Susan Myra Kinsbury, ed., The Records of The Virginia Company of London
(Washington: Government Printing Office, 1906-35), 1:241-47.
[*241]
XCIV. John Rolfe. A Letter to Sir Edwin Sandys
January 1619/20
Ferrar Papers.
Document in Magdalene College, Cambridge. Autograph Letter, Signed, with Seals
List of Records No. 154
Honored Sir
Studieng with my self what service I might doe you, as a token of my grateful
remembrance for your many favors and constant love shewed me, as well in my
absence as when I was present with you I could not at this tyme devise a better, then to
giue yow notice of some pticulers both of or prsent
estate, and what happened since the departure of the Diana. And though I am well assured,
yow wilbe satisfied herein more fully by our Governor, yet I desire yor
kind acceptance of this my poore indeavor.
Presently after the Diana hadd her dispatch Sir George Yeardley (according to a
Comyssion directed unto him and to the Councell of State,) caused Burgesses to be chosen
in all place who mett at James City, where all matters therein conteyned were debated by
severall Comyttees and approved: and lykewise such other lawes enacted, as were held
expedient & requisite for the wellfare and peaceable govermt of this
Comon-weale. Captaine Martines Burgesses for his Plantacon werre not admytted to this
Assembly, the reasons I am assured yow shall receive from or Governor,
who sendeth home a report of all those pceeding.
[*242]
These principall men being at James Citie, Capten William Epps (who
commandeth Smythes Hundred Company) was arraigned (as neere as might be) according to the
lawdable Lawes of England, for killing one Captaine Edward Roecroft als Stallenge. He came
hether from the North Colony in a shipp of Sr fferdinando Gorges (as he sayd)
for some necessaries wch he wanted; and to coast along the shoare to fynd and
discover what Harbors and riu9s he could: but through neglect of the
Mr of the shipp and others she was forced a ground in a storme neere Newports
Newes, and there sprang so greate a leake, that he could not carry her back againe. This
myschance happened through vncivill and vnmanly word vrged by Stallenge (there being no prcedent
malice) wth wch Captaine Epps being much moved did strike on the
heade wth a sword §in the§ skabberd a such an vnfortunate
blowe, that wthin 2. daies he died. The Jury (whereof Capt Lawne was foreman a
discreete and vnderstanding man) hearing the Evidence, found him guilty of Manslaughter by
Chaunce meddley. The Governor fynding him (though young) yet a
pper civill gent, and of good hopes, not long after restored him to his Command.
Captaine Henry Spelman being accused by Robte Poole (one of the interpretors
of the Indian language) of many crimes wch might be priudiciall to
the State in generall, and to every mans safety in pticular, receiued Censure at this
generall Assembly. But the Governor hoping he might redeeme his fault being
§pceeding§ much of Childishe ignorance, pdoned the punishmt [1b]
vpon hope of amendmt. In triall whereof he was ymploied as interpretor
to Patawamack to trade for Corne.
Captaine Ward in his shipp went to Monahigon in the No: Colony in May, and returned the
latter end of July, wth fishe wch he caught there. He [He] brought
but a smale quantitie, by reason he hadd but little salte. There were some Plymouth shipps
where he harbored, who made greate store of fishe, wch is farr larger then
New-land-fishe.
The George was sent by the Cape Marchant (wth the Governors
consent) to New-found-land to trade and buy fishe for the better releif of the Colony and
to make triall of that passage. One other reason (as I take it) was, for that the Magazin
was well stoored wth good, it was some what doubtfull, wheth9 a
shipp would be sent to carry home the cropp so sone as the George might vpon her returne
back. She departed hence about the 9th of July, and arriued here againe about
the 10: of Septembr. She [*242] made her passage to Newfound-land in
less then 3. weekes, and was at the banck amongst the french fishermen in 14. daies. She
came back hether againe in 3. week, wth bare wynd, and brought so much fishe as
will make a saving voyadge, wch, besid the greate releif, giveth much content
to the wholl Colony.
The Sturgeon shipp and the Triall departed hence togeth9 about the fiue of
July. Mr Pountys hath taken greate paines in fishing, and toward Michellmas
(the weather being somewhat temperate) made some good sturgeon. He hopeth by the spring to
be better fitted, wth Cellars and houses, and to do some good therein.
The Cattle in the Triall came exceeding well, and gaue the Colony much ioy and greate
incouragemt. Both they horses and Mares wilbe very vendible here a long tyme,
the Colony increasing wth people as of late.
About the latter end of August, a Dutch man of Warr of the burden of a 160 tunes
arriued at Point-Comfort, the Comandors name Capt Jope, his Pilott for the West
Indies one Mr Marmaduke an Englishman. They mett wth the Trer in the
West Indyes, and determyned to hold consort shipp hetherward, but in their passage lost
one the other. He brought not any thing but 20. and odd Negroes, wch the
Governorr and Cape Marchant bought for victualle (whereof he was in greate need
as he prtended) at the best and easyest rate they could. He hadd a lardge and
ample Comyssion from his Excellency to range and to take purchase in the West Indyes.
