The Three Charters of the Virginia Company of London Part 7

1609/10(?)

Instructions, orders and const.i.tucions by way of advise sett downe, declared, propounded and delivered to the Right Honourable Sir Thomas West, Knight, Lord La Warr, Lord Governor and Capten Generall of Virginea and of the Colonies there planted and to be planted and of all other the inhabitants thereof, by us, His Majesties Counsell for the Companie of Adventurers and Planters in Virginea resident in England under the hands of some of us for the direccion of the affares of that countrey for his better disposinge and proceedinge in the government thereof, according to the authoritie and power given unto us by His Majesties lettres patents in that behalf, together with a copie of certaine of the cheifest instruccions which have bene formerlie given to Sir Thomas Gates, Knight, for his direccion, which coppie we have given to his Lordship to peruse and looke into but leave it to his discretion to use and put them in execution or to beare to be advised or directed by them further then in his owne discretion he shall thinke meete.

We, the said Councell, havinge considered the great & zealous affeccion which you, Sir Thomas West, Knight, Lord Lawarr, have many wayes manifested unto us and for the furtherance and advaunceinge of the plantacion of Virginea have therefore by our commission under the handes of some of us, const.i.tuted you to be Lord Governor and Captaine Generall of Virginea and for your more safe and deliberate proceedinge in your goverment there, have advised, const.i.tuted & agreed uppon divers instructions followinge, vizt:

1. First, we require your Lordship to take into your charge our fleete consistinge of three good shippes with the masters, mariners, sailors and one hundred and fiftie landmen goinge in them to be transported under your commaund with what speed conveniently you maye unto Virginea and with the first winde to sett saile for that place and in your pa.s.sage thither not to lande or touche uppon anye of the Kinge of Spaine his dominions by him quietly possessed without the licence of the governour of such place first obtained, unles by necessitie of winde and weather you shalbe forced thereunto; in which pa.s.sage you shall holde councell with the masters, pilates and men of best experience what way is safest and fitt for you to take for your arrivinge in Virginea.

2. Your Lordships beinge landed there, we wishe you should (with what convenientcy you may by proclamacion made) call into some publique place all the governors, officers and other His Majesties subjects, aswell already seated there as transported with you, to whom you shall manifest your commission and cause it to be publiquely read to them, to the end His Majesties pleasure may be knowne as alsoe our choise in establishinge your Lordship Governor of Virginea and of the plantacion there; and that the President, Counsell and Colony there may take notice of our revocacion of all former kindes and formes of goverment, const.i.tuted or confirmed, and that they accordingely may yeild due obedience unto you, theire Lord Governor and Captaine Generall, at which time we holde it fitt you tender unto every of them the oath of supremacy to be by them taken whereby they shall manifest theire obedience and loyaltie to His Majestie and you thereby the better a.s.sured of theire fidelities as alsoe to be the rather encouraged to comitt matter of counsell and charge unto them; att which time alsoe your Lordship shall, in our opinions, doe well to give generall commaundement that all former private or publique quarels, greivancs or grudgs be from thenceforth from amongest them utterly abbandoned and forgotten and they willingly embrace peace and love as becommeth Christians without discention or hindrance to the common good or quiet.

3. Moreover, your Lordship shall demaunde and resume into your hands all former commissions and all instructions and publique instruments given or sent unto them and all bookes and records whatsoever of all the proceedings untill this time and dispose of all theire offices and places in the future accordinge to your discretion; except the office of Leiuetennante Governor, which your Lordship is by your commission to bestowe upon Sir Thomas Gates, if he shalbe there to execute the same, and office of Marshall uppon Sir Thomas Dale, at this cominge thither, and the office of Admirall upon Sir George Sumers, if he shalbe there, and the office of Viceadmirall upon Capten Newport, he beinge there to supplye the said place.

4. Your shippes beinge discharged of theire provision, we wishe that they, the seamen and soe manie others as shalbe needfull for that worke, be, with what convenient speed you may, employed to theire fishinge for sturgeons and other fish; which done we desier your Lordship should make up the residue of theire fraight with divers of the best severall patternes of the land, commodities that you can gett there havinge regarde more to the goodnes and qualitie of them then to the quant.i.ty; and to retorne the said shippes for England with as quick dispatch as you may for easinge of the Companie of Adventurers of the charge both of wages of the said shippes, seamen and victualls which they must be att untill they retorne.

