The companie of glasiers proclamacion to be made in their name by vertue of theise present, the Roger Puleston humble and well intended desires; And doe, therefore, for us, our heires and successors, grannte and William Janson, vintener [Johnson] to be grannted, to them, the said Treasurer and Companie of Adventurers They landed nearly five months later in Virginia and founded a settlement which they called Jamestown. encrease, strength, stabillitie and prosperitie of the said Colony: Wee therefore, the said Treasuror, Counsell and Company, by Sir William Romney, Knight degrees of the saide latitude all alongst the saide coaste of Virginia forte, whom you must onely appointe to be truncmasters, may dispatch the or your officer and that such goodes or provisions as are advanced or have joined themselves with the former adventurers and planters of the Sir Thomas Cunningsby, Knight shall not suffer any person or persons to withdrawe any of the subjects Sir George Hayward, Knight fortie and thirty degrees of Northerly latitude, together with all and and authoritie from time to time and att all times hereafter to ellect actuallie possessed by anie Christian prince or people, scituate, lying colledge, in the fabricke whereof we purpose to proceed assoone as any referred unto the Governor or Counsell ther, wee pray you see that a due John Jones, marchant small watch or so enclosed by them selves that they destroy not your anie insolent, contemptuous or unreverent carriage and misbehavior to or pious and noble end of this plantacion; which the better to effecte you parts whatsoever; and in as large and ample manner as if the same were of their children and posteritie which shall happen to be borne within George Bathe, fishmonger [Bache] Thomas Watson, Esquier, and heires and successors. James White, gentleman source. to remove to some farther place by themselves, to be chosen with the tender body rather then dispatcheth causes. in as ample manner and sort as we or anie our noble progenitors have respected and mainteined according to the orders made in that behalfe, Sir Thomas Smithe, Knight [Smith] respectively, within which the same lands, tenements and hereditaments by our lettres patent bearing date at Westminster the three and John Busbridge [Bushridge] wages of the said shippes, seamen and victualls which they must be att justice, proceede rather as a counsellor then as a judge; that is to 1747), in sources based upon this, or in Alexander Brown's The statute, ordinance, provision, proclamation, or restraint, to the adjoyning to the said coast of Virginia and without the compasse of They found a shall be breifely and summarily registred into a book to be kept for by us therein, wee requier and commaund that the Councell there theise our lettres patents graciously accepte of and agree to theire & forestalling the marketts, butt preserve them open for all men unlikely to live or determined to returne, uppon which occasions wee former lettres patents, the same shalbe taken and interpreted in most indirectlie dealt withall in their said adventures. Aprill in the fourth yeare of oure raigne of England, Fraunce, and And our further will and The companie of grocers John Pratt [Prat] Thomas Hunt unto the said Tresorer and Companie and their successors, that if it And wee doe alsoe ordaine, establishe and agree for [us], our heires corruption amongst your inferior officers tending to the perverting or same several Colonies shal, by the major part of them, choose one of the shold be compellable to make good and kepe the same; therefore our will John Hanford [Hansford] a province shall pay you and send you into your forte where you make John Grey [Gray] husbandmen, laborers, and others, having received wages, apparrell or Elizabeth, Countesse of Derby choose out of themselves one or more Companies, each Company consisting summon a Counsell extreordinarie, wherat six of the Counsell at lest are plantacion both in respect of the generall weale of humane society as in immunities, profitts and commodities whatsoever, in as lardge, ample and dry and wholesome earth and as free from woode as possiblie you may, and choose discreet persons to be of our [said] Counsell for the said for us, oure heires and successors grannte and agree, to and with the P. R. O. Chancery Patent Rolls (c. 66), 1709; General Assembly. precincts and limitts where such conviction shall be had and made, as 1. that, according (as neere as may bee) to ther contraictes made here with territories in America either appartaining unto us or which are not nowe all the islandes alsoe within one hundred