Three or 4. daies after the Trer arriued. At his arriuall he sent word prsently
to the Gou9nor to know his pleasure, who wrote to him, and did
request myself Leiftenante Peace and Mr Ewens to goe downe to him,
to desyre [2a] him to come vp to James Cytie. But before we gott downe
he hadd sett saile and was gone out of the Bay. The occasion hereof happened by the
vnfrendly dealing of the Inhitante of Keqnoughton, for he was in greate want of victualle,
wherewth they wold not releive him nor his Company vpon any termes. He reported
(whilst he staied at Keqnoughton) thit if wee gott not some Ord’nance planted at
Point Comfort, the Colony would be quyte vndone and that ere long: for that vndoubtedly [*244]
the Spanyard would be here the next §spring§ wch he gathered (as was sayd) from some
Spanyarde in ye West Indyes. This being spread abroade doth much disharten the
people ingenerrall. ffor wee haue no place of strength to retreate vnto, no shipping of c9teynty
(wch would be to vs as the wodden walles of England) no sound and experienced souldyers to
vndertake, no Engineers and arthmen to erect worke, few Ordenance, not a serviceable
carriadge to mound them on; not Amunycon of powlder, shott and leade, to fight and
2. wholl dayes, no not one gunner belonging to the Plantacon, so yer
Honors or soveraignes dignity, yor honors
or poore reputacons §lives§ and labors thus long spent lieth too
open to a suddayne, and to an inevitable hazard, if a forroigne enemy oppose against
§vs§. Of this I cannot better doe, to giue yow full satisfaccon, then to
referr yow to the iudgemt and opynion of Capt Argallwho hath often
spoken and herof during his govermt, and knoweth (none better)
these defect .
About the begynnyng of Septembr J-apazous (the King of Patawamack brother)
cames to James Cyty to the Governor. Amongst other frivoulous messag he
requested, that 2. shipps might be speedyly to Patawamack where they should trade for
greate stoore of corne. Herevpon (according to his desyre) the Governor
sent an Englishman wth him by land, and in the
begynning of October, Capt Ward shipp and Somer-Iselande frigate departed James Cyty
hether-ward.
Robte Poole being wholly ymployed by the Governor of message to the greate
King, pswaded Sr George, that if he would send Pledge he would, would come to
visite him. Or Corne and Tobacco being in greate aboundance in or
grounde (for a more plentyfull yeere then this, it hath not pleased God to send vs since
the beginning of this Plantacon, yet very contagious for sycknes, whereof many [2b]
both old and new men died) the Governor sent two men vnto him, who were
returned wth frivoulous aunsweres, sayng he never hadd any intent to come vnto
him. The Gou9nor being iealous of them (the rath9 because
wee hadd many straggling Plantacons, much weakened by the greate mortality, Poole lykewise
proving very dishonest) requested Captaine William Powell and myself (for Opachankano
pfesseth much love to me, and giueth much credite to my word ) to goe in a shallopp unto
Pomonkey ryver; wch wee did. Going vp that [*245] ryver wthin 5. myles
of his house wee sent Capt Spelman and Tho: Hobson vnto him wth the Governrs
message. The shipp and frigate (being not farr out of their way to Patawamack) went in the
night about 12. myles into the riu9, and wee hasting vpp wth or
shallopp, the messengers were wth Opaihankano, before or asone as any newes came to him
eyther of the shipps or or arriuall, wch much daunted them and ptt them in
greate feare. Their intertaymt at the first was harshe, (Poole being even
turned heathen) but after their message was delyuered, it was kindly taken, they sent away
lovingly, and Poole accused and Condemned by them, as an instrumt that sought
all the meanes he could to breake or league. They seemed also to be very weary
of him. Sh Opachankano much wondered I would not goe to him, but (as I
wished the messengers) they said I was syck of an ague, wherewth they was
were satisfied. Wee hadd no order to bring Poole away, nor to make any shew of discontent
to him, for feare he should pswade them to some myscheif in or corne feilde,
hoping to gett him away by fayre meanes. So wee returned in greate love and amyty to the
greate content of the Colony, wch before liued in dayly hazard, all messag being vntruly
delyu9ed by Poole on both side.
The Chikahomynies come not at vs, but wee receyue no domage by them.
The Governor hath bounded the lymytt of the 4. Cerporacons the Companies,
the Governors, the Vniversity and Glebe lande according to the Comyssion.