5. After your Lordship is settled in your governement, we thinke it very behofefull that you employ soe many of your people as shalbe needfull in sowing, setting and plantinge of corne and such rootes for foode as you for your better provision, sustentacion and maintennance shall thinke meete to be planted.

6. As touchinge your landmen, we thinke fitt your Lordship should reduce them all into severall bandes and companies of fifties or more when you thinke good and to committ the charge of them to severall officers and captaines to be exercised and trained up in martiall manner and warlike discipline.

7. Your Lordship is to take princ.i.p.all order and care for the true worship and service of G.o.d as by havinge the Gospell preched, frequent prayers and the sacraments often administred as becommeth Christians.

And that such your ministers and preachers as shalbe with you be had in due respect agreable to theire dignitie and callinge and that your Lordship, with the counsell of your said prechers and ministers, doe, as occasion shall be offered, proceede in punishinge of all atheisme, prophanisme, popery and scisme by exemplary punishment to the honor of G.o.d and to the peace and safety of his church over which in this tendernes and infancy your Lordship must be especially solicitous and watchfull.

8. It is very expedient that your Lordship with all diligence indeavor the conversion of the natives and savages to the knowledge and worship of the true G.o.d and theire redemer Christ Jesus as the most pious and n.o.ble end of this plantacion; which the better to effecte you are to procure from them some of theire children to be brought up in our language and manners and, if you finde it convenient, we thinke it necesserie you first remove from them the inioc.o.c.ks or priests by a surprise of them and detaninge them prisoners and in case they shalbe willfull and obstinate then to send over some three or foure of them into England, we may endevor theire conversion here.

9. We holde it requisite that your Lordship in causes of civill justice, proceede rather as a counsellor then as a judge; that is to saie, rather uppon the right and equitie of the thinge in demaunde then uppon the nicenes and letter of the lawe, which perplexeth in this tender body rather then dispatcheth causes. Soe that a summary and arbitrary way of justice, mingled with discreet formes of magistracy as shall in your discretion seeme aptest for your Lordship to exercise in that place, wilbe of most use both for expedicion and example and for criminall causes, you are to deale therein according to your comission and good discretion.

10. That your Lordship doe not permitt any shippe or vessell to trade or traffique within your precincte to carrie from thence any commodities or marchandizes without warrant brought you or sent to your Lordship from the Councell for the Company of Adventurers under the Councell seale.

11. We doe require your Lordship that with what possible speed and conveniency you may, after you are setled, you appointe a convenient number with guides and some discreete commaunder to discover northwest, south and southwest, beyonde the faulls ten or twelve dayes journey, and that a.s.sone as may be your Lordship send unto us the narracion of that voyage what rivers, lakes or seas they finde or here of with the circ.u.mstanc there unto belonginge.

12. If Sir Thomas Gates be there arived and Sir George Sommers and Capten Newport, or any of them, that your Lordship doe give unto Sir Thomas Gates the place or office of Leiuetennant Governor to your Lordship duringe the time of your Lordship and his abode there together, and in your Lordships absence he beinge there to be your deputy and cheif generall and commaunder of the whole Colonye and Companie, and to rule and governe according to suche instructions as your Lordship shall limitt and appointe him; and that Sir George Sommers may have the office of Cheif Admirall under your Lordship and that Sir Ferdinando Weyneman may have the office of Master of the ordinance, and that Capten Newport may have the office of Viceadmirall unto your Lordship.

13. Your Lordship must take especiall care what relacions come into England and what lettres are written & that all things of that nature may be boxed up and sealed and sent first to the Counsell here, accordinge to a former instruction unto the late Governor in that behalf directed; and that att the arrival and retorne of every shippinge you endeavor to knowe all the particuler pa.s.sages and informacions given on both sides and to advertise us accordingly.

14. Last of all, for temporall goverment & perticuler proceedinge in your plantacion, in respect of the shortnes of time, we commende unto your Lordship the copie of some of the cheifest of the old instruccions before mencioned to have bene formerly delivered to Sir Thomas Gates, to be used or refused as you shall in your wisdome thinke fitt, neither is or meanes to tie your Lordship to the stricte perfourmance of theis newe instructions but as occasion of time, place or necessetie shall requir your Lordship may doe therein as shall seeme best in your owne discretion. Southampton, Pembroke, Philip Mountgomery, Edward Cecill, Walter Cope, Dudly Diggs, William Rumney, Thomas Smith, Robert Drewrye, Robert Maunsell, Baptist Hicks, Christofer Brooke.

