Master Ralph Lane, with divers other directed and employed under their government; of the captains and masters of the voyages made since for transportation, of the governor and assistants of those already transported, as of many persons, accidents, and things else, I have ready in a discourse by itself in manner of a chronicle, according to the course of times, which, when time shall be thought convenient, shall be also published. [This "discourse, in manner of a chronicle," we fear is irrecoverably lost. Coming from the pen of such an intelligent and honest eye-witness as Hariot, it would to us of this day be invaluable. Many of Hariot's MSS. went into the possession of the Duke of Northumberland: from him they descended to the Earl of Egremont, and in 1784 were at his seat of Petworth. Is it not worth an effort to ascertain if this be among them?] Thus referring my relation to your favorable constructions, expecting good success of the action, from him which is to be acknowledged the author and governor, not only of this, but of all things else, I take my leave of you, this month of February, one thousand five hundred and eighty-seven. No. 7. THE FOURTH VOYAGE MADE TO VIRGINIA, WITH THREE SHIPS, IN THE YEAR 1587. WHEREIN WAS TRANSPORTED THE SECOND COLONY. [Reprinted from HAKLUYT, Vol. III., page 280]. In the year of our Lord, fifteen hundred and eighty-seven, Sir Walter Raleigh intending to persevere in the planting of his country of Virginia, prepared a new colony of one hundred and fifty men to be sent thither, under the charge of John White, whom he appointed Governor, and also appointed unto him twelve assistants, unto whom he gave a charter, and incorporated them by the name of Governor and Assistants of the city of Raleigh in Virginia. [The distinguishing features in this effort seem to have been an attempt at the establishment of regular government, and the presence of females in the expedition. Both these imply the hope and intention of permanent settlement, though not (as we learn from the future narrative) on the island of Roanoak. What the precise form of government was under the charter of "the Governor and Assistants of the city of Raleigh in Virginia," we cannot now discover. But as to this company thus chartered, it furnishes proof of a change in Raleigh's mode of proceeding for the settlement of his colonies. He seems to have resolved that it was expedient to associate with him in interest, others, who, stimulated by the hope of pecuniary returns, either advanced money as "adventurers," or went out themselves to establish and transact business, with the intent seemingly of making shipments to England of the products of the colony. We find, under date of January 7th, 1587, which was some three or four months before this voyage by White, an instrument executed by Raleigh, whereby, without divesting himself entirely of his interest, he permitted others to share with him in the privileges conferred by his patent. This document has been preserved by Hakluyt, and is reprinted in Hazard's state papers, vol. I. p. 42. Under the charter of Elizabeth, which forms the first document of this volume, bearing date March 25th, 1584, certain rights and privileges were granted, which, divested of the technicalities of legal phraseology used in the grant, may in plain language be described as follows: 1. Power was given to Raleigh and his assigns by the queen, freely to search for, occupy and enjoy forever, such remote and barbarous lands, not already possessed by any Christian people, as to him might seem good; and he was to have in them all such rights and preroga tives as the patent proceeded to grant. 2. He was at liberty to take with him to such lands and leave there for inhabitants, as many of the people of England as chose willingly to accompany him for that purpose. 3. He was to enjoy in fee-simple all the soil of the lands he might thus discover, and might convey any part of it in fee-simple, or otherwise, to those who accompanied him (they remaining, however, in the queen's allegiance) and reserving also to the queen one fifth of all the gold and silver that might be found in such lands. The queen was to be acknowledged as sovereign. 4. He had power to repel and drive out any who, without his license, entered on his lands to make settlement, or planted themselves within six hundred miles of any place where he had made a settlement, or might make one within six years from the date of his grant. In thus repelling he might surprise and take such intruders prisoners, and destroy their ships and property. In other words, might make war upon them. 5. The children of all English subjects born in any of his colonies should enjoy all the rights and privileges of persons born in England. 6. For the preservation of peace and good order, power was given him to correct, punish, govern and rule, at his discretion, all the colonists both in criminal and civil cases, and to this end he had power to make laws, provided they did not contravene the Christian faith, and were made as conformable as circumstances allowed to the laws of England. 7. Power was given him, under the supervision of certain English officials of high rank, to export from England all such goods and commodities as might be necessary for the relief and support of his colonists. 8. If, however, at any time, he or his followers should rob or spoil by sea or land, or commit unlawful hostilities against the subjects of any power at peace with England; he should on demand by his own sovereign, within a limited time, make full satisfaction to the party injured; failing which, he and his should be out of the queen's protection, and might be pursued and treated as an enemy by the government of the party robbed, &c., just as if they were not the queen of England's subjects. This is the substance of his patent, and it will be seen that under it he possessed a qualified sovereignty. When he formed the corporation with a charter, known as the Governor and Assistants of the city of Raleigh in Virginia," of which White here speaks, he acted alone, under the powers conferred by the sixth paragraph of the foregoing abstract of his patent. Having, however, thus formed the corporation, he next proceeded, by indenture to make certain individuals "free of the corporation," in other words, members of it under the powers conferred in the third paragraph. VOL. I.-13 The indenture therefore sets forth substantially as follows:- "Chief 2. The grantees, who are divided into two classes. The first class numbers nineteen, and they are described as "merchants of London, and adventurers to Virginia aforesaid." These remained at home, and adventured or risked their money only in the hands of their factors or agents whom they sent out or selected from those bound on the voyage. The second class numbers thirteen, and consists of the individuals who we learn from White's narrative went on the voyage, and constituted the "Governor and Assistants" of the new city of Raleigh. These are described as "late of London, gentlemen," not as merchants. The instrument then recites that to these latter, whom he constitutes the "Governor," &c. of the corporation, he grants such powers as his original charter conferred on him in transporting settlers, inhabiting the country, making provision for its government, &c. It then proceeds to declare that the other nineteen grantees, "adventurers as aforesaid, purposing and intending to be made free of the corporation, company and society lately made by the said Sir Walter Raleigh, in the city of Raleigh, intended to be erected and builded" in Virginia, do "adventure divers and sundry sums of money, merchandises and shipping, munition, victual, and other commodities" into Virginia. It then recites that, in consideration of this adventure, Sir Walter grants to them a perfectly unrestricted and free trade forever to any settlements he may now have or make by future discovery in America. He also grants them a donation of £100, to be invested by them as an adventure in any mode they please, the profits thereof to be applied by them in Virginia, "in planting the Christian religion, and advancing the same," and for "the common utility and profit of the inhabitants thereof." He then exempts them from all duties or customs on their commerce, and from all rents, subsidies, &c., generally, and finally covenants to execute any further instrument the law may require to define and secure in perpetuity the rights of the corporation he has created. It will thus be seen that he made no general transfer of all his rights under the original patent; but simply created a corporation on very liberal terms, and thus induced capitalists to become members of it, in the hope that under the impulse of individual interest, a portion of their funds would be so used as to benefit the colony as well as prove profitable to themselves. This is what is commonly called "the assignment of his |