Original Letter resides in London Public Record Office
(collection C.O. 1/3 - 17276)
SIGNATURES (in order):
Roger Smith,
Raphe Hamor,
Francis Wyatt,
Francis West,
George Sandys
William Claybourne,
Samuel Matthews,
Abraham Piersey
William Tucker,
Nathaniel Basse,
William Pierce,
Francis Epes,
Thomas Osborne,
William Harwood
Richard Ringold,
Francis Chamberlyn,
Ellis Emery,
Nathaniel Caussey,
Richard Biggs
Edward Waters,
Peter Chamberlaine,
John Downeman,
John Price,
Christopher Carter
Edward Blaney,
Henry Wooderd,
Gilbert Peppet,
E B Wethersby,
John Crewes
Clement Dilke,
Luke Boys,
Henry Owens
The humble petition of the Governors Counsell and Collony
of Virginia Assembled together
That whereas in the former yeare, we directed a peticion to yor Ma:tie humblie delivering them that yor highness woulde not give creditt, to the last declarations present to yor Ma:tie concerning the happie, but indeed miserable estate of the collony, during the first twelve yeares governmnet wither (?) to the malitious imputations wch have been layde on the latter, but to be pleased to beholde in little the true estate of both by our relations wch we then sent unto yor highness, by the handes of Mr. John Puntis contayninge nothinge but the truth. Wthout dissaffection or partiality, whereby we doubted not but yor Ma:tie would understand the condition of both tymes (?) and further besought yor ma:tie that you would not suffer yor poore subjects to fall again into the hands of Sr. Thomas Smyth and confidents, but that you would gratiously protect us from the growinge stormes (?) ingendred by faction, wch presaged the ruyn of some whose indeavors have deserved a better rewarde, and in generall of the wholl plantation.
Soe it is that we are driven to misdoubt, by reason of the death of Mr. John Puntis, and that many things have fallen, contrary to our humble desires, that the aforesayde petition, and realtions were never presented to yor Royall handes, the rather because the same personnes so iustly complained of, and inyned in yor Ma:ties comission for the governinye of the affaires of Virginia. Whereby being armed, we fear that they intend to exercise the sam Tirrany uppon our persons wch already bny the pernitious contract they execute upont our fortunes and haveinge inst cause to fear that uppon the establishinge of a President and counsell in Englande for the government of Virginia if those persons shalbe chosen of that number, trhe same power and meanes to execute their vindicative mallice, may be more fully and absolutely setled and confirmed uppon them, and the estate of the Collony much more sesperate, and the effects whereof allready beginn to appeare not only in the scant supplies of necessaries this yeare, not to ocover our nakednes, and the rates of those therefold more excessive than formely: _____ alsoe in the extreame discouragement of the advernturer and planter insomuch that the great number of planters ahd resolved to have _____ for $Endlande in those ships expressly to have peititionde yor Ma:tie for redress and protection: _____ _____ the clams (?) of soe many should be troblesome, and displeasing to yor ma:tie We urged by our duties to yor Ma:tie our zeale to the collony, and the discharge our _____ consciencies have _____ an unanimous consent made choyce of Sr. George Yeardly knight (the importante of the cause requireinge no lesse _____ _____, whoe havinge formerly comanded heere (?) in cheefe (?), and by imediate commission from yor Ma:tie hath againe been nominated to succession in teh Government) to prefer the sayde petition and relations to yor gratitious _____, wherby yt will most cleerly appeare how unfit they are to manage the affaires of the Collony in wch they have formerly soe much erred and proceeded soe contrary, even in the fundamentall points of Government, to yor highness gratious charters and instructions: _____ alsoe our demonstrations against the late pernitious contract soe mainly opposing yor Ma:ties Royall bounty and intentions, to the advancement of this yor Ma:ties Collony.
We humbly therefore beseech yor Ma:tie to affoarde a gratious hearinge to the sayde Sr. George Yeardly and to referr the examination of oour cause to the Right Honorable William Lorde Pagett, Sr., Sr. Richard Weston knight channcellor of the exchequer Sir Humphrey May knight chancellor of the ____ and Sr. Robert Killegrew knight (they beinge yor Ma:tie for the affaires of Virginia) to make report therof to yor Ma:tie:
And we as our dutie bindes us, shall every praye to God for yor Ma:ties longe and prosperous Raigne in this life and eternall in the life to come.