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CAPUT VI - The manner of the Virginian government, their townes, their howses, dyett, fowling, and hunting, their gaining, musique, dauncing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 August 2011

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Summary

Although the country people are very barbarous, yet have they amongst them such governement as that their magistrates for good comaunding, and their people for due subjection and obeying, excell many places that would be counted civill. The forme of their comon wealth, by what hath already bene declared, you maye well gather to be a monarcall governement, where one as emperour ruleth over many kings; their chief ruler likewise for the presente you have heard before how named, and from whence; as also you heard the nomber of his weroances, their forces, and his owne discription; you shall nowe understand how his kingdome descendeth not to his sonns or children, but first to his brethren, whereof he hath (as you have heard) three, and after their decease, to his sisters; first to his eldest sister, then to the rest, and after them to the heires-male and female of the eldest sister, but never to the heires-male.

He nor any of his people understand how to expresse theire mynds by any kynds of letters, to wryte or reade, in barkes of trees, or any other kynd of waye, which necessitye or invention might have instructed them in, as do other barbarians, and some even in these new discoveries; nor have they posetive lawes, only the lawe whereby he ruleth is custome; yet when he pleaseth, his will is a lawe, and must be obeyed, not only as a king, but as half a god, his people esteeme him soe; his inferiour kings are tyed likewise to rule by like customes, and have permitted them power of life and death over theire people, as theire comaund in that nature.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010
First published in: 1849

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