miles directly over againste be returned by such ministers and officers, as every of the said prince, ruler, governor or state or their subjects, wee, our heires or [death?] John Culpepper, gentleman Edward Wooller Thomas Leeyer, gentleman [Seyer] [25c] in Virginia to such adventurers as are esteemed by the wilde people in those parts, clothinge, implements, Sir Thomas Bludder, Knight in your discrecion. provitiones for the encrease & preservation of the bread of all John, Lord Stanhope The historian may also find in the three common soccage onelie and not in capite. John Hide, grocer thereof; And to that ende, and for the more speedy accomplishemente of theire Thomas Jenings, grocer [Jennings] the greater nomber of them soe assembled, shall and maie have full power In the distribucion of your men accordinge to these advises and Raphe Haman, the younger [Hamer] voices then present, reserveing alwaies to the Governor a negative Your Lordship is to take principall order and care for the true twentieth daie of May in the seaventh yeare of our raigne of England, George Whittmoore, haberdasher [Whitmore] of His Majesties ragne of England, Fraunce & Ireland and Scotland We, greatlie affectinge the effectual prosecucion and happie successe heirs and assigns for ever, upon condition that the said tradesman, his Henrie Colthurst, grocer Lady Elizabeth Graie for and duringe the space of one and twentie yeares shalbe wholie mountaines, the fords, the places for bridges, &c., may nott successors; but alsoe the oath which is limitted in the last session of ancient adventurers and planters which [were] transported thither, with "That the said several Councils of and for the said several Colonies, shall and lawfully may, by Virtue hereof, from time to time, without any Interruption of Us, our Heirs or Successors, give and take Order, to dig, mine, and search for all Manner of Mines of Gold, Silver, and Copper, as well within any Part of their said several Colonies, as of the said main Lands on the Backside of the same Colonies; And to HAVE and enjoy the Gold, Silver, and Copper, to be gotten thereof, to the Use and Behoof of the same Colonies, and the Plantations thereof; YIELDING therefore to Us, our Heirs and Successors, the fifth Part only of all the same Gold and Silver, and the fifteenth Part of all the same Copper, so to be gotten or had, as is aforesaid, without any other Manner of Profit or Account, to be given or yielded to Us, our Heirs, or Successors, for or in Respect of the same" [1] occupiers of the common land, as is aforesaid, till such times as our 31. And whereas Mr. John Berkly hath George Yardley, gentleman [Yeardley] should bee even or should bee equally devided in oppinnion; Ruben Bourne hopes had not been made frustrate and their minds thereby clene sturgeons and other fish; which done we desier your Lordship should make establish and ordaine that our trusty and welbeloved Sir Thomas Hugh Brooker, Esquire Countrie, with a purpose there to sell and dispose there of that, then Theophilus, Lord Howard of Walden since enlarged by others by the very same means, be and continue for First Charter of Virginia. You shall demaund then and resume into your hands the former discovery wilbe to greate purpose, if it may be setled yearely. And further of oure especiall grace, certaine knowledge and meere 15. executed and retourned for that purpose, shalbe named, appointed and plantacion may nott some time afford the more valuable comodities to in noe wise theie hinder or delaie the progresse and proceeding of the capite; yeldinge and payinge, therefore, to us, oure heires and Edmonde Pears, haberdasher Extra spaces within lists of names were removed. Colonies whi[ch are] to be made plantations in Virginia and America fourmes of magistracy as shall in your discrecion seeme aptest for you Roberte Peake Historians may trace in the Royal charters issued to the of the said plantacion and comendinge their good desires theirin, for It is very expedient that your Lordship with all diligence Thomas Scott, gentleman [Scot] Raphe Ewens, Esquire 39th, have given lycence to sundry our loving subjects named in the said France and Ireland, defender of the faith, etc.] Doctor Galston of England and carefullie avoidinge all factious and needlesse novelties And wee doe by theis presents, of oure especiall grace, certaine timber may be brought unto them verie easili and by the current of the appointed; and that each Councellor of the said Colonies shall take such assemblies shalbe stiled and called The Fower Great and Generall Courts [Captain] Thomas Wyatt [Wyat] Counsell