godwin, aged 30, in the Abigail, 1620. John Pedro, a Neger, aged 30, in the Swan, 1623." Sir George Yeardley1 had always been recognized for his executive ability and business capacity.

John Pory had written of him, in 1619, as "the Governor here, who at his 1 " Muster of Sir George Yeardley, Kt. Sr George Yeardley, Kt., &c. came in the Deliverance, 1609. Temperance, Lady Yeardley, came in the Faulcon, 1608. Mr. Argall Yeardley, aged 4 yeares, ) Mr. Francis Yeardley, aged 1 yeare, [■ Children borne heare. M's. Elizabeth Yeardley, aged 6 years, ) Servants at James City. Richard Gregory, aged 40, "I Anthony Jones, 26, Thomas Dunn, 14, \ came in the 1620. Thomas Phildust, 15, J Thomas Hatch, 17, in the Duty, 1619. Robert Peake, 22, in the Margrett & John, 1623. William Strange, 18, in the George, 1619. Roger Thompson, 40, London Merchant, 1620. Ann, his wife. Richard Arundell, in the Abigail, 1620. Georg Deverill, 18, in the Temperance, 1620. Thomas Barnett, 16, in the Elsabeth, 1620.

Theophilus Bereston, in the Treaswror, 1614. Negro Men, 3. Negro Women, 5. Susan Hall, in the William & Thomas, 1608. Ann Willis, in the Temperance, 1620. Elizabeth Arundell, in the Abigail, 1620. Servants at Hog Island. Maximillian Stone, aged 36, came in the Temperance, 1620. Elizabeth, his wife, in the same shipp. Maximillian, his son, aged 9 months. Robert Guy, 22, in the Stoann, 1619. Edward Yates, 18, in the Duty, 1619. Cesar Pugget, 20, in the Diana, 1619. William Strachey, 17, in the Temperance. Alexander Sanders, 24, in the True love, 1623. George Whitehand, 24, in the Temperance, 1620. first coming, besides a great deal of worth in his person, brought only his sword with him, was at his late being in London, together with his lady, out of his mere gettings here, able to disburse very near three thousand pounds to furnish him with the voyage."

In another paragraph he is called "a soldier truly bred in the University of War in the Low Countries." George Sandys1 had been a Colonial Treasurer, and as the brother of the head of the Virginia Company in London, at one time exercised a great influence. Henry King, 22, in the Jonathan, 1620. John Day, 24, in the London Merchant, 1620. The wife of John Day in the same Shipp." ■"Muster of M's George Sand's, Esquire. Servants. Martin Turner, George Bailife, John Sparks, John Dancy, I came in the Qeorgei 1621. John Edwards, Nicholas Tompson, Rosamns Carter, John Stone, a boy, Nicholas Comon, ) in the Qui^ lm Nicholas Eyres, a boy, ) David Mansfeild, ) [q the Bma Nom^ Mred gervant8. John Claxon, I Thomas Swifte, ) in the Tyger, freemen, 1622. John Baldwine, > hired, Daniel Poole, a french man. his wife, a young child of theires.

Muster of those that live in ye Treasurors Plant. Robert Sheaperd, came in the George, 1621. James Chambers, in the Dutie, 1620. the the Captain Roger Smith1 had served twelve years in wars of the Netherlands, and is supposed to have been John Parsons, William Benge, John Evans, Robert Edmunds, f in the **»* 1619' John Comes, John Tyos. J William Pilkington, \ Elias Longe, I in the Bona Nova, 1620. Thomas Hall, ) Margaret Pilkington,) ° L weomen. Jane Long, J M'Vincencio, the Italian. M' Bernardo. his wife. A child." » '• Muster of Capt. Roger Smith. Capt. Roger Smith, came in the Abigaile, 1620. M's Joane Smith, came in the Blessinge. Elizabeth Salter, aged 7 yeares, came in the Seafloure. Elizabeth Rolfe, aged 4 yeares, > Sarah Macock, aged 2 yeares, \ born in Virginia. Servants. Charles Waller, aged 22, came in the Abigaile, 1620.

