56 CARGOES OF WOMEN. 



them away, as that straightned with time, we had no meanes 

 to putt provisions aboard, which defect shalbe supplied by 

 the magazine shipp ; and in case they cannot be presently 

 marryed we desire they may be putt to several householders 

 that have wives till they can be provided of husbands. There 

 are neare fifty more which are shortly to come, we sent by 

 our most honoble Lord William the Earle of Southampton 

 and certain worthy gentlemen who taking into these consid- 

 erations, that the Plantation can never nourish till families 

 be planted and the respect of wives and children fix the 

 people in the soil ; therefore have given this fair beginning 

 for the reimbursing of whose charges, itt is ordered that every 

 man that marries them give 120 Ib. waight of best leafe 

 tobacco for each of them, and in case any of them dye that 

 proportion must be advanced to make it upp to those that 

 survive ; and this certainly is sett down for that the price 

 sett upon the bages sent last yeare being 20 Ib. which was so 

 much money out of purse here, there was returned 66 Ib. of 

 tobacco only, and that of the worst and basest, so that fraight 

 and shrinkage reconed together with the baseness of the 

 comoditie there was not one half returned, which injury the 

 company is sensible of as they demand restitution, which 

 accordingly must be had of them that took uppon them the 

 dispose of them the rather that no man may mistake himself, 

 in accomptinge tobacco to be currant 3s. sterling contrary to 

 express orders. 



"And though we are desirous that marriadge be free accord- 

 ing to the law of nature, yett undervow not to have these 

 maids deterred and married to servants, but only to such 

 freemen or tenants as have means to maintaine them ; we 

 pray you therefore to be fathers to them in this business, not 

 enforcing them to marrie against their wills; neither send 

 we them to be servants, but in case of extremitie, for we 

 would have their condition so much better as multitudes may 

 be allured thereby to come unto you ; and you may assure 

 such men as marry those women that the first servants sent 

 over by the company shall be consigned to them, it being 

 our intent to preserve families and proper married men before 

 single persons, The tobacco that shall be due uppon the 

 marriadge of these maids we desire Mr. Pountes to receive 

 and returne by the first, as also the little quantities of Pitzarn 

 Rock and Piece of Oare, the copie of whose bill is here 

 returned. To conclude, the company for some weighty reasons 

 too long to relate, have ordered that no man marrying these 