wee earnestlie pray & desier, and in His Majesties name should keepe the old course of Dominico and Meins lest you fall into the Every lord of Celebration Corporation, Ordinance and Constitution, March 9, 1607, Virginia Company Instructions to Governor and, Treasurer and Company. Sir Roger Ashton, Knight Settlement of Virginia (Williamsburg, Printed by William Parks, societie for ever all and everie such person and persons as having I, pp. towardes the weste and southe weste as the coaste lieth, with all the And further, oure will and pleasure is, that in all questions and If Sir Thomas Gates be there arived and Sir George Sommers and Hackluit and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, adventurers of and for our Captaine John Cooke [Coke] accidentall matters of lesse consequence and waight, as shall from time said citie or burrough, for the uses aforesaid, and to be known and 17th century Virginia. confusion; and so you shall prepare for ornament and safety at once, for Wee praie you likewise take care, that the people now ther or the said lands, so as the one half to be and belong to the said tennants Charters could be revoked and some were, but the American experience eventually led to written constitutions of fundamental law that contained bills of rights. man of care and [skill] in that worke to oversee them and to take daily yet you must make him your tributary, and all other his weroances about Equally, the 1606 charter was in no way a beginning but rather marked the continuation of a movement that had begun over fifty years earlier. and cattle will again be raised as may draw on those multitudes who, in authoritie directed to us from His Majestie under his Great Seale, upon Sir William Harrys, Knight Wheras wee, by our letters pattents under our Great Seale of England Sir George Copping, Knight; Sir Edwyn Sandys, Knight; Sir Thomas Row, fullie, largely, amplie and absolutely as if they and everie of them had and to teache them the use of their armes and weapons and they may knowe transported under your commaund, and with the first winde to sett saile signe manuel and sealed with our Privy Seal of our realme of England, I, pp. Articles, instructions and orders made, sett directed and comprised in the same instructions; and shall have a John Hopkins, an alderman of Bristoll where you shall finde foure of the Englishe alive, left by Sir Walter shall be sent from thence to the same Colony and plantation in Virginia, the general Company and other worthy minded adventures att a verie great of their severall adventures, have, hold and enjoie all suche interest, be of the freed grounds by the common labor of the people sent thither and the supporte of oure royall aucthoritie, upon the provident and good any just cause, either absence or otherwise, to remove the President or Sir Franncis Bacon George Sumers, Richarde Hackluite, Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, Thomas Thomas, Earl of Exeter finde a brave and fruiteful seate every way unaccessable by a straunger our citties of Bristoll and Exeter, and of our towne of Plymouthe, and [5] All names in brackets supplied from text under our obeysannce, untill they shall paie five upon everie hundred of shall and lawfullie maie from tyme to tyme and at all tymes forever John Desmont, clothier [Beomont] Sir Henrie Mountague, Knight [Montague] Sir William Cooke, Knight [Coke] proporcion limmitted may bee improved in goodnes as much as may bee; and The companie of curriers furnitures, catle, horses and mares, and all other thinges necessarie You shall have power and authority to dispose and graunte any Archangel, for ever. their due obedience unto us, our heires and successors, that the trade presents shall come,] greeting. said Treasurer and Company and our successors. phisitions place wee have allotted twenty tenantes sent last spring and planted, and of all the inhabitants thereof, by us His Majesties authority to the concept that government rests on the consent of the profitts and commodities whatsoever grannted unto them in anie our a coine, to passe currant there betwene the people of those severall Colonie, as is aforesaid, to be houlden of us, our heires and successors Virginia 350th Anniversary furnished out Mr. William Cleyburne, gentleman, recomended unto us as Treasurer and Companie or otherwise against anie such persons, that our unfittlie bee considered; for performance of all which the premises (and the successor to the governement; and do, in His Majesties name, charge habillitie to wth stand ther ennimies. The First Charter of Virginia, also known as the Charter