The copie of the old instruccions which were formerly with others delivered to Sir Thomas Gates, Knight, att his goinge to Virginea for his direccion in his goverment there, and noew are by us, His Majesties Councill for the Companie of Adventurers for Virginea, given to the Right Honourable, the Lord La Warr to looke into and advise on and at his discretion to use [or] forbeare to put them in execucion.

Such of the old instructions which were formerly given to Sir Thomas Gates, Knight, and nowe delivered to the Lord La Warre, beginne att the ninth instruccion in the articles in thi booke which by waye of advise were sett down to the said Sir Thomas Gates and soe are written ontill you come to the thirt.i.th instruccion which 30th, 31, 32 & 33 instructions are not given his Lordship but the 34th is given him, but not the 35 nor 36, but the effect of the provisoe followinge is given.

Kingsbury, Vol. III, pp. 24-29

THE THIRD CHARTER

MARCH 12, 1612

James, by the grace of G.o.d [King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith;] to all to whom [these presents shall come,] greeting. Whereas at the humble suite of divers and sundry our lovinge subjects, aswell adventurers as planters of the First Colonie in Virginia, and for the propagacion of Christian religion and reclayminge of people barbarous to civilitie and humanitie, we have by our lettres patent bearing date at Westminster the three and twentieth daie of May in the seaventh yeare of our raigne of England, Frannce and Ireland, and the twoe and fortieth of Scotland, given and grannted unto them, that they and all suche and soe manie of our loving subjects as shold from time to time for ever after be joyned with them as planters or adventurers in the said plantacion, and their successors for ever, shold be one body politique incorporated by the name of The Treasorer and Planters of the Cittie of London for the First Colonie in Virginia;

And whereas allsoe for the greater good and benefitt of the said Companie and for the better furnishing and establishing of the said plantacion we did further [give], grannte and confirme by our said lettres patent unto the said Treasorer and Companie and their successors for ever, all those landes, contries and territories scituate, lyeing and being in that part of America called Virginia, from the point of land called Cape [or] Pointe Comfort all along the seacoste to the northward twoe hundred miles, and from the said point of Cape Comfort all along the seacoste to the sowthward twoe hundred miles, and all the s.p.a.ce and circuit of land lying from the sea coste of the precinct aforesaid up or into the land throughout from sea to sea, west and northwest, and allso all the islandes lying within one hundred miles along the coast of both the seas of the precinct aforsaid, with diverse other grannts, liberties, franchises, preheminences, privileges, proffitts, benefitts, and commodities, grannted in and by our said lettres patent to the said Tresorer and Companie, and their successors, for ever:

Now for asmuchas we are given to undestande that in these seas adjoyning to the said coast of Virginia and without the compa.s.se of those twoe hundred miles by us soe grannted unto the said Treasurer and Companie as aforesaid, and yet not farr distant from the said Colony in Virginia, there are or may be divers islandes lying desolate and uninhabited, some of which are already made knowne and discovered by the industry, travell, and expences of the said Company, and others allsoe are supposed to be and remaine as yet unknowen and undiscovered, all and every of which itt maie importe the said Colony both in safety and pollecy of trade to populate and plant, in regard where of, aswell for the preventing of perill as for the better comodity and prosperity of the said Colony, they have bin humble suitors unto us that we wold be pleased to grannt unto them an inlardgement of our said former lettres patent, aswell for a more ample extent of their limitts and territories into the seas adjoyning to and uppon the coast of Virginia as allsoe for some other matters and articles concerning the better government of the said Company and Collony, in which point our said former lettres patents doe not extende soe farre as time and experience hath found to be needfull and convenient:

