America and West Indies: October 1623

Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660. Originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1860.

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'America and West Indies: October 1623', in Calendar of State Papers Colonial, America and West Indies: Volume 1, 1574-1660, (London, 1860) pp. 52-54. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/cal-state-papers/colonial/america-west-indies/vol1/pp52-54 [accessed 26 April 2024]

October 1623

Oct. 3
Whitehall.
Lord President Mandeville to [Sec. Conway]. Has dispatched a messenger after the Deputy of the Virginia Company, as without him, in the absence of the Governor, none of the Company will take any-thing upon themselves. The Lords of the Privy Council have sum-moned them for Monday next and warning has been given that the Company are not then to fail attendance. [Extract. DOMESTIC Corresp. Jac. I., Vol. CLIII., No. 14, Cal. p. 88.]
Oct. 8 45. Order of the Privy Council, declaring the King's resolution, because of the distressed state of Virginia occasioned by miscarriage of the government, by a new charter to the adventurers and Company of that plantation, to appoint a Governor and twelve assistants resident in England dependent on the Privy Council and to be chosen by the King the first time, unto whom the government of the Company and colony shall be committed; also a Governor and 12 assistants resident in Virginia to be nominated by the Governor and assistants in England; and His Majesty's determination, in default of their sub-mission to accept of a new charter, to recall all their former charters.
Oct. 8 Another copy of the preceding. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LXXIX., pp. 195–6.]
Oct. 8. Order of the Privy Council for Sir William Jones and others, the Commissioners for examining into the state of Virginia and the Somers Islands, to continue their inquiry, and, at a convenient time, to report their proceedings to the Board. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LXXIX., p. 195.]
Oct. 15.
Whitehall.
Order of the Privy Council, dispensing with the attendance of Justice Sir William Jones, one of the Virginia Commissioners, upon that business, by reason of his other employment, and directing the other Commissioners to appoint certain days for their meeting that they may proceed therein with all expedition. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LXXIX., p. 196.]
Oct. 15. 46. Answer of the Virginia Company in Court assembled to the Privy Council. Conceive the proposition for giving up their charter to be of such great weight and consequence that they beg for respite until their next Quarter Court on 19th November, the earliest time their letters patent give them power to make further answer.
Abstract of the above letters patent granted to above 1,000 persons by their particular names, besides the new adventurers and planters in Virginia, as also unto 60 several companies of London and other corporate towns. [Minute. Colonial Corresp., 1609, p. 2.]
Oct. 17.
Whitehall.
Order of the Privy Council. The Deputy and others representing the Virginia Company are directed to appear before the Board on the 20th inst, to deliver a final answer as to whether they will be content to surrender their former charters and accept of a new charter with the alterations mentioned in the Order of Privy Council of the 8th inst. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LXXIX., pp. 197–8.]
Oct. 17.
Whitehall.
Lord President Mandeville to Sec. Conway. The Virginia Company attended the Privy Council this day to answer whether they would surrender their old patent. Has given them in writing the alterations intended by the King; to change only the frame of government and manner of the plantation for the good of the people, and to preserve and secure private interests. The Company say they cannot give up their patent until their next Quarter Court meets on 19th Nov. The Lords, ill pleased with this reply, peremptorily ordered the Company to bring a direct answer on Monday next, when if they do not surrender the patent the Attorney General is directed to take a course to revoke it. [Extract. DOMESTIC Corresp. Jac. I., Vol. CLIII., No. 67, Cal. p. 97.]
Oct. 20.
Whitehall.
Order of the Privy Council, declaring that the King has no other intention in reforming and changing the present government of Virginia, than the remedying bad effects that tend to endanger the whole plantation; that every man's estate shall be fully preserved, and if anything be defective, better secured; and commanding that the ships intended for Virginia be with all speed sent away for relief of the plantation. This and the two annexed orders to be published throughout Virginia by the bearer, John Pory. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LXXIX., pp. 199–200.] These orders of 4 July and 8 Oct. 1623, will be found calendared under their proper dates.
Oct. 20. 47. Answer of the Virginia Company to the Privy Council. Having put to the question their Lordships' proposition in the direct words as commanded, there were only nine hands for delivering up the charters; all the rest, about three score, were of a contrary opinion.
Oct. 20. 48. Schedule of the names of those present at an extraordinary Court of the Virginia Company, by appointment of the Lords, touching the surrender of the charters; distinguishing those who held up their hands for and against. The names of those who held up their hands to surrender the patent were: Sir Sam. Argoll, Sir Thos. Wroth, Captain Jo. Martin, Mr. Canning, Mr. Woodall, Martin the Armenian, Molasco the Pole; the other two not known. It is doubted whether Martin and Molasco ought to have voice.
Oct. 24.
Whitehall.
Order of the Privy Council, requiring John Harvey to give a diligent account of the present state of Virginia, the number of plantations, public and private, and the men, women, and children in each; fortifications, and places best to be fortified; number of houses, cattle, arms, ammunition, and ordnance; corn and other provisions; boats, barques, bridges, and public works; intercourse with the savages; the hopes that may be entertained of the colony, and the best means to attain them. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LXXIX., p. 200.]
[Oct. 24.] The Privy Council to the Governor and Council in Virginia. John Harvey and others having been appointed to inquire into the state of the plantation; they are directed to be aiding and assisting him therein. [Colonial Entry Bk., Vol. LXXIX., p. 200.]