STATE PAPERS.
COLONIAL. Vol. I.—No. 45.
[July 30, 1619.][J]
A Reporte of the manner of proceeding[K] in the General assembly convented at James citty in Virginia, July 30, 1619, consisting of the Governor, the Counsell of Estate[L] and two Burgesses elected out of eache Incorporation and Plantation, and being dissolved the 4th of August next ensuing.
First. Sir George Yeardley, Knight Governor & Captaine general of Virginia, having sente his sumons all over the Country, as well to invite those of the Counsell of Estate that were absente as also for the election of Burgesses, there were chosen and appeared
For James citty
Captaine William Powell,
Ensigne William Spense.
For Charles citty
Samuel Sharpe,
Samuel Jordan.
For the citty of Henricus
Thomas Dowse,
John Polentine.
For Kiccowtan
Captaine William Tucker,
William Capp.
For Martin Brandon—Capt. John Martin's Pla'tation
Mr Thomas Davis,
Mr Robert Stacy.
For Smythe's hundred
Captain Thomas Graves,
Mr Walter Shelley.
For Martin's hundred
Mr John Boys,[7]
John Jackson.
For Argall's guiffe[8]
Mr Pawlett,
Mr Gourgaing.[9]
For Flowerdieu hundred
Ensigne[10] Rossingham,
Mr Jefferson.
For Captain Lawne's plantation
Captain Christopher Lawne,
Ensigne[11] Washer.
For Captaine Warde's plantation
Captaine Warde,
Lieutenant Gibbes.
The most convenient place we could finde to sitt in was the Quire of the Churche Where Sir George Yeardley, the Governour, being sett downe in his accustomed place, those of the Counsel of Estate sate nexte him on both handes, excepte onely the Secretary then appointed Speaker, who sate right before him, John Twine, clerke[12] of the General assembly, being placed nexte the Speaker, and Thomas Pierse, the Sergeant, standing at the barre, to be ready for any service the Assembly shoulde comaund[13] him. But forasmuche as men's affaires doe little prosper where God's service is neglected, all the Burgesses tooke their places in the Quire till a prayer was said by Mr. Bucke, the Minister, that it would please God to guide and sanctifie all our proceedings[14] to his owne glory and the good of this Plantation. Prayer being ended, to the intente that as we[15] had begun at God Almighty, so we[16] might proceed wth awful and due respecte towards the Lieutenant, our most gratious and dread Soveraigne, all the Burgesses were intreatted to retyre themselves into the body of the Churche, wch being done, before they were fully admitted, they were called in order and by name, and so every man (none staggering at it) tooke the oathe of Supremacy, and then entred[17] the Assembly. At Captaine Warde the Speaker tooke exception, as at one that without any Comission or authority had seatted himselfe either upon the Companies, and then his Plantation would not be lawfull, or on Captain Martin's lande, and so[18] he was but a limbe or member of him, and there could be but two Burgesses for all. So Captaine Warde was comanded to absente himselfe till such time as the Assembly had agreed what was fitt for him to doe. After muche debate, they resolved on this order following: