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The Third Virginia Charter
March 12, 1612
James, by the grace of
God [King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith;] to
all to whom [these pres-ents 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 succes-sors 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 con-firme
by our said lettres patent unto the said Treasorer and Com-panie 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 space and circuit of land lying from
the sea coste of the precinct afore-said 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, profiitts,
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 com- passe of those twoe hundred miles by us soe
grannted unto the said Treasurer and Companie as aforesaid, and yet not farr dis-
tant from the said Colony in Virginia, there are or may be divers islandes lying
desolate and uninhabited, some of which are al- ready made knowne and discovered
by the industry, travell, and expences of the said Company, and others allsoe
are sup-posed 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 hum-ble
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 kinge- domes, 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 proteccion of God Almighty and of our royall power and authority, have
therefore of our especiall grace, certein 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 Vir-ginia 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 be-tweene the one and fortie and thirty degrees of Northerly lati-tude,
together with all and singuler [soils] landes, groundes, havens, ports, rivers,
waters, fishinges, mines and mineralls, as-well royal mines of gold and silver
as other mines and mineralls, perles, precious stones, quarries, and all and
singuler other com- modities, jurisdiccions, royalties, priviledges, franchises
and pre-heminences, both within the said tract of lande uppon the maine and
allso within the said iselandes and seas adjoyning, whatso-ever, 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 noble progenitors have heretofore grannted to anie person or persons or to
anie Companie, bodie politique or corporate or to any ad-venturer or
adventurers, undertaker or undertakers of anie dis-coveries, 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: pro-vided 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 assignes for ever, to the sole and
proper use and behoofe of them, the said Treasurer and Companie and their heires,
successores and as-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 noble and generous
accion for the generall good of theire cuntrie, and at the request and with the
consent of the Companie afore said, that our trusty and welbeloved subjects.
George, Lord Archbishopp of Canterbury
Gilbert, Earle of Shrewsberry
Mary, Countesse of Shrewes-
Elizabeth, Countesse of Derby
Margarett, Countesse of Com-berland
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 Cram-bome
William, Lord Bishopp of Du-resme
Henry, Lord Bishopp of Wor-ceter
John, Lord Bishopp of Oxon-ford
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, wid-dow
Edward Sackvill, Esquier
Sir Henry Nevill, of Aburga-venny, 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 Essex, 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,
Franncis Bradley
Richard Buckminster [Buck]
Franncis Burley
John Procter
Thomas Frake, thelder, and
Henry Freake, thelder, Minis-ters of God's word
The mayor and citizens of Chi-chester
The mayor and jurates of Dover
The bailiffs, burgesses and com-onalty of Ipswich
The mayor and comunalty of Lyme Regis
The mayor and comonalty of Sandwich
The wardens, assistants 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
Nicholas Hooker
Robert Garsett
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 Wamer
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 Fisborne
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 Tunbedey [Timberly]
Humfrey Basse
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 Lon-don,
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
hence-forth be reputed, deemed and taken to be and shalbe brethren and free
members of the Companie and shall and maie, respect-ively, and according to the
proportion and value of their severall adventures, have, hold and enjoie all
suche interest, right, title, 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
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 Coun-sellors for that Colonie and whose names have bin or are
incerted and expressed in our said former lettres patent.
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 assembly for the better
ordening [ordering] and government of the said plantacion and such thinges as
shall concerne the same; and that anie five per- sons 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 assembled together in such
court or assembly 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 mat-ters 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 establish-ing 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 assembly, which fower severall assemblies 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 assem-bled
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 assembled, 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.
And wheras the failing
and nonpaiment of such monies as have bin promised in adventure for the
advanncement of the said plantacion hath bin often by experience found to be
dann-gerous and prejudiciall to the same and much to have hindred the progresse
and proceeding of the said plantacion; and for that itt seemeth to us a thing
reasonable that such persons as by their handwriting have engaged themselves for
the payment of their adventures, and afterwards neglecting their faith and
promise, shold be compellable to make good and kepe the same; therefore our will
and pleasure is that in anie suite or suites comenced or to be comenced in anie
of our courts att Westminster, or els- where, by the said Treasurer and Companie
or otherwise against anie such persons, that our judges for the time being both
in our Court of Channcerie and at the common lawe doe favour and further the
said suits soe farre forth as law and equitie will in anie wise suffer and
permitt.