Christopher Bankus, aged 19 yeares, in the Abigaile, 1622. Henery Booth, aged 20, in tho Dutie. Henery Lacton, aged 18 yeares, in the Hopwell, 1623. [Plantation over the water.] Francis Fowler, aged 23 yeres. Christopher Lawson. Alee, his wife. Christopher Redhead, aged 24. Stephen Webb, aged 25 yeres. John Butterfield, aged 23 yeres. William Baker, aged 24 yeres. Richard Alford, aged 26 yeres. Thomas Molton, aged 25 yeres." second son of John Smith,1 of Nibley, in Gloucestershire. In January, 1625, there resided with him Elizabeth Rolfe, whose widowed mother, Jane, appears to have been absent, perhaps with her father, Capt. William Peirce, in England. In "Virginia Vetusta," published by the Munsells, of Al bany, this child, by a slip of the pen, is called Jane. Ralph Hamor2 is supposed to have been the son of Ralph Hamor, of London.

In 1615 he published a Description of 1 Amongthe " Cholmondely Papers," are letters of Richard Berkeley and John Smith, of Nibley, on Virginia affairs. Yates' account of a voyage to Virginia in the Margarete, of Bristol, which left England on 16th of September, and on the 20th of November arrived at Point Comfort or Elizabeth City, is addressed to George Thorpe, of Wanswell, afterwards killed by the Indians, and John Smith, Esq. , of Nibley. On December 19, 1620, George Smith, then in Virginia, writes to John Smith, at North Nibley, Gloucestershire, " is busy examining witnesses concerning Capt. Argall," and then recommends that he should send over his second son to the plantation. ' "Muster of Capt. Raph Hamor, Capt. Raph Hamor. M's Elizabeth Hamor. Jeremy Clement, > hfir chi]dren Elizabeth Clement, ) Servants.

John Lightfoote, in the Seaventure. Francis Gibbs, a boy, in the Seaflower. Ann Addams, a maid servant. At Hog Island. Jeffrey Hull, came'in the George. Mordecay Knight, in the William & John. Thomas Doleman, in tbe Beturne. Elkinton Ratliffe, in the Seafloure. Thomas Powell, in the Seafloure Thomas Cooper, in the Returne. John Davies, in the Guifte. Virginia. Returned with Argall from England in May, 1617, and was described by Sandys as one whose extreme poverty forced him to "shifts." John Martin was one of the earliest settlers, supposed to have been the brother-in-law of Sir Julius Cæsar,1 and was positive in his convictions, and generally in opposition to the majority. At the meeting of the first legislative assembly, in 1619, he insisted that by a special clause in his patent he was exempt from local authority, except in time of war.

He returned from England in 1624 with an increased grant of land. Governor Wyatt and Council, on February 4, 1625, wrote to the Earl of Southampton, and the Company, of which he was the head, that while they could ' ' but praise the Company's charity in forgiving the many foul injuries of Captain Martin," they did not like his appointment as Councillor.2 Samuel Mathews had not come to the colony until a.d. 1622, in the ship " Southampton," but was destined to be- 1 The following manuscripts in the collection of Sir Julius Cæsar, Judge of High Court of Admiralty, and Master of the Rolls, in the British Museum are attributed to his brother-in-law, Thomas Martin, and evidently John is meant. " Proposals of Thomas Martin, respecting the question between the Virginia Company and himself," Dec. 9, 1622.

" The manner howe Virginia may be used as a royall plantation," by Thomas Martin. " Letter of Thomas Martin, in Virginia, to Sir Julius Cæsar," March 8, 1626. 2 " Muster of Capt. John Martin. Capt. John Martin. "| SackfordWetherill, John Smith, aged 31, Jin the Swan, 1624." John Howard, aged 24, 1 John Anthonie, aged 23, J come a leader. He had influence in London. He married the daughter of Sir Thomas Hinton by his first wife. Hin ton afterwards married the rich widow of Sir Sebastian Harvey, Lord Mayor of London. ' Her only daughter, Mary, the King wished to marry the brother of the Duke of Buck ingham. A letter written on May 31, 1619, told a friend ' ' The Lord Mayor is ill because the King wishes him to marry his only daughter, a child of fourteen, to Christopher Villiers, which he refuses."

Harvey, in February, 1622, died, and Mary, his daughter, married John, son of Sir Fran cis Popham.2 1 The following marriage is entered on the Register of Stratford le Bowe Church, London, under date of October 1, 1622 : " Sir Thomas Hynton of Chil ton Foliot, Kt., and the Lady Mary wife of Sir Sebastian Harvey." 2 " Muster of Capt. Samuel Mathews, James City. Capt. Samuell Mathews, came in the Southampton, 1622. M' David Sand's, Minister, came in the Bonaventura, 1620. Servants. Robert Mathews, aged 24, Roger Williams, 20, Samuell Davies, 18, Henery Jones, 25, [ came in the Southampton, 1622. Aaron Conaway, 20, i John Thomas, 18, I Michaell Lapworth, 16, J William Lusam, 27, •> William Feild, 23, I ;u the Charles, 1621. Peter Montecue, 21, J Robert Fernall, 31, in the London Merchant, 1619.