[3a] All the Ancient Planters being sett free haue chosen place for
their dividend according to the Comyssion. Wch giueth all greate content, for now knowing
their owne land, they strive and are prpared to build houses §&§ to
cleere their ground ready to plant, wch giveth the * * * greate incouragemt,
and the greatest hope to make the Colony florrish that ever yet happened to them.
Vpon the 4. of November the Bona Noua arriued at James Cyty. All the passengers came
lusty and in good health. They came by the west Indyes, wch passage at that
season doth much refreshe the people.
[*246]
The proporcon9 of Victualle brought for those 100 men fell so short, that
Captaine Welden and Mr Whitakere were forced (notwthstanding or
plenty) to putt out 50. or thereabout for a yere, by the Governors and
Councelle advise. ffor whom they are to receyue the next yere, 3. barrell of corne and 55P of tobacco for a man; wch their sicknes considered (for
seldom any escapeth little or much) is more then hey of themselues could ue9
gett. By this meanes the next yere, they wilbe instructed to pceed in their owne busynes
and be well instructed to teache new-comers. Wth the remaynder (being
about 25. a peece, the one is seated wth one Capt Mathewes 3.myles beyond Henrico for his
owne securytie, and to his greate content. And Mr Whithakers wthin 4. myles of
James Cyty on the Companies land.
Vpon Saterday the 20th of November at night Mr Ormerod died at
James Cytie, after a long and tedious sicknes, the cheif occasion the flux, wch of late
hath much raigned amongst vs. His death is generally much the Colony receyving hereby a
greate loss, being a man of so good life, learnyng & carriadge as his fellow here he
left not behind him.
One Mr Darmer a gent sent out by the Plymouth Company arriued about the end
of September in a smale bottome of 7. or 8. tuñes, he hadd coasted from Monah[ucon]
to or Plantacon, and found an Inland sea to the No: of vs. The depth whereof he
could not search for want of meanes, and wyneter comyng on. He is fitting his smale
vessell, and purposeth this spring to make a new tryall.
Capt. Lawne at his arriuall seated himself in Wareskoyack Bay wth Company, but by his
owne sycknes and his peoples (wherein there was improvidency) he quytted his Plantacon,
went vpp to Charles Cyty, and about Novembr died. So his peict is lykely (vnles
better followed and well seconded) to come to nothing.
Smythes Hundred people are seated [are seated] at Dauncing Point, most convenyent place
wthin their lymitte. There hath bene much sycknes amongst them: so yt this yere
no matter of gaine or of greate industry can be expected from them.
[*247]
Martynes Hundred men seated at Argall towne wth good & convenyent houses haue done
best of all New-Comers. Many who were industrious having reaped good cropps, but most not
of equall spiritt and industrious haue less, yet exceeded other New-Comers. Many of these
haue also died by sycknes, but not comparab comparable to other place.
About the latter e begynning of Decembr
Capt Ward wth his shipp and the frigate came from Patawamack. Japasons hadd
dealt falsely wth them, for they could gett little trade, so that they brought not aboue
800 bushell , the most pte whereof they tooke by force from Jupasons Country who deceyued
them, and a smale quantyty they traded for. But in conclusion being very peaceable wth all
the oth9 Indyans, at their departure they also made a firme peace againe wth
Japazons.
At this tyme also came Captaine Woodiff in a smale shipp of Bristow, who brought his
people very well, and made his passage in tenn week .
Thus ffarr farr as pte of my duty (ever ready at yor
service) haue I breifly made knowen vnto yow, some ptyculers of or
estate: and wthall in conclusion cannot chose but reveale vnto yow
the sorrow I conceyve, to heare of the many accusacons heaped vpon Captaine Argall, wth
whom my reputacon hath bene vniustly joynted [4a] but I am pswaded he
will aunswere well for himself. Here haue also bene divers deposycons taken and sent home
by the Diana, I will tax no man therein: but when it shall come to farther triall, I
assure yow that yow shall fynd many dishonest and faithles men to
Captaine Argall, who haue receyued much kindnes at his hand & to his face will
contradict, and be ashamed of much, wch in his absence they haue intymated against him.
Lastly, I speake on my owne experience for these 11. yeres, I neuer amongst so few, haue
seene so many falseharted, envious and malicious people (yea amongst some who march in the
better ranck) nor shall yow ever §heare§ of any the iustest Governor
here, who shall liue free, from their scandalle and shameles exclamacons, if way be given
to their report . And so desyring yor kind acceptance hereof, being vnwilling
to conceale any thing from yorselfe (who now, to myne and many others comfort ,
standeth at the helme to guide vs and bring vs to or the Port
of or best happynes, wch of late wee say principally by yor goodnes
wee now inioy) eyther wch yow may [*248] be desyrous to vnderstand or
wch may further yow for the advauncemt of this Christian Plantacon I
take my leave, and will ever rest
At yor service and commaund in all faithfull dutyes
Jo: Rolf.
EOD |