And we doe, for us,
our heires and successors, further give and grannt to the said Tresorer and
Companie, and their successors for ever, that theie, the said Tresorer and
Companie or the greater part of them for the time being, so in a full and
generall court assembled as aforesaid shall and maie, from time to time and att
all times hereafter, for ever, ellect, choose and permitt into their Company and
society anie person or persons, as well straungers and aliens borne in anie part
beyond the seas where-soever, being in amity with us, as our naturall liedge
subjects borne in anie our realmes and dominions; and that all such per-sons soe
elected, chosen and admitted to be of the said Companie as aforesaid shall
thereuppon be taken, reputed and held and shalbe free members of the said
Companie and shall have, hold and enjoie all and singuler freedoms, liberties,
franchises, privi-ledges, immunities, benefitts, profitts and commodities,
whatso-ever, to the said Companie in anie sort belonging or apperteining as
fully, freely [and] amplie as anie other adventurer or ad-venturers now being,
or which hereafter att anie time shalbe, of the said Companie, hath, have,
shall, maie, might or ought to have or enjoy the same to all intents and
purposes whatsoever.
And we doe further of
our speciall grace, certaine knowledge and mere mocion, for us, our heires and
successors, give and grantt to the said Tresorer and Companie and their
successors, for ever by theis present, that itt shalbe lawfull and free for them
and their assignes att all and everie time and times here- after, out of anie
our realmes and dominions whatsoever, to take, lead, carry and transport in and
into the said voyage and for and towards the said plantacion of our said First
Collonie in Virginia, all such and soe manie of our loving subjects or anie
other straungers that will become our loving subjects and live under our
allegiance as shall willingly accompanie them in the said voyage and plantacion;
with shipping, armour, weapons, ordinannce, munition, powder, shott, victualls,
and all manner of merchandizes and wares, and all manner of clothing, imple-ment,
furniture, beasts, cattell, horses, mares, and all other thinges necessarie for
the said plantacion and for their use and defence, and for trade with the people
there and in passing and retourning to and froe, without paying or yealding anie
subsedie, custome or imposicion, either inward or outward, or anie other dutie
to us, our heires or successors, for the same, for the space of seven yeares
from the date of theis present.
And we doe further,
for us, our heires and successors, give and grannt to the said Treasurer and
Companie and their suc-cessors for ever, by theis present, that the said
Treasurer of the said Companie, or his deputie for the time being or anie twoe
others of our said Counsell for the said First Colonie in Virginia for the time
being, shall and maie attall times hereafter and from time to time, have full
power and authoritie to minister and give the oath and oathes of supremacie and
allegiannce, or either of them, to all and every person and persons which shall,
at anie time and times hereafter, goe or passe to the said Colonie in Virginia:
And further, that itt
shalbe likewise lawfull for the said Tresorer, or his deputy for the time, or
anie twoe others of our said Counsell for the said First Colonie in Virginia,
for the time being, from time to time and att all times hereafter, to minister
such a formall oathe as by their discrescion shalbe reasonably devised, aswell
unto anie person or persons imployed or to be imployed in, for, or touching the
said plantacion for their honest, faithfull and just dischardge of their service
in all such matters as shalbe committed unto them for the good and benefitt of
the said Company, Colonie and plantacion; as alsoe unto such other person or
persons as the said Treasurer or his deputie, with twoe others of the said
Counsell, shall thinke meete for the examina-cion or clearing of the truith in
anie cause whatsoever con-cerninge the said plantacion or anie business from
thence proceeding or there unto proceeding or thereunto belonging.
