WHen first it pleased GOD to moue his MAIESTIES minde , at the humble suit of sundry his louing Subiects , to yeeld vnto them his gracious Priuiledge for the Virginia Plantation , it was a thing seeming strange and doubtfull in the eye of the World , that such and so few Vnder-takers should enterprise a charge of that waight , as rather beseemed a whole State and Common-wealth to take in hand . But such was the successe of their sundry attempts , in the happy discouery of so goodly a Land , the Description of which , for the excellencie of the Climate and fertilitie thereof , had soone obtayned to lay such an assured ground of future hope , in the sence and vnderstanding of all men rightly weighing it , that not long after , the●r new Letters Patents , with more ample priuiledges granted by his Maiestie , were almost filled with many hundred Names , both Honourable , and others of all sorts , that gaue their hands and consent to further and vphold that honourable action .

Vpon which encouragement of so many worthy Patrons , the Companie very deepely engaged themselues , in sending Men and Ships , Cattle , and all kinde of prouisions , with Gouernours and Captaines for peace and war , insomuch as no earthly meanes seemed then wanting for the speedy reducing of that barbarous Nation , and sauage people , to a quiet Christian Common-wealth .

But such was the will of Almighty God , as the world well knoweth , that this great hope and preparation , by many disasters on Sea and Land , too long to be here recited , was in a manner cleane defeated , and there onely remained a poore remnant of those Men and Women , Cattle and prouisions , that escaped the danger and which are now remayning there to rayse and build vp that intended Colonie .

Which when those Gentlemen th' aduenturers here saw , and that the expectance of so great a preparation brought nothing home but aduerse successe and bad reports , they for the most part withdrew themselues , in despaire of the enterprize , and so gaue it ouer , not enduring to repayre the ruines , nor to supply what themselues had vnderwritten , to discharge the deepe engagement , whereinto the Company was drawne by their encouragement .

By whose vnconstancie and irresolution , the hope of that Plantation , together with the liues of our people there , had then vtterly perished , had not Gods secret purpose beene more strongly fixed to vphold the same , by stirring vp the mindes and vndaunted spirits of a very small remnant of constant Aduenturers , that with Sir Thomas Smith ( their Treasurer and Gouernour from the beginning ) in all that time of three yeares disaster , were neuer discouraged , nor withdrew themselues from weekely Courts and meetings , yeelding their purses , credit and counseil , from time to time , to make new supplies , euen beyond their proportion , to vphold the Plantation .

Insomuch as by the fauourable assistance of God , who in his owne wisdome doth oftentimes effect the greatest ends by weakest meanes , it is now come to passe , that our English Colonie there , subsisteth in a very good and prosperous condition : They sow and reape their Corne in sufficient proportion , without want or impeachment ; their Kine multiply already to some hundreds , their Swine to many thousands , their Goates and Poultry in great numbers , euery man hath house and ground to his owne vse , and now being able to maintaine themselues with food , they are also prepared and ready , once hauing the meanes , to set vpon the Minerals , whereof there are many sorts ; as also to plant and sow such seuerall kindes of Seeds and Fruits , as may best befit the Soyle and Climate , to make the Land profitable to themselues and th' Aduenturers .

This being a true Relation of the present state and hope of things in VIRGINIA , wee thought good in this short manner to mention it by the way , as well to giue those worthy Gouernours in VIRGINIA their deserued praise , for the vnspeakable paines and hazzard which they haue endured there , in framing the people and Plantation to so happy a forme , as also to withdraw the despayring thoughts of such old retyred Aduenturers , that make no other reckoning , but whatsoeuer hath beene spent vpon the name of VIRGINIA to be lost and cast away ; the speciall purpose of this our Publication , being to another end , which for the further satisfying of all reasonable minded , wee will now in few words deliuer .

It was published to the world , about seauen yeares since , and the time is now expired , wherein wee promised to cause a Diuident to be made of the Lands in Virginia , as well to euery mans person that went himselfe to the Plantation , as to euery particular man that had aduentured his money .

And in as much as we are now by the Natiues liking and consent , in actuall possession of a great part of the Country , the other part not as yet freed from encomber of woods and trees , nor throughly suruayed , whereby to make a Diuident of the whole : yet of that part which is now fit for Plantation , we intend God willing to beginne a present Diuision by Lot to euery man that hath already aduentured his mony or person , for euery single share of twelue pound tenne shillings , fifty Acres of Land , till further opportunitie will afford to diuide the rest , which we doubt not will bring at least two hundred Acres to euery single share .

This Diuision is intended to be done by a new Gouernour with Commissioners and Surveyers to be sent from hence to ioyne with others that are there already , to giue euery man his Lot in due proportion , according to such indifferent Directions as shall be giuen them in charge .

And forasmuch as this course of sending a Gouernor with Commissioners and a Suruayor , with Men , Ships , and sundry prouisions , for fortifications and other occasions , as all men may conceiue , cannot bee effected without great charge and expence to the Company ; it is therefore thought requisite , and determined , that so many Aduenturers as will partake of this first Diuident , shall present their Names , with their number of shares , into a Booke remayning at Sir Thomas Smiths for that purpose , before the 25. of Iune next .

And they shall also promise vnder their hands , to contribute to the said charge , the summe of twelue pound ten shillings , to be paid within one Moneth after Subscription , whether his shares be more or lesse , except any man shall be pleased to aduenture more , and for which twelue pound ten shillings ( or more if hee will ) he shall also haue a further Diuident of land in proportion , as for all other his monies formerly aduentured . But for such as are not able to lay downe present monie , if they shall desire fauour , it is agreed for them , that the Treasurer may receiue the one halfe of their said aduenture in present money , after their vnderwriting , to furnish out the ships , and the other halfe at sixe Moneths after that .