We, therefore, tendring the good and happy successe of the said plantacion both in respect of the generall weale of humane society as in respect of the good of our owne estate and kingedomes, and being willing to give furtherannt untoall good meanes that may advannce the benefitt of the said Company and which maie secure the safety of our loving subjects, planted in our said Colony under the favour and protection of G.o.d Almighty and of our royall power and authority, have therefore of our especiall grace, certain knowledge and mere mocion, given, grannted and confirmed, and for us, our heires and successors we doe by theis presents, give, grannt and confirme unto the said Treasurer and Company of Adventurers and Planters of the said Citty of London for the First Colony in Virginia, and to their heires and successors for ever, all and singuler the said iselandes [whatsoever] scituat and being in anie part of the said ocean bordering upon the coast of our said First Colony in Virginia and being within three hundred leagues of anie the partes hertofore grannted to the said Treasorer and Company in our said former lettres patents as aforesaid, and being within or betweene the one and fortie and thirty degrees of Northerly lat.i.tude, together with all and singuler [soils] landes, groundes, havens, ports, rivers, waters, fishinges, mines and mineralls, aswell royal mines of gold and silver as other mines and mineralls, perles, precious stones, quarries, and all and singuler other commodities, jurisdiccions, royalties, priviledges, franchises and preheminences, both within the said tract of lande uppon the maine and allso within the said iselandes and seas adjoyning, whatsoever, and thereunto or there abouts both by sea and land being or scituat; and which, by our lettres patents, we maie or cann grannt and in as ample manner and sort as we or anie our n.o.ble progenitors have heretofore grannted to anie person or persons or to anie Companie, bodie politique or corporate or to any adventurer or adventurers, undertaker or undertakers of anie discoveries, plantacions or traffique, of, in, or into anie foreigne parts whatsoever, and in as lardge and ample manner as if the same were herein particularly named, mencioned and expressed: provided allwaies that the said iselandes or anie the premisses herein mencioned and by theis presents intended and meant to be grannted be not already actually possessed or inhabited by anie other Christian prince or estate, nor be within the bounds, limitts or territories of the Northerne Colonie, hertofore by us grannted to be planted by divers of our loving subjects in the northpartes of Virginia. To have and to hold, possesse and injoie all and singuler the said iselandes in the said ocean seas soe lying and bordering uppon the coast or coasts of the territories of the said First Colony in Virginia as aforesaid, with all and singuler the said soiles, landes and groundes and all and singular other the premisses heretofore by theis presents grannted, or mencioned to be grannted, to them, the said Treasurer and Companie of Adventurers and Planters of the Cittie of London for the First Colonie in Virginia, and to their heires, successors and a.s.signes for ever, to the sole and proper use and behoofe of them, the said Treasurer and Companie and their heires, successores and a.s.signes for ever; to be holden of us, our heires and successors as of our mannor of Eastgreenwich, in free and common soccage and not in capite, yealding and paying therefore, to us, our heires and successors, the fifte part of the oare of all gold and silver which shalbe there gotten, had or obteined for all manner of services, whatsoever.

And further our will and pleasure is, and we doe by theis presents grannt and confirme for the good and welfare of the said plantacion, and that posterity maie hereafter knowe whoe have adventured and not bin sparing of their purses in such a n.o.ble and generous accion for the generall good of theire c.u.n.trie, and at the request and with the consent of the Companie aforesaid, that our trusty and welbeloved subjects.[19]

[Footnote 19: St.i.th gives the following names only: "George, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Henry, Earl of Huntington, Edward, Earl of Bedford, Richard, Earl of Clanrickard, &c."

The following names in brackets are taken from the text in Brown's _Genesis_.]

George, Lord Archbishopp of Canterbury Gilbert, Earle of Shrewsberry Mary, Countesse of Shrewesbeiry Elizabeth, Countesse of Derby Margarett, Countesse of Comberland Henry, Earle of Huntingdon Edward, Earle of Beddford Lucy, Countesse of Bedford Marie, Countesse of Pembroke Richard, Earle of Clanrickard Lady Elizabeth Graie William, Lord Viscount Cramborne William, Lord Bishopp of Duresme Henry, Lord Bishopp of Worceter John, Lord Bishopp of Oxonford William, Lord Pagett Dudley, Lord North Franncis, Lord Norries William, Lord Knollis John, Lord Harrington Robert, Lord Spencer Edward, Lord Denny William, Lord Cavendishe James, Lord Hay Elianor, Lady Cave [Carre]

Maistres Elizabeth Scott, widdow Edward Sackvill, Esquier Sir Henry Nevill, of Aburgavenny, Knight Sir Robert Riche, Knight Sir John Harrington, Knight Sir Raphe Wimwood, Knight Sir John Graie, Knight Sir Henry Riche, Knight Sir Henry Wotton, Knight Peregrine Berly, Esquier [Berty]

