Colonial Records of Virginia | Page 8

Governor, McDonald.
[56] put, McDonald.
[57] suche, McDonald and Bancroft.
Upon this a letter or warrant was drawen in the name of the whole
assembly to sumon Captaine Martin to appeare before them in forme
following:
By the Governo^r[58] and general assembly of Virginia.
Captaine Martine, we are to request[59] you upon sight hereof, with all
convenient speed to repaire hither to James citty to treatt and conferre
w^{th} us about some matters of especial[60] importance, w^{ch}
concerns[61] both us and the whole Colony and yourself. And of this
we praye you not to faile.
James citty, July 30, 1619.
To our very loving friend, Captain John Martin, Esquire, Master of the
ordinance.
[58] Governour, Bancroft.
[59] request, McDonald.
[60] especiall, McDonald.
[61] concerne, McDonald and Bancroft.
These obstacles removed, the Speaker, who a long time had bene
extreame sickly, and therefore not able to passe through long harangues,
delivered in briefe to the whole assembly the occasions of their meeting.
Which[62] done, he read unto them the comission for establishing the
Counsell of Estate and the general[63] Assembly, wherein their duties
were described to the life.
Having thus prepared them, he read over unto them the greate Charter,

or comission of priviledges, orders and lawes, sent by Sir George
Yeardley out of Englande.[64] Which[65] for the more ease of the
Committies, having divided into fower books, he read the former two
the same forenoon for expeditious[66] sake, a second time over, and so
they were referred to the perusall of twoe Comitties, w^{ch} did
reciprocally consider of either, and accordingly brought in their
opinions. But some man may here objecte to what ende we should
presume to referre that to the examination of Comitties w^{ch} the
Counsell and Company in England[67] had already resolved to be
perfect, and did expecte nothing[68] but our assente thereunto?[69] To
this we answere, that we did it not to the ende to correcte or controll
anything therein contained, but onely in case we should finde ought not
perfectly squaring w^{th} the state of this Colony or any lawe w^{ch}
did presse or binde too harde, that we might by waye of humble
petition, seeke to have it redressed, especially because this great
Charter is to binde us and our heyers for ever.
[62] W^{ch}, McDonald.
[63] Gen^{ll}, McDonald.
[64] The substance of these will be found in the paper, "A briefe
Declaration," &c. See post.--.
[65] W^{ch}, McDonald.
[66] expeditions, Bancroft.
[67] Englande, McDonald.
[68] nothinge, McDonald.
[69] thereunto, McDonald and Bancroft.
The names of the Comitties for perusing the first booke of the fower: 1.
Captain William Powell, 2. Ensigne Rosingham, 3. Captaine Warde, 4.
Captaine Tucker, 5. Mr. Shelley, 6. Thomas Douse, 7. Samuel Jordan,
8. Mr. Boys.

The names of the Comitties for perusing the second booke:
1. Captaine Dawne,[N] 2. Captaine Graves, 3. Ensigne Spense, 4.
Samuel Sharpe, 5. William Cap, 6. Mr. Pawlett, 7. Mr. Jefferson, 8. Mr.
Jackson.
These Comitties thus appointed, we brake up the first forenoon's
assembly.
[N] Lawne, McDonald, and Bancroft, the list of Burgesses on p. 10,
showing this to be proper.
* * * * *
After dinner the Governo^r and those that were not of the Comitties[70]
sate a seconde time, while the said Comitties[71] were employed in the
perusall of those twoe bookes. And whereas the Speaker had
propounded fower severall objects for the Assembly to confider on:
namely, first, the great charter of orders, lawes and priviledges;
Secondly, which of the instructions given by the Counsel in England to
my lo: la: warre,[72] Captain Argall or Sir George Yeardley, might
conveniently putt on the habite of lawes; Thirdly, what lawes might
issue out of the private conceipte of any of the Burgesses, or any other
of the Colony; and lastly, what petitions were[73] fitt to be sente home
for England. It pleased the Governou^r[74] for expedition[75] sake to
have the second objecte[76] of the fower to be examined & prepared by
himselfe and the Non-Comitties. Wherin after having spente some three
howers'[77] conference, the twoe Committies[78] brought in their
opinions concerning the twoe former bookes, (the second of which
beginneth at these wordes of the Charter: And forasmuche as our
intente is to establish one equall and uniforme kinde of government
over all Virginia &c.,)[79] w^{ch} the whole Assembly, because it was
late, deferred to treatt[80] of till the next morning.
[70] Comittees, McDonald.
[71] Comittees, McDonald.

[72] Lord le Warre, McDonald.
[73] we, McDonald.
[74] Governor, McDonald.
[75] expeditions, McDonald, also Bancroft.
[76] obiecte, McDonald.
[77] houres, McDonald.
[78] two Comittees, McDonald.
[79] The McDonald copy includes in () all of this from "the second of
which" to "Charter," and another single ) after &c. The De Jarnette
copy has one) only after &c. Bancroft includes what is adopted in this