1609. d 1st. O Habend o ny of Vir ginia. fishmongers, the company of goldsmiths, the company, skinners, the company of merchant-taylors, the compa of haberdashers, the company of salters, the company May 23d. ironmongers, the company of vintners, the compar 7th James clothworkers, the company of dyers, the company brewers, the company of leathersellers, the company pewterers, the company of Cutlers, the company of whitebakers, the company wax-chandlers, the company of tal- treasurer low-chandlers, the company of armorers, the company & of compagirdlers, the company of butchers, the company of sadlers, the company of carpenters, the company of cordwaynes, the company of barber-chirurgeons, the company of paintstainers, the company of curriers, the company of masons, the company of plumbers, the company inholders, the company of founders, the company of poulterers, the company of cooks, the company of coopers, the company of tylers and bricklayers, the company of bowyers, the company of Fletchers, the company of blacksmiths, the company of joiners, the company of weavers, the company of woolmen, the company of woodmongers, the company of scriveners, the company of fruiterers, the company of plaisterers, the company of Brownbakers, the company of stationers, the company of imbroiderers, the company of upholsters, the company of musicians, the company of turners, the company of gardiners, the company of basketmakers, the company of glaziers, John Levet, merchant, Thomas Nornicot, clothworker, Richard Venn, haberdasher, Thomas Scot, gentleman, Thomas Buxon, merchant-taylor, George Hankinson, Thomas Seyer, gentleman, Matthew Cooper, George Butler, gentleman, Thomas Lawson, gentleman, Edward Smith, haberdasher, Steven Sparrow, John Jones, merchant, Reynolds, brewer, Thomas Plummer, merchant, James Duppa, brewer, Rowland Coitmore, William Southerne, George Whitmore, haberdasher, Anthony Gosnold, the younger, John Allen, fishmonger, Simon Yeomans, fishmonger, Lancelot Davis, gentleman, John Hopkins, alderman of Bristol, John Kettleby, gentleman, Richard Clene, goldsmith, George Hooker, gentleman, Robert Chening, yeoman; and to such and so many, as they do, or shall hereafter admit to be joined with them, in form hereafter in these presents expressed, whether they go in their persons, to be plauters there in the said plantation, or whether they go not, but adventure their monies, goods, or chattles; That they shall be one body or commonalty perpetual, and shall have perpetual succession, and one com 1609. May 23d. 7th James 1st. 2d charte May plead and be impleaded. Confirma mer grants. Limits of the Colo non seal, to serve for the said body or commonalty; and bhat they, and their successors, shall be known, called, and nacorporated by the name of, The Treasurer and Company IsaAdventurers and Planters of the City of London for The first Colony in Virginia :· IV. And that they and their successors, shall be, from henceforth, forever enabled to take, acquire and purchase, by the name aforesaid (licence for the same, from us, our heirs or successors, first had and obtained) any mauner of lands, tenements, and hereditaments, good and chattels, within our realm of England, and dominion of Wales: V. And that they and their successors, shall likewise be enabled, by the name aforesaid, to plead and be impleaded, before any of our judges or justices, in any of our courts, and in any actions or suits whatsoever. VI. And we do also of our special grace, certain knowtion of for- ledge and mere motion, give, grant and confirm, unto the said treasurer and company, and their successors, under the reservations, limitations, and declarations, hereafter, expressed, all those lands, countries, and territories, situate, lying, and being, in that part of America called Virginia, from the point of land, called Cape or Point Comfort, all along the sea coast, to the northward two hundred miles, and from the said point of Cape Comfort, all along the sea coast to the southward two hundred miles, and all that space and circuit of land, lying from the sea coast of the precinct aforesaid, up into the land, throughout from sea to sea, west and northwest; and also all the islands, ny and ex- lying within one bundred miles, along the coast of both tent of ju- seas of the precinct aforesaid; together with all the soils, risdiction. grounds, havens, and ports, mines, as well royal mines of gold and silver, as other minerals, pearls and precious stones, quarries, woods, rivers, waters, fishings, commodities, jurisdictions, royalties, privileges, franchises and preheminences, within the said territories, and the precincts thereof, whatsoever, and thereto and thereabouts, both by sea and land, being or in any sort belonging or appertaining, and which we by our letters patents, may or can grant, in as ample manner and sort, as we or any of our noble progenitors, have heretofore granted to any company, body politick or corporate, or to any adventurer or adventurers, undertaker or undertakers, of any disco 7th James 1st. um. Habend veries, Plantations, or traffick, of, in or into any foreign 1609. parts whatsoever, and in as large and ample manner, as if the same were herein particularly mentioned and express- May 23d. ed; to have and to hold, possess and enjoy, all and singular the said lands, countries and territories, with all and singular other the premises, heretofore by these presents granted, or mentioned to be granted, to them, the said treasurer and company, their successors and assigns forever; to the sole and proper use of them, the said treasurer and company, their successors and assigns for ever; Tenure, to be holden of us, our heirs, and successors, as of our manour of East Greenwich, in free and common soccage, and not in capite; yielding and paying, therefore, to us, our heirs, and successors, the fifth part only of all ore of gold and silver, that from time to time, and at all times hereafter, shall be there gotten, had, or obtained for all manner of services. for former VII. And nevertheless, our will and pleasure is, and Provision we do, by these presents, charge, command, warrant, adventurand authorise, that the said treasurer and company, or ers. their successors, or the major part of them, which shall be present and