Sir Edward Phelipps, Knight, Maister of the Rolls Sir Moile Finche, Knight Sir Thomas Mansell, Knight Sir John St. John, Knight Sir Richard Spencer, Knight Sir Franncis Barrington, Knight Sir George Carie of Devonshire, Knight Sir William Twisden, Knight Sir John Leveson, Knight Sir Thomas Walsingham, Knight Sir Edward Care, Knight Sir Arthure Manwaringe, Knight Sir Thomas Jermyn, Knight Sir Valentine Knightley, Knight Sir John Dodderidge, Knight Sir John Hungerford, Knight Sir John Stradling, Knight Sir John Bourchidd, Knight [Bourchier]

Sir John Bennett, Knight Sir Samuel Leonard, Knight Sir Franncis Goodwin, Knight Sir Wareham St. Legier, Knight Sir James Scudamore, Knight Sir Thomas Mildmaie, Knight Sir Percivall Harte, Knight Sir Percivall Willoughby, Knight Sir Franncis Leigh, Knight Sir Henry Goodere, Knight Sir John Cutt, Knight Sir James Parrett, Knight Sir William Craven, Knight Sir John Sammes, Knight Sir Carey Raleigh, Knight Sir William Maynard, Knight Sir Edmund Bowyer, Knight Sir William Cornewallis, Knight Sir Thomas Beomont, Knight Sir Thomas Cunningsby, Knight Sir Henry Beddingfeild, Knight Sir David Murray, Knight Sir William Poole, Knight Sir William Throgmorton, Knight Sir Thomas Grantham, Knight Sir Thomas Stewkley, Knight Sir Edward Heron, Knight Sir Ralph Shelten, Knight Sir Lewes Thesam, Knight Sir Walter Aston, Knight Sir Thomas Denton, Knight Sir Ewstace Hart, Knight Sir John Ogle, Knight Sir Thomas Dale, Knight Sir William Boulstrod, Knight Sir William Fleetwood, Knight Sir John Acland, Knight Sir John Hanham, Knight Sir Roberte Meller, Knight [Millor]

Sir Thomas Wilford, Knight Sir William Lower, Knight Sir Thomas Lerdes, Knight [Leedes]

Sir Franncis Barneham, Knight Sir Walter Chate, Knight Sir Thomas Tracy, Knight Sir Marmaduke Darrell, Knight Sir William Harrys, Knight Sir Thomas Gerrand, Knight Sir Peter Freetchvile, Knight Sir Richard Trevor, Knight Sir Amias Bamfeild Sir William Smith of Ess.e.x, Knight Sir Thomas Hewett, Knight Sir Richard Smith, Knight Sir John Heyward, Knight Sir Christopher Harris, Knight Sir John Pettus, Knight Sir William Strode, Knight Sir Thomas Harfleet, Knight Sir Walter Vaughan, Knight Sir William Herrick, Knight Sir Samuell Saltonstall, Knight Sir Richard Cooper, Knight Sir Henry Fane, Knight Sir Franncis Egiok, Knight Sir Robert Edolph, Knight Sir Arthure Harries, Knight Sir George Huntley, Knight Sir George Chute, Knight Sir Robert Leigh, Knight Sir Richard Lovelace, Knight Sir William Lovelace, Knight Sir Robert Yaxley, Knight Sir Franncis Wortley, Knight Sir Franncis Heiborne, Knight Sir Guy Palme, Knight Sir Richard Bingley, Knight Sir Ambrose Turvill, Knight Sir Nicholas Stoddard, Knight Sir William Gree, Knight Sir Walter Coverte, Knight Sir Thomas Eversfeild, Knight Sir Nicholas Parker, Knight Sir Edward Culpeper, Knight Sir William Ayliffe, Knight, and Sir John Keile, Knight Doctor George Mountaine, Dean of Westminster Lawrence Bohan, Docktor in Phisick Anthony Hinton, Doctor in Phisick John Pawlett Arthure Ingram Anthony Irby John Weld John Walter John Harris Anthony Dyott William Ravenscrofte Thomas Warre William Hackwill Lawrence Hide Nicholas Hide Thomas Stevens Franncis Tate Thomas Coventry John Hare Robert Askwith George Sanndys Franncis Jones Thomas Wentworth Henry Cromewell John Arundell John Culpeper John Hoskins Walter Fitz Williams Walter Kirkham William Roscarrock Richard Carmerdon Edward Carne Thomas Merry Nicholas Lichfeild John Middleton John Smithe, and Thomas Smith, the sonnes of Sir Thomas Smith Peter Franke George Gerrand Gregory Sprynte John Drake Roger Puleston Oliver Nicholas Richard Nunnington [Monyngton]

