America and West Indies: April 1637 | British History Online

Pages 250-251

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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Citation:

April 1637



[April 1.]	46. Petition of Jerome Hawley to the Admiralty. Is bound to Virginia in the Friendship, of London, now in the Thames, and carries over the King's letters to the Government there. Prays that the seamen shipped for that voyage may not be pressed. Annexed,
	46. I.List of names of the crew of the Friendship. 1637, March
April 22. Westminster	47. The King to the Governor and Council of Virginia. Considerations which led to former letters for increase and regulation of trade. Tobacco almost the only commodity returned from Virginia. Cannot but take notice how little advance has been made in staple commodities. Comparison with the Caribbee Islands. The colony brought to great straights in consequence. Is informed that they are not only supplied by the Indians, but by the Dutch, who make a prey of the tobacco and crop of the plantations to the prejudice of the King's just duties and profits. All this proceeds from irregular government, want of providence, and covetous and griping dispositions, and endangers the common good of the whole plantation. Has resolved, with advice of the Privy Council, upon better ordering and regulating the plantations. Desires them to consider what quantity of good and merchantable tobacco they will undertake yearly to send to the port of London, having relation to more staple and honourable commodities; what price and value they will peremptorily set thereon; and the places most convenient to bring it to, as to one or more appointed warehouses, from whence it may be carefully shipped, and "a particular" sent in every ship. Jerome Hawley is appointed Treasurer of Virginia, "being a business much concerning our revenue there." Strictly forbids trade with the Dutch. Requires them to examine every planter, to take an account how far each one has engaged his stock and crop, upon what debts and to whom, and to make a return to the Lord Treasurer, that some just course may be taken "to redeem these our poor subjects." Commands them to inform every planter and owner of the King's resolutions; to show them what helps they have received to the loss of His Majesty's revenue, by lessening the ordinary duties almost one half, taking off the charge of garbling their tobacco, and now lately the impost of that taken from London to foreign parts. If they are resolved to be the authors of their own misery, and refuse with fitting alacrity and obedience to answer the King's expectation, His Majesty will advise with the Privy Council to punish the refractory, and repair the loss which he sustains for their good. Expects their speedy answer. [Copy.]
April?	48. The King to [the feoffees of Jas. late Earl of Carlisle]. It has been noticed that the inhabitants of St. Christopher's, Barbadoes, and the other Caribbee Islands, have mostly planted tobacco to the neglect of cotton, wools, and other useful commodities which they had begun, and of corn and grain sufficient for the support of those plantations, which compels them to receive supplies from the Dutch and other strangers. Directs them to send to the several Governors of the Caribbee Islands a perfect transcript of this letter, with instructions concerning the growth of their tobacco and the prohibition of trade in those islands, with strangers. Instructions on these heads, similar to those in the preceding letter, but no Treasurer is named.