assembled for that purpose, shall, from time to time, under their common seal, distribute, convey, assign, and set over, such particular portions of lands, tenements, and hereditaments, by these presents formerly granted, unto such our loving subjects, naturally born, or denizens, or others, as well adventurers as planters, as by the said company (upon a commission of survey and distribution, executed and returned for that purpose,) shall be nominated, appointed, and allowed; wherein our will and pleasure is, that respect be had, as well of the proportion of the adventurer, as to the special service, hazard, exploit, or merit of any person so to be recompenced, advanced, or rewarded. One coun cil to be in VIII. And forasmuch, as the good and prosperous success of the said plantation cannot but chiefly depend, next England. under the blessing of God, and the support of our royal authority, upon the provident and good direction of the whole enterprize, by a careful and understanding council, and that it is not convenient, that all the adventurers shall be so often drawn to meet and assemble, as shall be requisite for them to have meetings and conference about the affairs thereof; therefore we do ordain, establish and confirm, that there shall be perpetually one M 1609. council here resident, according to the tenour of our former letters patents; which council shall have a seal, for May 23d. the better government and administration of the said plan7th James tation, besides the legal seal of the company or corporation, as in our former letters patents is also expressed. 1st. to the treasurer and company of Virginia. Names of the mem bers. IX. And further, we establish and ordain, that Henry, 2d charter Earl of Southampton, William, Earl of Pembroke, Henry, Earl of Lincoln, Thomas, Earl of Exeter, Robert, Lord Viscount Lisle, Lord Theophilus Howard, James, Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells, Edward, Lord Zouche, Thomas, Lord Lawarr, William, Lord Monteagle, Edmond, Lord Sheffield, Grey, Lord Chandois, John, Lord Stanhope, George, Lord Carew, Sir Humfrey Weld, Lord Mayor of London, Sir Edward Cecil, Sir William Wade, Sir Henry Nevil, Sir Thomas Smith, Sir Oliver Cromwell, Sir Peter Manwood, Sir Thomas Challoner, Sir Henry Hobart, Sir Francis Bacon, Sir George Coppin. Sir John Scot, Sir Henry Carey, Sir Robert Drury, Sir Horatio Vere, Sir Edward Conway, Sir Maurice Berkeley, Sir Thomas Gates, Sir Michael Sandys, Sir Robert Mansel, Sir John Trevor, Sir Amias Preston, Sir William Godolphin, Sir Walter Cope, Sir Robert Killigrew, Sir Henry Fanshaw, Sir Edwin Sandys, Sir John Watts, Sir Henry Montague, Sir William Romney, Sir Thomas Roe, Sir Baptist Hicks, Sir Richard Williamson, Sir Stephen Poole, Sir Dudley Digges, Christopher Brooke, Esq. John Eldred, and John Wolstenholme, shall be our Council for the said Company of Adventurers and Planters in Virginia. Treasurer. X. And the said Thomas Smith we do ordain to be treasurer of the said company; which treasurer shall have authority to give order, for the warning of the council, and summoning the company, to their courts and meetings. Council & treasurer, how cho: sen and vacancies supplied. XI. And the said council and treasurer, or any of them, shall be from henceforth, nominated, chosen, continued, displaced, changed, altered, and supplied, as death, or other several occasions, shall require, out of the company of the said adventurers, by the voice of the greater part of the said company and adventurers, in their assembly for that purpose: Provided always, that every counsellor, so newly elected, shall be presented to the lord chancellor of England, or to the lord high treasurer of Eng land, or to the lord chamberlain of the household of us, our heirs, and successors, for the time being, to take his oath of a counsellor to us, our heirs and successors, for the said company of adventurers and colony in Virginia. 2d charter to the treasurer & compa ny of Vir ginia. XII. And we do by these presents, of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, for us, our heirs and successors, grant uuto the said treasurer and company, and their successors, that if it happen, at any time or times, the treasurer for the time being to be sick, or to have any such cause of absence from the city of London, as shall be allowed by the said council, or the greater part of them, assembled, so as he cannot attend the affairs of that company, in every such case, it shall and may be lawful for such treasurer for the time being, to assign, constitute and appoint, one of the council or company, to be likewise allowed by the council, or the greater part of them, assembled, to be the deputy treasurer of the said company; which deputy shall have power to do and execute all things, which belong to the said treasurer, during such Deputy treasurer, time, as such treasurer shall be either sick, or otherwise when and absent upon cause allowed of by the said council, or the how apmajor part of them, as aforesaid, so fully and wholly, and pointed. in as large and ample manner and form, to all intents and purposes, as the said treasurer, if he were present, himself might or could do and execute the same. & remove XIII. And further, of our special grace, certain know- Council in ledge, and mere motion, for us, our heirs, and successors, England, we do, by these presents, give and grant full power and to appoint authority to our said council, here resident, as well at this officers, present time, as hereafter from time to time, to nominate, &c. make, constitute, ordain, and confirm, by such name or names, stile or stiles, as to them shall seem good, and likewise to revoke, discharge, change, and alter, as well all and singular governors, officers, and ministers, which already have been made, as also which hereafter shall be by them thought fit and needful to be made or used, for the government of the said colony and plantation; To esta XIV. And also to make, ordain, and establish ali manner of orders, laws, directions, instructions, forms, and ceremonies of government and magistracy, fit and neces-blish forms sary, for and concerning the government of the said colo- ment for ay and plantation; and the same at all times hereafter, to the colony. of govern |