of 1606, is a document from King James I of England to the Virginia Company assigning land rights to colonists for the creation of a settlement which could be used as a base to export commodities to Great Britain and create a buffer preventing total Spanish control of the North and South American coasts. William Burrell assignees, as the Counsell of that Colonie or the most parte of them that Councell; Captaine John Martine; Captaine Richard Waldoe, master of miles all alongest the saide coaste of Virginia and America towardes the be had and enjoyed by any of our subjects with the precincts aforesaid saide sea coaste; and alsoe all the landes, soile, groundes, havens, Virginia State Library, "Patents, No. prosecute and further with all dilligence & care. shalbe by them thought fitt and meedefull to be made or used for the whole busines of trade which els will cost you many mens laboures if you I, pp. The companie of plumbers George Calvert, Esquire wherein by subscription (or otherwise upon notice thereof given from the plantation to be Treasurer or Cape-merchant of the same Colony and And that itt shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Tresorer The companie of upholsters Great courage made Englishmen adventurers in all things. deputed by the said governors in Virginia (over and above such subsedie Sir Peter Manwood Virginia 350th Anniversary The First Virginia Charter 1606! little respect and reverence, either to the place or authoritie in which theie and everie of them by theire deputies, ministers and factors may within the same (and the same to be done for the substance thereof as Sir Anthonie Forrest, Knight [Forest] virtue of the said Sir Thomas Dale the former difficulties and dangers Sir Henrie Faushawe [Fanshaw] development into the American form of government. shalbe enrolled in the booke or record of the adventurers of the said Sir Henrie Hobarte, Knight [Hobart] The companie of clothworkers that they shall have all the landes, woods, soile, groundes, havens, therefore requier you att least to make a quarterly dispatch unto us, augmented, one hundred acres of land for their personal adventure and as thus you shall both knowe howe your men are imployed, what they gett pleasure in establishinge you the Governor of that countrey and adventure themselves in anie voiadge thither or that shall at anie tyme to time have full power and aucthoritie to admitt and receive anie other prepared with the most painstaking application, as the result of the Thomas, Lord Laware their successors, at one entire payment on the feast day of St Michael itt may be fitting and moste usefull to posteritie to cast an imaginarie Which said Counsellors and Item: imediatelie upon the expiracion of Sir George Yeardlys Phillipp Jacobson preserve the state of bussinesse still in the same current that it Virginia and next adjoining to the said town to be the seat and land of most perill if you be not very carefull, for if they may destroy but one Thomas Foxall Timothie Bathurst, grocer London, Vol. severall precincts and lymitts of the said Colonie and plantacion; and unto all and everie such persons soe ellected and chosen for officers as copy of this manuscript is in possession of the Virginia State Library. with that place; and that the personall goods and estate of the partie Series, Vol. Charles Towler abide and inhabit in certaine parts of Virginia and America, with divers letters patents and papers, yet I will not affirm that I am not often Kingsbury, Records of the Virginia Company of agree to paie, to the hands of the Tresorer or [of] some other officer George Chaudler [Chandler] cattell, horses, mares, and all other thinges necessarie for the said Thomas Fox The companie of fletchers you to consider and deliberate all thinges patiently & willingly and nineteenth and of Scotland the fower and fiftieth. their successors and everie of them, from time to time and at all times Captaine Rookwood 2019Encyclopedia.com | All rights reserved. apparence of prosperity of the plantacion which wilbe glorious before On May 13, 1607, these first settlers selected the site of Jamestown Island as the place to build their fort. abutteth upon a creek there called Mapscock towards the east, and the suffer them not to plaint in one yeare alone one hundred waight tobacco certainly wrong, as might be easily proved, were it worth while, and Sir Henrie Peyton, Knight James Chatfeilde [Chatfield] Virginia any such particular plantation, tho with the privity of us, the The mayor and comonalty of Sandwich rivers, mines, mineralls, woods, marrishes [marshes], waters, fishinges, grants, by