STATE OF THE COLONY. 49 



" Now that your highness may with the more ease under- 

 stand in what condition the colony standeth, I have briefly 

 sett downe the manner of all men's several imployments, the 

 number of them, and the several places of their aboad, which 

 places or seates are all our owne ground, not so much by 

 conquest, which the Indians hold a just and lawfull title, but 

 purchased of them freely, and they verie willingly selling it. 

 The places which are now possessed and inhabited are sixe : 

 Henrico and the lymitts, Bermuda Nether hundred, West 

 and Sherley hundred, James Towne, Kequoughtan, and 

 Dales-Gift. The generall mayne body of the planters are 

 divided into Officers, Laborers, Farmors. 



" The officers have the charge and care as well over the 

 f armors as laborers generallie that they watch and ward for 

 their preservacions ; and that both the one and the other's 

 busines may be daily followed to the performance of those 

 imployments, which from the one are required, and the other 

 by covenant are bound unto. These officers are bound to 

 maintayne themselves and families with food and rayment 

 by their owne and their servant's Industrie. The laborers 

 are of two sorts. Some employed onely in the generall 

 works, who are fedd and clothed out of the store others, 

 specially artificers as smiths, carpenters, shoemakers, taylors, 

 tanners, &c., doe worke in their professions for the colony, 

 and maintayne themselves with food ann apparrell, having 

 time lymitted them to till and manure their ground. 



" The farmers live at most ease yet by their good endeav- 

 ors bring yearlie much plentie to the plantation. They are 

 bound by covenant, both for themselves and servants, to 

 maintaine your Ma'ties right and title in that kingdom, 

 against all foreigne and domestique enemies. To watch and 

 ward in the townes where they are resident. To do thirty- 

 one dayes service for the colony, when they shalbe called 

 thereunto yet not at all tymes, but when their owne busines 

 can best spare them. To maintayne themselves and families 

 with food and rayment and every farmor to pay yearlie 

 into the magazine for- himself and every man servant, two 

 barrells and a halfe of English measure. 



" Thus briefly have I sett downe every man's particular 

 imployment and manner of living ; albeit, lest the people 

 who generallie are bent to covett after gaine, especially hav- 

 ing tasted of the sweete of their labors should spend toe 

 much of their tyme and labor in planting tobacco, known to 

 them to be verie vendible in England, and so neglect their 

 tillage of corne, and fall into want thereof, it is provided for 



