For staple commodities at his arrivall he founde none afoot save only Tobacco. The natives he founde uppon doubtfull termes, neither did we ever perceive that at any time they voluntarilie yealded themselves subjects or servants to our Gracious Soveraigne, neither that ever they tooke any pride in that title, nor paide they at any time any yearly contribution of corne for the sustentation of the Collony, nor could we at any time keepe them in such goode respect or correspondencie that they and we did become mutuallie helpfull or proffitable, each to other, but to the contrary, whatsoever at any time was done uppon them proceeded from fear without love, for such help as we have had from them have been procured by sworde or trade. And heere can we noe way approve of that which hath lately beene saide in the behalfe of Sir Thos. Smith, by some of his new frendes, that a flourishinge plantation in Virginia, erected in the time of his 12 yeares government, hath since been distroyed through the ignorance of succeedinge Governors heere, for that by what we have already saide all the worlde may judge in what a flourishinge estate it was, and to what growth of perfection it was advanced, at the arivall of Sir Geo. Yeardley to be Gov^r here, it beinge then in our judgements, that were members of the colony, in a poore estate. The whole 12 yeares expired. _Aprill, 1619._--Arived Sir Geo. Yeardeley, bringing certain commissions and instructions from the Company for the better establishinge of a Commonwealth heere, wherin order was taken for the removing of all those grievances which formerly were suffred and manifested the same by publishinge a Proclamation that all those that were residend heere before the departure of Sir Thos. Dale should be freed and acquitted from such publique services and labours which formerly they suffered, and that those cruell lawes by which we had soe longe been governed were now abrogated, and that we were now to be governed by those free lawes which his Ma^{ty's} subjects live under in Englande. And farther that free libertie was given to all men to make choice of their dividents of lande and, as their abilities and meanes w^d permitt, to possesse and plant uppon them. And that they might have a hande in the governinge of themselves, it was granted that a general assemblie should be helde yearly once, wherat were to be present the Gov^r and Counsell with two Burgesses from each Plantation freely to be elected by the inhabitants thereof; this assembly to have power to make and ordaine whatsoever lawes and orders should by them be thought good and proffittable for our subsistance. The effect of which proceedinge gave such incouragement to every person heere that all of them followed their perticular labours with singular alacrity and industry, soe that, through the blessinge of God uppon our willinge labors, within the space of three yeares, our countrye flourished with many new erected Plantations, from the head of