And, furthermore,
whereas we have ben certefied that diverse lewde and ill disposed persons, both
sailors, souldiers, artificers, husbandmen, laborers, and others, having
received wages, ap-parrell or other entertainment from the said Company or
having contracted and agreed with the said Companie to goe, to serve, or to be
imployed in the said plantacion of the said First Colonie in Virginia, have
afterwards either withdrawen, hid or concealed themselves, or have refused to
goe thither after they have bin soe entertained and agreed withall; and that
divers and sundry persons allso which have bin sent and imployed in the said
plantacion of the said First Colonie in Virginia at and upon the chardge of the
said Companie, and having there misbehaved themselves by mutinies, sedition, and
other notorious misdemeanors, or having bin employed or sent abroad by the
governor of Virginia or his deputie with some ship or pinnace for provi-sions
for the said Colonie, or for some discoverie or other buisines and affaires
concerning the same, have from thence most trecherouslie either come back againe
and retorned into our realme of England by stelth or without licence of our Gov-ernor
of our said Colonie in Virginia for the time being, or have bin sent hither as
misdoers and offenders; and that manie allsoe of those persons after their
retourne from thence, having bin questioned by our said Counsell here for such
their misbehaviors and offences, by their insolent and contemptuous carriage in
the presence of our said Counsaile, have shewed little respect and reverence,
either to the place or authoritie in which we have placed and appointed them;
and others, for the colouring of their lewdnes and misdemeanors committed in
Virginia, have endeavored them by most vile and slanndrous reports made and
divulged, aswell of the cuntrie of Virginia as alsoe of the government and
estate of the said plantacion and Colonie, as much as in them laie, to bring the
said voyage and plantacion into disgrace and contempt; by meanes where of not
only the adventures and planters alreadie ingaged in the said plantacion have
bin exceedingly abused and hindred, and a greate nomber of other our loving and
welldisposed subjects otherwise well affected and inclyning to joine and
adventure insoe noble, Christian and worthie an action have bin discouraged from
the same, but allsoe the utter overthrow and ruine of the said enterprise hath
bin greatlie indanngered which cannott miscarrie without some dishonor to us and
our kingdome;
Now, for asmuch as it
appeareth unto us that theis insolences, misdemeanors and abuses, not to be
tollerated in anie civill government, have for the most part growne and
proceeded in-regard of our Counsaile have not anie direct power and authoritie
by anie expresse wordes in our former lettres patent to correct and chastise
such offenders, we therefore, for the more speedy reformacion of soe greate and
enormous abuses and misdemeanors heretofore practised and committed, and for the
preventing of the like hereafter, doe by theis present for us, our heires and
successors, give and grannt to the said Treasurer and Companie, and their
successors for ever, that itt shall and maie be lawfull for our said Councell
for the said First Colonie in Virginia or anie twoe of them, whereof the said
Tresorer or his deputie for the time being to be allwaies one by warrant under
their handes to send for, or cause to be apprehended, all and every such person
and persons who shalbe noted or accused or found, att anie time or times here
after, to offend or misbehave themselves in anie the offences before mencioned
and expressed; and uppon the examinacion of anie such offender or offendors and
just proofe made by oath taken before the Counsaile of anie such notorious
misdemeanors by them committed as aforesaid; and allsoe uppon anie insolent,
contemptuous or unreverent carriage and misbehavior to or against our said
Counsell shewed or used by anie such person or persons soe called, convented and
apear-ing before them as aforesaid; that in all such cases theie, our said
Counsell or anie twoe of them for the time being, shall and maie have full power
and authoritie either here tO binde them over with good suerties for their good
behaviour and further therein to proceed to all intents and purposes, as itt is
used in other like cases within our realme of England; or ells att their
discrescion to remannd and send back the said offenders or anie of them unto the
said Colonie in Virginia, there to be proceeded against and punished as the
Governor, deputie and Counsell there for the time being shall thinke meete; or
other- wise, according to such lawes and ordinannces as are or shalbe in use
there for the well ordring and good governement of the said Colonie.
