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 jeer into these consid- 
erations, that the Plantation can never flourish 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 eve 
man that marries them give 120 lb. 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 lb. of 
tobacco only, and that of the worst and basest, so that -fraight 
and shrinkage reconed together with the baseness of the 
comoiitie 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 
