to present to Your Lordships, with his Majesty's serious recommendations; the petition is exhibited by Captain Thomas Dale, an English Knight, who having a Company of foot in Your Lordships' service, absented himself with Your permission granted at the instance of Henry, late Prince of Wales, of glorious memory, for the space of some years, having command and authority for planting a Colony of the English Nation in the Country of Virginia, whereof he hath acquitted himself with reputation and honor to himself, to his Majesty's satisfaction and to the publick advantage, in as much as by signal patience, diligence and valor, he overcame divers serious difficulties and dangers and finally established a good and permanent settlement all along a river navigable for seventy leagues into the interior and by that means ;

hath preserved it to God, by the exercise of Religion which is introduced there, and to Man, by the augmentation of Commerce. Several of the nation, as well Lords as other Gentlemen of quality and honor, have considerably contributed to this design. But two of our Captains (Sir Thomas Gates and this one of whom I now speak,) have promoted it more than any other. Chevalier Gates found by the hearty welcome he experienced from Your Lordships on his return, by the present you made him of the entire amount of his pay during his absence, that his duties were agreeable to you. Your Lordships, on the testimony his Majesty bears of Chevalier Dale's good demeanor on that occasion, and on the recommendation He makes in his behalf, will, if it please You, be happy to receive his petition and, for. the reasons it contains, do him the same favor.