And, for the more
effectuall advanncing of the said plantacion, we doe further, for us, our heires
and successors, of our especiall grace and favour, by vertue of our prorogative
royall and by the assent and consent of the Lordes and others of our Privie
Coun-salle, give and grannte unto the said Tresorer and Companie full power and
authoritie, free leave, libertie and licence to sett forth, errect and publishe
one or more lotterie or lotteries to have continuance and to [endure] and be
held for the space of one whole yeare next after the opening of the same, and
after the end and expiracion of the said terme the said lotterie or lotteries to
continue and be further kept, during our will and pleasure onely and not
otherwise. And yet, nevertheles, we are contented and pleased, for the good and
wellfare of the said plantacion, that the said Tresorer and Companie shall, for
the dispatch and finishing of the said lotterie or lotteries, have six months
warn-inge after the said yeare ended before our will and pleasure shall, for and
on that behalfe, be construed, deemed and adjudged to be in anie wise altered
and determined.
And our further will
and pleasure is that the said lottery or lottaries shall and maie be opened and
held within our cittie of London or in anie other cittie or citties, or
ellswheare within this our realme of England, with such prises, articles,
condicions and limitacions as to them, the said Tresorer and Companie, in their
discreascions shall seeme convenient.
And that itt shall and
may be lawfull to and for the said Tresorer and Companie to ellect and choose
receivors, auditors, surveyors, comissioners, or anie other officers whatsoever,
att their will and pleasure for the better marshalling and guiding and governing
of the said lottarie or lottaryes; and that itt shalbe likewise lawfull to and
for the said Tresorer and anie twoe of the said Counsell to minister unto all
and everie such persons soe ellected and chosen for officers as aforesaid one or
more oathes for their good behaviour, just and true dealing in and about the
lottarie or lottaries to the intent and purpose that none of our loving
subjects, putting in their monies or otherwise adventuring in the said generall
lotterie or lottaries, maie be in anie wise defrauded and deceived of their said
monies or evill and in-directlie dealt withall in their said adventures.
And we further grannt
in manner and forme aforesaid, that itt shall and maie be lawfull to and for the
said Treasurer and Companie, under the seale of our Counsell for the plantacion,
to publishe or to cause and procure to be published by proclama-cion or
otherwise, the said proclamacion to be made in their name by vertue of theise
present, the said lottarie or lotteries in all citties, townes, boroughts,
throughfaires and other places within our said realme of England; and we will
and commande all mayors, justices of peace, sheriffs, bayliffs, constables and
other our officers and loving subjects whatsoever, that in noe wise theie hinder
or delaie the progresse and proceeding of the said lottarie or lottaries but be
therein and, touching the premisses, aiding and assisting by all honest, good
and lawfull meanes and endevours.
And further our will
and pleasure is that in all questions and dobts that shall arise uppon anie
difficultie of construccion or interpretacion of anie thing conteined in theis
or anie other our former lettres patent the same shalbe taken and interpreted in
most ample and beneficiall manner for the said Tresorer and Companie and their
successors and everie member there of.
And lastly we doe by
theis present retifie and confirme unto the said Treasorer and Companie, and
their successors for ever, all and all manner of priviledges, franchises,
liberties, immuni- ties, preheminences, profitts and commodities whatsoever
grannted unto them in anie our [former] lettres patent and not in theis present
revoked, altered, channged or abridged. Although ex-presse mencion [of the true
yearly value or certainty of the pre-mises, or any of them, or of any other gift
or grant, by us or any of our progenitors or predecessors, to the aforesaid
Tresurer and Company heretofore made, in these Presents is not made; or any
statute, act, ordinance, provisions, proclamation, or restraint, to the contrary
thereof heretofore made, ordained, or provided, or any other matter, cause, or
thing, whatsoever, to the contrary, in any wise, notwithstanding.]
In witnes whereof [we
have caused these our letters to be made patents.] Wittnes our selfe att
Westminster, the twelveth daie of March [1612] [in the ninth year of our reign
of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the five and fortieth.]
Per breve de privato
sigillo, etc.
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