1608. The Colony of Virginia (so named from the Virgin Queen Elizabeth, in whose reign it was discovered) was in an unsatisfactory condition by reason of its scanty population, want of enterprise and other causes; whereupon the Council of Virginia endeavouring the prosperity of the Colony, sent a letter to the Lord Mayor propounding a scheme of emigration and colonisation to be undertaken by the City, which should ease the Metropolis “of a swarme of unnecessarie inmates,” make the fortunes of the emigrants (and of the “undertakers”) and benefit the Colony. This letter is so interesting that no apology is necessary for reproducing it here. WHEREAS the lords of his Ma{tes} councill, commissioners for the Subsedie, desirous to ease the cittie and suburbs of a swarme of unnecessarie inmates as a continuall cause of dearth and famine, and the verie origenall of all plagues almost that happen in this kingdome, have advised yo{r} lordshippe and yo{r} brethren, in an ease of state, to make some voluntarie contribuc͠on for their remove into the plantation of Virginia, w{ch} we understand you all seemed to like as an action pleasing to God and happie for this com̃onwealth; We the councell and companie of this ho{ble} plantation, willing to yelde unto your lop̃p and them all good satisfac͠on, have entered into consultac͠on w{th} o{r}selves, what may be everie mans chg̃es, and what of everie private familie, w{ch} we send herew{th} at large, not as a thing w{ch} we would exact from you, but that you may see, as in a true glasse, the true chg̃e, w{ch} we wholly commend unto yo{r} grave wisdoms, both for the somme and man{r} of leavie; onlie give us leave thus farre to enforme you that we give no bills of adventure for a lesse some than 12{li} 10{s.} ps̃uminge it wont be an infinite trouble now, and confusion in the retribuc͠on, but if your lop̃ make any seasment, or raise any voluntarie contribuc͠on out of the best disposed and most able of the companies, we are willing to give o{r} bills of adventure to the m{r} and wardens, to the general use and behoof of that companie, yf by wards, to the good of that ward, or otherwise as it shall please you and your brethren out of y{r} better experience to direct. And if the inmate called before you and enjoyned to remove shall alledge that he hath no place to remove unto, but must lie in the streats, and being offerd this journey shall demand what shalbe their pˀsent maintenance, what their future hopes, yt may please you to lett them know that for the pˀsent they shall have meat, drink, and clothing, w{th} an house, orchard, and garden for the meanest familie, and a possession of lands to them and their posteritie, one hundreth acres for everie man’s pˀson that hath a head or a body able to endure labour, as much for his wife, and as much for his child that is of yeres to do sˀvice to the colonie, w{th} further pˀticular