John Vaughan John Evelin Lamorock Stradling John Riddall John Kettleby Warren Townsend Lionell Cranfeild Edward Salter William Litton Humfrey May George Thorpe Henry Sandys, and Edwin Sandys, the sonnes of Sir Edwin Sandys Thomas Conway Captaine Owen Gwinn Captaine Giles Hawkridge Edward Dyer Richard Connock Benjamin Brand Richard Leigh, and Thomas Pelham, Esquiers Thomas Digges, and John Digges, Esquiers, the sonnes of Sir Dudley Diggs, Knight Franncis Bradley Richard Buckminster [Buck]

Franncis Burley John Procter Alexannder Whitakers Thomas Frake, thelder, and Henry Freake, thelder, Ministers of G.o.d's word The mayor and citizens of Chichester The mayor and jurates of Dover The bailiffs, burgesses and comonalty of Ipswich The mayor and comunalty of Lyme Regis The mayor and comonalty of Sandwich The wardens, a.s.sistants and companie of the Trinity House Thomas Martin Franncis Smaleman Augustine Steward Richard Tomlins Humfrey Jobson John Legate Robert Backley [Barkley]

John Crowe Edward Backley [Barkley]

William Flett [Fleet]

Henry Wolstenholme Edmund Alleyn George Tucker Franncis Glanville Thomas Gouge John Evelin William Hall John Smithe George Samms John Robinson William Tucker John Wolstenholme, and Henry Wolstenholme, sonnes of John Wolstenholme, Esquier William Hodges Jonathan Mattall [Nuttall]

Phinees Pett Captaine John Kinge Captaine William Beck Giles Alington Franncis Heiton, and Samuell Holliland, gentleman Richard Chamberlaine George Chamberlaine Hewett Staper Humfrey Handford Raph Freeman George Twinhoe [Swinhoe]

Richard Pigott Elias Roberts Roger Harris Devereux Wogan Edward Baber William Greenewell Thomas Stilles [Shilds]

Nicholas Hooker Robert Ga.r.s.ett Thomas Cordell William Bright John Reynold Peter Bartley John Willett Humfry Smithe Roger Dye Nicholas Leate Thomas Wale Lewes Tate Humfrey Merrett Roberte Peake Powell Isaackson Sebastian Viccars Jarvis Mundes Richard Warner Gresham Hogan Warner Daniell Deruley Andrew Troughton William Barrett Thomas Hodges John Downes Richard Harper Thomas Foxall William Haselden James Harrison William Burrell John Hodsall Richard Fishborne John Miller Edward Cooke Richard Hall, marchaunt Richard Hall, ankersmith John Delbridge Richard Francklin Edmund Scott John Britten Robert Stratt Edmund Pond Edward James Robert Bell Richard Herne William Ferrers William Millett Anthony Abdy Roberte Gore Benjamin Decrow Henry Tunberley [Timberly]

Humfrey Ba.s.se Abraham Speckart Richard Moorer William Compton Richard Poulsoune [Pontsonne]

William Wolaston John Desmont, clothier [Beomont]

Alexannder Childe William Fald, fishmonger Franncis Baldwin John Jones, marchant Thomas Plomer Edward Plomer, marchants John Stoickden Robert Tindall Peter Erundell Ruben Bourne Thomas Hampton, and Franncis Carter, citizens of London,

whoe since our said last lettres patent are become adventurers and have joined themselves with the former adventurers and planters of the said Companie and societie, shall from henceforth be reputed, deemed and taken to be and shalbe brethren and free members of the Companie and shall and maie, respectively, and according to the proportion and value of their severall adventures, have, hold and enjoie all suche interest, right, t.i.tle, priviledges, preheminences, liberties, franchises, immunities, profitts and commodities whatsoever, in as lardge, ample and beneficiall manner to all intents, construccions and purposes as anie other adventures nominated and expressed in anie our former lettres patent, or anie of them have or maie have by force and vertue of theis presents, or anie our former lettres patent whatsoever.