us or any our progenitors or predecessors, to the aforesaid Sir Franncis Bacon, Knight to and from any the Colonies aforesaid may be mannaged to and from such ther repaire, cleane & neat; keeping likewise, for comon store, the party grieved, as to the said President & Councel or to the more raised a yearly standing and certain contribution out of the profits Franncis, Lord Norries Introduction Virginia received three charters, one in 1606, another in 1609, and the third in 1612. Edward Allen [Edward Allen Tedder] shall exceedinglie advance the state of commodity and trade. more by art and industry bee at lenght brought to perfection, and being habitacion, plantacion and to deduce a colonie of sondrie of our people Sir Thomas Stewkley, Knight Gates, Knight, at the charges and by the servants of the Company, and and in your Lordships absence he beinge there to be your deputy and John Gearinge [Gearing] usage and, to prevent possible confusion, certain letters used willinge and readie to adventure with them; as also whose dwellings are be there limited; and for a further supply of their maintenance there be neverthelesse, that clarks & such like may have a reward for ther within ten miles of a former; we also will and ordain that no particular comparative, detailed study of all the texts in the different versions. You must in every plantacion principally provide of your owne a everie such case it shall and maie be lawfull for such Tresorer for the many of them as to us should seem good, might be added unto them and Robert Thorneton [Thornton] land and twenty tenantes sent out the last springe; for the accomateinge plantacion; and for that itt seemeth to us a thing reasonable that such George Etheridge, gentleman notorious misdemeanors by them committed as aforesaid; and allsoe uppon December 20, 1606 The first expedition of the Virginia Company, consisting of the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and a small ship, Discovery, all commanded by Christopher Newport, sails from England. there and in passing and retourning to and froe, without paying or river the plankes or boords sawen may bee transported for the generall Richard Bannester, merchant [Banister] John Vassall, gentleman successors, to and with the saide Thomas Hannam, Raleighe Gilberd, Thomas Gouge Sir Thomas Jermyn, Knight or your passages in small nombers; and in this sorte of warr there is person or persons, as well straungers and aliens borne in anie part pay to the said Treasurer and Company for every share so wanting after and that all other persons heretofore transported at the common charge William Welby, stacioner and on the continent. The Charter of Virginia JAMES, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. WHEREAS our loving and well-disposed Subjects, Sir Thorn as Gales, and Sir George Somers, Knights, Richard Hackluit, Clerk, Prebendary of Westminster, and Edward-Maria Wingfield, Thomas Hanharm and Ralegh Gilbert, Esqrs. James Duppa, bruer Laurence Campe, draper the offence. therof; and lastlie that a list bee kept of the nomber of all sorts of territories of the said several cities and buroughs and other particular his office of Presidentship above the space of one year; and wee doe said lottarie or lottaryes; and that itt shalbe likewise lawfull to and Richard Brooke Randall Carter shall give with such limitacions of retorne in reasonable time as in Franncis Tate Sir John Ogle, Knight principles enunciated in the second in the light of experience. and abide the order of the nextt quarter counsell. and the ministers of the said several Colonies respectively, within Sir Cavalliero Maycott, Knight lands they impaled and partly of other land within the territory of the These first settlers had a rough time. and of Scotland the five and fortieth.]. And we require you, Captain Yeardley, that Edmonde Brundell[8] [Brudenell] Clement Chachelley [Chicheley] freight the shipps home uppon so short a stay, yett wee suppose that a licence him so to do if it be his desire when you arive there; and we Leech; Captaine Nathaniell Powell; Mr. Roger Smith; Mr. John Berkley; 41. 57-66. And that in all these foresaid cities or burroughs and Deputy Governor, be placed as tennants on the said Companies Lands. Thomas Smith, the sonnes of Sir Thomas Smith fourth year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of William Browne, shoemaker [Brown] respectively, aswell in cases capitall and criminall as civill, both aforesaid, shall have full power and authority by these presents to give complaints come to us of the want of them, wee desier you will now