Finally Charles put forth his proposal to monopolize the
industry, giving Virginia tobacco the English market but limiting its
production to the amount which the Government could sell advantageously.
Such a policy required cooperation from the colonists. The King therefore
ordered the Governor to grant a Virginia Assembly, which in turn should
dutifully enter into partnership with him -- upon his terms. So the Virginia
Assembly thus came back into history. It made a "Humble Answere" in which,
for all its humility, the King's proposal was declined. The idea of the
royal monopoly faded out, and Virginia continued on its own way.
The General Assembly, having once met, seems of its own motion to have
continued meeting. The next year we find it in session at Jamestown, and
resolving "that we should go three severall marches upon the Indians, at
three severall times of the yeare," and also "that there be an especiall
care taken by all commanders and others that the people doe repaire to
their churches on the Saboth day, and to see that the penalty of one pound
of tobacco for every time of absence, and 50 pounds for every month's
absence . . . be levyed, and the delinquents to pay the same." About this
time we read: "Dr. John Pott, late Governor, indicted, arraigned, and found
guilty of stealing cattle, 13 jurors, 3 whereof councellors. This day
wholly spent in pleading; next day, in unnecessary disputation."
These were moving times in the little colony whose population may by now
have been five thousand.
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