KING JAMES OPPOSES TOBACCO-RAISING. 59 
joyned as together with the colonie it must rise and faile, 
‘ grow and impair, and that not a small matter neither, but of 
twenty thousand pounds per annum. (for the offer of so much 
in certainty hath his majestie been pleased to refuse in favor 
of the Plantations.” . 
On Friday the 22d of March 1622 the Indians attacked the 
plantations “and attempted in most places under the color 
of unsuspected amytie, and by surprise to have cut us all off 
and to have swept us all away at once throughout the whole 
lande had itt not pleased God of his abundant mercy to 
prevent them in many places, for which we can never suffi- 
cient magnifie his blessed name.” 
But notwithstanding this terrible massacre in which nearly 
four hundred persons were slain the colony increased in 
wealth and numbers as plantations were laid out and the 
colonists developed the various resources of the country. 
From the first planting of tobacco in Virginia by the colony 
it seemed to meet the royal displeasure of King James the 
First who falsely and frivolously sought to establish a 
connection between the balmy plant, and the influences of the 
Evil One. 
In 1622 King James still opposing the cultivation of 
tobacco sought by every means in his power to discourage 
its growth and culture. He urged the growing of mulberry 
trees and the propagation of silk worms, as being of more 
value than tobacco. In a letter dated 10th June 1622, 
addressed to the Governor and Council of Virginia by the 
London Company we find this reproof for neglecting the 
cultivation of “ mulberrie trees”: 
“ His Mat (Majesty) above all things requires from us a 
proof of silke; sharply reproving the neglect thereof, where- 
fore we pray you lett that little stock you have be carefully 
improved, the mulberrie trees preserved and increased, and, 
all other fitt preparations made for, God willing before 
Christmas yon snall receive from us one hundred ounces of 
Silkworme seed at least, which coming too late from Valen- 
tia we have been forced to hatch it here.” ” 
In 1623 a letter was prepared for the colony by order of 
privy council of the king and addressed to Sir Francis 
Wyatt Knight and Captain General of Virginia and to the 