And we are further pleased and we doe by theis presents grannt and confirm that[20]

Phillipp, Earle of Montgomery William, Lord Paget Sir John Harrington, Knight Sir William Cavendish, Knight Sir John Sammes, Knight Sir Samuell Sandys, Knight Sir Thomas Freke, Knight Sir William St. John, Knight Sir Richard Grobham, Knight Sir Thomas Dale, Knight Sir Cavalliero Maycott, Knight Richard Martin, Esquier John Bingley, Esquier Thomas Watson, Esquier, and Arthure Ingram, Esquier,

whome the said Treasurer and Companie have, since the said [last]

lettres patent, nominated and sett downe as worthy and discreete persons fitt to serve us as Counsellors, to be of our Counsell for the said plantacion, shalbe reputed, deemed and taken as persons of our said Councell for the said First Colonie in such manner and sort to all intents and purposes as those whoe have bin formerly ellected and nominated as our Counsellors for that Colonie and whose names have bin or are incerted and expressed in our said former lettres patent.

[Footnote 20: St.i.th gives the following names only: "Philip, Earl of Mongomery, William, Lord Paget, Sir John Starrington, Knt. &c."]

And we doe hereby ordaine and grannt by theis presents that the said Treasurer and Companie of Adventurers and Planters, aforesaid, shall and maie, once everie weeke or oftener at their pleasure, hold and keepe a court and a.s.sembly for the better ordening [ordering] and government of the said plantacion and such thinges as shall concerne the same; and that anie five persons of the said Counsell for the said First Collonie in Virginia, for the time being, of which Companie the Treasurer or his deputie allwaies to be one, and the nomber of fifteene others at the least of the generality of the said Companie a.s.sembled together in such court or a.s.sembly in such manner as is and hath bin heretofore used and accustomed, shalbe said, taken, held and reputed to be and shalbe a full and sufficient court of the said Companie for the handling, ordring and dispatching of all such casuall and particuler occurrences and accidentall matters of lesse consequence and waight, as shall from time to time happen, touching and concerning the said plantacion.

And that, nevertheles, for the handling, ordring and disposing of matters and affaires of great waight and importance and such as shall or maie in anie sort concerne the weale publike and generall good of the said Companie and plantacion as namely, the manner of government from time to time to be used, the ordring and disposing of the said possessions and the setling and establishing of a trade there, or such like, there shalbe held and kept everie yeare uppon the last Wednesdaie save one of Hillary, Easter, Trinity and Michaelmas termes, for ever, one great, generall and solemne a.s.sembly, which fower severall a.s.semblies shalbe stiled and called The Fower Great and Generall Courts of the Counsell and Companie of Adventurers for Virginia; in all and every of which said great and generall Courts soe a.s.sembled our will and pleasure is and we doe, for us, our heires and successors forever, give and grannt to the said Treasurer and Companie and their successors for ever by theis presents, that they, the said Treasurer and Companie or the greater nomber of them soe a.s.sembled, shall and maie have full power and authoritie from time to time and att all times hereafter to ellect and choose discreet persons to be of our [said] Counsell for the said First Colonie in Virginia and to nominate and appoint such officers as theie shall thinke fitt and requisit for the government, managing, ordring and dispatching of the affaires of the said Companie; and shall likewise have full power and authority to ordaine and make such lawes and ordinances for the good and wellfare of the said plantacion as to them from time to time shalbe thought requisite and meete: soe allwaies as the same be not contrary to the lawes and statutes of this our realme of England; and shall in like manner have power and authority to expulse, disfranchise and putt out of and from their said Companie and societie for ever all and everie such person and persons as having either promised or subscribed their names to become adventurers to the said plantacion of the said First Colonie in Virginia, or having bin nominated for adventurers in theis or anie our lettres patent or having bin otherwise admitted and nominated to be of the said Companie, have nevertheles either not putt in anie adventure [at] all for and towards the said plantacion or els have refused and neglected, or shall refuse and neglect, to bringe in his or their adventure by word or writing promised within sixe monthes after the same shalbe soe payable and due.