The speech of the Honourable Sr. VVilliam Berkeley governour and capt. generall of Virginea, to the burgesses in the Grand Assembly at James Towne on the 17 of March, 1651 : together with a declaration of the whole country, occasioned upon the sight of a printed paper from England, intituled An act, &c.

This speech being ended the pretended Act of Par∣liament was publiquely read in the Assembly where upon (at the motion of the Howse of Commons to the Governour and Councell) this following vindication was unanimously agreed on.

WE The Governour Councell and Burgesses of Virginea, have seene a printed pa∣per bearing date at London the 3. of Octob. 1651. wherein (with other Plantations of America) we are pro∣hibited trade and Commerce with all but such as the pre∣sent power shall allow of: We likewise see our selves branded in it with the ignominious names of Rebells and Traitors, which we so much abhor, that we would detest our selves if we thought they were deservedly imposed on us: And shall take leave to thinke we are unworthily slandered, till stronger proofes then we yet find, are brought against us to convince our judgements and Consciences that we are guilty of those Horrid Crimes. Therefore though we professe that our judgments and industry, have been long solely and necessarily imployed in providing against the necessities of our poore families, and by Con∣sequence should not presume that any Act or Transaction of ••ours could be worthy the publique view: Yet since the plainest vindication of innocencie is accepted, we shall intimate the reasons of ours, imploring charitable and abler ••udgments to perfect what we shall hint to them in our answeares, to the Aspersions we find Authorised against us.

And First whereas they say, That the Plantations in Ame∣rica were seated at the Cost and established by the Authority of some in England, and therfore ought to be governed by the Lawes of England.

We conceave we may safely confesse all this, and yet not run the Hazard of any misprision of guilt, nay we thinke, this only testimony of theirs were sufficient to cleere us from the Aspersions of Rebells, and Traitors, if we had no other markes of innocency left us: For we say, we were some of us sent, others permitted to come hither by the gratious favour of our Pious KINGS, sworne to governe, and be governed (as farr as possible the place was Capable of) by the lawes of England; which lawes we have invio∣lably and sacredly kept as farr as our abilityes to execute and our Capacityes to judge would permit us, and with reason; for these lawes onely in such times of tumults stormes, and tempests, can humanely prevent our ruines: These lawes often enjoyned us the Oathes of Allegeance and Supremacy, and they tell us, that no power on earth can absolve or manumit us from our obedience to ou•• PRINCE, and his lawfull Successors: These lawes tell us that when we have don all vve can to auoyd it, we may resist violence with force, and in a lawfull defence of our∣selves, destroy any that shall endeavour to take away our lives or substance: These lawes vve professe are our guides and do beleeve vve deserve punishment and infamy if we vvillingly, or vvillfully deviate from them.

Secondly suppose vve vvere such slaves by nature as to be awed vvith the iron rods held over us, in what hand soever found; would not then themselves thinke vve de∣served the worst usage could be inflicted on us. For what assurance could vve give of our nevv Loyalty, after having so childishly, and impiously, relinquisht our old Allegeance? Could vve reasonably repine to pay vvith our ovvne swea•• and bloud, those Garrisons which must be kept among as, to

fix such volatile obedience as ours would appeare to be? For as the Question is stated to us, we ought to yeild to who∣soever possesse themselves of Westminste•• Hall: Where we experimentally have found, the heads of divers factions and pretensions, have presided and excluded one the other; and we have no Oraculous assurance, but it may be so againe; therfore in a Condition so dubious and uncertaine, as ours would be (wherein no lesse then our soules are concern'd) we desire them to permit us simple men to take leave to follow the perspicuous and plaine pathes of God and our lawes, & that they would be pleas'd to remember that good charitable Axiome in them, That none should be condemned till they here first Heard.

Thirdly we are told of Great summes of money laid out ••n this Country: For all we have receav'd we are most thankfull: But surelyit will be no evidence of ingratitude ••o say to whom we ovve most, & this must needes be acknow∣ledg'd to our KINGS, who gave liberally themselves and permitted Lotteries to be erected for us: We confesse pri∣vate adventurers added much, and might have enjoyed the fruit of it,* 1.1 If the first blow to the Colony, had not taken from them all hopes or desires of prosecuting that, which they so earnestly begun; But certainly what ever their liberallity was, we should have auoided it more then our Rattle snakes, of it had inevitably made slaves, our selves, our wives, children, and Posterity. Since the Massacre onely private Marchants have adventured hither for private gaines, and we confesse have supplied us with that, which we could not well have wanted, but this we suppose would be no con∣vincing argument to France, Spaine, or the Low Countries, for their subjection to England because these severall places

have been thus furnish't by her. If then we owe any thing it is to our KINGS liberallity, care, and protection, and w•• beseech you give us leave to pay our acknowledgment t•• them.

Fourthly we are told of usurping a Government to our selve•• We wish we could transmit our recordes to the view of ou•• accusers; By them it would appeare how little we deserv•• this imputation. For since the beginning of the Colony w•• have never innovated nor altred any thing in the maine •••• the Government: But in case we had done it, what mor•• likely Patrons could we chuse, to protect us then those who accuse us? Grant we had banish'd, confin'd, imprison'd condemn'd, and excecuted those that refuse to obey th•• lawes confirm'd by many consummated free Parliaments would not those pardon and absolve us who have done th•• same to others that have refused to obey their edicts, when they in their consciences beleeve they ought not to acknow∣ledg to be a Parliament? Yet the truth is, vve have don•• none of these things, no man here ever suffer'd in his perso•• or estate: Concerning the differences in England, our lavve•• keepe them in better awe then to dare to speake against th•• Protector of them: 'Tis true indeed,* 1.2 Two, chose rather to leave the Country then to take the Oathes of Allegeance and Supremacy, and we acknowledg that vve gladly parted vvith them.

Having ansvveared these accusations, vve appeale even to their ovvne judgments that produced them vvhether vve deserve those hatefull names of Rebells and Traitors: Bu•• vve beleive they vvill still use them to us and others because those Lucky Bugbeares of Rebells, and Malignants, have

frighted divers to the desertion of honest causes: Yet being ••as vve suppose in their ovvne consciences) free from these ••nputed crimes, (though very short sighted in such subtile matters) vve thinke vve can easely find out the cause of this ••••cluding us the society of Nations, vvhich bring us necessa∣••••es for vvhat our Country produces: And that is the Ava∣••••ce of a fevv interrested persons, vvho endeavour to rob us ••f all vve svveat and labour for: Therefore on the vvhole ••atter vve Conclude: We are resolv'd to Continue our ••••legeance to our most Gratious KING, yet as long as his ••••atious favour permits us, vve vvill peaceably (as for∣••erly) trade vvith the Londoners, and all other Nations in ••nity vvith our Soveraigne: Protect all forraigne Mer∣••••ants vvith our utmost force from injury in the rivers: ••••ve Letters of Reprisall to any injured vvith in our Capes: ••lvvaies pray for the happy restauration of our KING, and pentance in them, vvho to the hazard of their soules have ••••osed him.

This is unammously consented to by the Governour, Councell and Burgesses Teste

Ro: Huberd

Cl: Cons:

Johan Corker

Cl: Dom: Com:

Notes

• * 1.1

  In the Yeare 1622 when ther were but 300 persons lest alive by that Massacre.
• * 1.2

  Factious Clergy men.