Walter Coop[er], 33, in the Jonathan, 1619. William Walters, 27, in the Bona Nova. Nicholas Chapman, 31, in the Jonathan, 1619. Gregory Spicer, 22, in the Triall, 1618. John Harvey, of Lyme Regis, Dorsetshire, had been the Captain of a ship in the East Indies,1 and one of the Com missioners of a.d. 1624, wmo reported upon the condition of the Colony to the King, and Admiral of New England after West and Argall. He was absent from Virginia, from the beginning of 1624, for several years. Abraham Persey, Merchant, also written Peirsey, was a merchant, and, in 1616, first arrived in the ship "Susan,"3 and about 1628, died. His will is in the Appendix. Nicholas Peirse, 23, in the Falcon, 1619. Robert Penn, 22, in the Abigaile, 1620. William Dalby, 28, in the Furtherance, 1622. Thomas Hopson, 12, in the Bona Nova, 1618.

Abraham Wood, 10, in the Margrett & John, 1620. William Kingsley, 24, in the Marmaduk, 1623. Thomas Bridges, 12, " " " " Arthur Goldsmith, 26, in the Diana, 1618." 1 The East India Company ordered, in November, 1617, that " Security for 2000Z or 3000? be taken from Capt. Harvey, who is suspected to be about to sail to the East Indies with a ship well victualled and furnished with twenty pieces of ordnance," and on the 16th of January, 1617-18, they were informed that " Sir Thomas Bromley and Captain Harvye were making a voyage from Flush ing to the East Indies in a great ship," and that they had been stayed. Col. of State Papers, East Indies, 1617-1621. Upon giving security to the States General the vessel was released. John Chamberlain, in a letter to Dudley Carlton, describes Harvey as " somewhat choleric and impatient," 2 " Muster of M' Abraham Peirsey, Merchannt.

M' Abraham Peirsey, came in the Susan, 1616. Elizabeth, his daughter, aged;15, ) . .., „ Mary, his daughter, aged 11, f Came m-the &«««i»pto», 1623. Servants. Christopher Lee, aged 30 yeres, Richard Serieant, aged 86 yeres, I Alice Chambers, ) s in the Southampton, 1623. . . D, f maid servants, Anms Shaw, ) j Isaac Madison, of Charles City, died in 1624, before notice of his appointment arrived. His widow, Mary,1 who arrived At Peirsey's Hundred. Thomas Lea, aged 50, Anthony Paggit, 85, Solomon Jackman, 30, John Davies, 45, Clement Roper, 25, John Bates, 24, Thomas Abbe, 20, Thomas Brooks, 23, Nathan Jones, 23, Peter Jones, 24, Southampton, 1623. Pierce Williams, 23, Robert Graues, 30, Edward Hubberstead, 26, John Lathrop, 25, Thomas Chambers, 24, Walter Jackson, 24, Henry Sanders, 20, William Allen, 22, Georg Dawson, 24, John Upton, "aged 26, in the Bona Nova, 1622.

John Bams ord, aged 23, in the James, 1622. William Garrett, aged 22, in the George, 1619. Thomas Sawell, 26, " " " Henery Rowinge, 25, " " Temperance, 1621. Nathaniel Thomas, 23, " " Richard Broadshaw, 20, " " " " Robert Okley, 19, in William & Thomas, 1618. Negroes, 4." 1 " Muster of M's Mary Maddison, Widdow. West and Shirley Hundred. Mary Maddison, aged 30, in the Treasurer, 1618. Katherine Layden, aged 7. Servants. James Watson, aged 20 yearep, in the George, 1623. Roger Lewes, " 19 " " " Edwin, May, 1617." in the " Treasurer " in a.d. 1618, and was about thirty years of age, was living. Madison was a brave man, and a street ballad was printed and sung in the streets of London, in 1624, in which his attack upon the Indians was noted, — "And Captain Middisone likewise, with honor did proceed Who coming, tooke not all their corne, but likewise tooke their King And unto James his Citty, he did these rich trophies bring."

