The gouernment of Sir Francis Wyat.
* 1.1ABout October arriued Sir Francis Wyat, with Master George Sands, ap∣pointed Treasurer, Master Dauison Secretary, Doctor Pot the Physici∣an, and Master Cloyburne the Surgian, but much prouision was very bad∣ly conditioned, nay the Hogs would not eat that Corne they brought, which was a great cause of their sicknesse and mortality, and whatsoeuer is said against the Ʋirginia Corne, they finde it doth better nourish than any prouision is sent thither; the Sailers still they complaine are much to blame for imbes••ing the prouisions sent to priuate men, killing of Swine, and disorderly trucking; for which some order would be taken.
In them nine Ships that went with Sir Francis VVyat not one Passenger died, at his arriuall he sent Master Thorpe to Opechancanough, whom hee found much satisfied with his comming, to confirme their leagues as he had done his Prede∣cessors, and so contented his people should coinhabit amongst them, and hee found more motions of Religion in him than could be imagined: euery man be∣taking himselfe to his quarter, it was ordered, that for euery head they should plant but 1000. Plants of Tobacco, and vpon each plant nine leaues, which will be about 100. weight, the Corne being appointed but at two shillings & six pence the bushell, required such labour, it caused most men neglect it, and depend vpon trade; where were it rated at ten shillings the bushell, euery man would indeuour to haue plenty to sell to the new commers, or any that wanted, and seldome any is transported from England, but it standeth in as much, besides the hazard and other necessaries,* 1.2 the Ships might transport of that burden. The 22. of No∣uember arriued Master Gookin out of Ireland, with fifty men of his owne, and thirty Passengers, exceedingly well furnished with all sorts of prouision and cattle, and planted himselfe at Nupors-newes: the Cotten trees in a yeere grew so thicke as ones arme, and so high as a man: here any thing that is planted doth prosper so well as in no place better. For the mortality of the people accuse not the place, for of the old Planters and the families scarce one of twenty miscarries, onely the want of necessaries are the occasions of those diseases. And so wee will conclude this yeere with the shipping and numbers sent. Out of the Councels Let∣ters from Virginia.
* 1.3This yeere was sent one and twenty saile of Ships that imployed more than 400. sailers and 1300. men, women and children of diuers faculties, with foure-score cattle; the Tiger fell in the Turkes hands, yet safely escaped, and by the re∣turne of their letters from thence, the company is assured there can bee no fitter places of Mines, Wood and Water for Iron than there; and the French men af∣firme no Country is more proper for Vines, Oliues, Sike, Rice and Salt, &c. of which the next yeere they promise a good quantity.