William Claiborne,1 also written Clayborne, Cleyborne, Cleburne. The Virginia Company, in a letter dated July 25, 1621, sent by the ship "George," write, "It is our ex presse will that the Tenants belonging to every office be fixed to his certaine place uppon the lands sett out for itt, for which Mr Cleyburne is chosen to be our Surveyor, who att the Companies very great charge is sett out, as by his condition of agreement you may perceive."2 Too little has been written of Christopher Davison,3 the last Secretary of the Colony before the death of King James. His father was William Davison, of Stepney, Middlesex, Secretary of State under Queen Elizabeth, and in whose service, for a time, was William Bre waster, the leader of the Leyden Puritans, who had landed at Plymouth Rock but a 1 So written in Rymer. 2 Neill's " Virginia Company."

Joel Munsell, Albany, p. 225. 3 The mother of the Secretary was Catherine Spelman, a relative of Sir Henry Spelman. He was born about A. d. 1577, and is said to have been a student of Gray's Inn. His younger brother, Walter, was also a poet— Life of Davi son, by Nicholas. few months before Christopher Davison arrived at James town. In the will of William Davison, made in a.d. 1608, Christopher is called his second son, and Francis, the poet, his eldest. At a meeting of the Virginia Company, held June 11, 1621, as John Pory, Secretary under Yeardley, had not carried himself well, it was decided to choose a successor, and on the 13th, Mr. Parramore, Mr. Waterhouse, and Mr. Da vison were balloted for the office, and "choice was made of Mr. Davison, he having the major part of balls, who being called in to take notice that the Secretary's place was fallen upon him, did declare his thankful acknowledgment unto the Company."

He arrived in October, 1621, at Jamestown, but did not have good health. In a letter of April 8, 1623, to Deputy Ferrar, of the Company, he alludes to his sickness and absence from business, and promises to send a list of inhabitants. He also mentions that his "brother," per haps brother-in-law, Thomas Finch, had died soon after his arrival. When Pory and other Commissioners from England came, in 1624, Edward Sharpless was appointed clerk, in consequence of a vacancy in the Secretaryship, caused by Davison's death. Among the poems of Francis, the eldest brother, was published the following paraphrase of one of the Psalms by Christopher : "Lord, in thy house, who shall forever bide ? To whom shall rest in sacred mount betide ? Ev'n unto him that leads a life unstained, Doth good, and speaks the truth from heart unfeigned.

Who with his tongue, deceit hath never used ; Nor neighbor hurt, nor slandered, nor accus'd ; Who loving good men, is from bad estranged, Who keeps his word, though to his loss, unchanged, To usury, who hath no money lent, Nor taken bribes against the innocent, Who in this course doth constantly persevere. In holy hill, unmoved, shall dwell for ever." The condition of the Colony was not prosperous, but it had been improved by the abrogation of the charter of the old Company. While there had been a disposition upon the part of its officers and stockholders to promote a Christian civilization, yet the people did not feel that they were a commonwealth, but, subject to the ordinances of those who were anxious to receive some pecuniary return from their investments. The first of January, a.d. 1625, found a population of only about twelve hundred persons, one horse, one mare, five hundred hogs, and five hundred neat cattle in the valley of the James River, and on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay.

There was not a public inn, nor was there a church edifice, nor a residence of brick or stone at Jamestown. On the 15th of June, 1625, Governor Wyatt and Council notified the Privy Council in England, that they had been forced to suspend Captain John Martin from their body, and that the reason they had taken the Secretaryship from, and cut off the ears of Edward Sharpless, was, because he had violated his oath1 and "delivered papers, committed to his charge, which greatly concerned" them. 1 After Secretary Davison's death, in 1623-4, an oath was administered to Edward Sharpless, acting as Secretary, in these words : " You shall keep secret all matters committed unto you, with all things that shall be treated secretly at the Counsell table until such tyme as by the consent of his Maiestie's Gouernor and Captayn Generall and the full Councel of the The monopoly of the tobacco trade tended to produce stagnation in business and discontent, and Yeardley was appointed to visit England and secure, if possible, a modifi cation of the pernicious contract.

On the 4th of October, Yeardley was in England, and wrote to the King how utterly disheartened the Virginia planters were, by the enforced sale of their tobacco, and ask ing that he might have a hearing before the Privy Council. When the opportunity offered, he asked for the liberty of holding a General Assembly for local legislation and the election of officers by the people, also that there should be no tax on staple commodities, and free trade in all things. Small vessels were constantly seen trading with the In dians toward the Falls of the Potomac and the mouth of the Susquehanna River for corn and beaver-skins, and at Palmer's Island in that stream, named after Edward Palmer. who had, in 1624, projected a University and School of Arts for Virginia.1 Intercourse had been established with the feeble settlements at Cape Cod and Bermudas.