July 26.
Bletsoe. |
616. Grant reciting that Henry Earl of Northampton, Charles Earl of Nottingham, Thos. Earl of Suffolk, Henry Earl of Southampton, Wm. Earl of Salisbury, Theophilus Lord Walden, Sirs Thos. Smythe, Robt. Mansell, Walter Cope, Dudley Diggs, and Jas. Lancaster, Rebecca Lady Romney, Fras. Jones, alderman, John Wolstenholme, John Eldred, Robt. Sandye, Wm. Greenwell, Nicholas Leate, Hewett Stapers, Wm. Russell, John Merricke, Abraham Chamberlain, Philip Burlamachi, merchants, the Muscovy Company and the East India Company of the sixth voyage, did, in April 1610, set forth the discovery and certain persons, under the command of Henry Hudson, to search and find out a passage by the North–west of America to the Sea of Suz, commonly called the South Sea; who have in that voyage found a strait or narrow sea by which they hope and purpose to advance a trade to the great kingdoms of Tartary, China, Japan, Solomon's Islands, Chili, the Philippines, and other countries, for the better accomplishment and discovery, of which they have sued for licence to join with others and be incorporated into a company. “In regard, it is an enterprize tending to so worthy an end, and which now at last after many proofs hath obtained so happy and likely a beginning, we have thought of some extraordinary means to grace and honour the same;” and constitute “our dear son immediately under ourselves (whose protection is universal)” supreme protector of the discovery and company, and |
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a body corporate and politic by the name of the “Governor and Company of the Merchants of London, discoverers of the North–west passage,” with power to use a common seal engraven with the royal arms on one side, rounded with the title of the Company, and on the other side with the three ostrich feathers as given by the Prince of Wales, yet with this difference, these words to be engraven upon the feathers: Juvat ire per altum, and the border to be rounded with Tibi serviat ultima Thule, and to elect a governor and and twenty–four committees; Sir Thos. Smythe, Sir Dudley Diggs, and John Wolstenholme having been the first movers and principal instruments of setting forth ships to sea for accomplishing the discovery, Sir Thos. Smythe is appointed first governor and to continue till 1st Oct. next; Sir Robt. Mansell, Sir Jas. Lancaster, Sir Dudley Diggs, Wm. Cockayne, Fras. Jones, alderman, John Wolstenholme, Esq., Wm. Greenwell, John Eldred, Nic. Leate, Nic. Salter, Robt. Offley, Hewett Stapers, Wm. Russell, Ric. Wyche, Raphe Freeman, Wm. Stone, Robt. Middle ton, Wm. Harrison, Morris Abbott, Humfrey Hanforde, Philip Burlamachi, Abrah. Chamberlain, Robt. Bell, and Wm. Burrell, merchants, the first committees and directors till 1st Oct. next; power to elect a deputy; a new governor, deputy, and committees upon 1st Oct. of each year; to make laws and inflict punishment upon offenders and breakers thereof by imprisonment or fine; and to enjoy for ever the whole entire and only trade into the North–west passage and unto the lands, territories, and dominions aforesaid. “And least any question or doubt may hereafter arise as touching the nomination, bounds, limits, and extent of the North–west passage, We do hereby signify and declare that the same doth and shall begin and hath it entrance between the headland of ‘Groynland,' called the Cape of Desolation, and the cape or headland of America, called Labrador, in or about the northerly latitude of 58 degrees, and so extendeth itself into the sea lying between those two capes or lands of America and Groinelande, including not only the sea or streight called Hudson's Streight now newly discovered, but also that sea or streight called and known by the name of Fretum Davis, and all other seas whatsoever lying and being between the foresaid two capes, and about the height of 58 degrees northerly lat., and from thence extending through or between the said lands of America and Groinelande northward, north–westwards, or westward unto the very territories of Tartaria, China, Japan, and Coray, and to all other coasts, countries, or islands, either known or unknown, discovered or undiscovered, lying upon or in the sea of Suz, either upon the continent of America or Asia, or any islands lying and being in or upon the said seas.” Payment of customs, one half in six months and the remainder in twelve months, and other privileges. Admission of new members for a fine, and of the sons of adventurers and apprentices on payment of 20s., such fines to be divided rateably for seven years between the adventurers of the first voyage of 1610, “in lieu and satisfaction of the great costs and charges they have expended and disbursed in discovering the said passage,” afterwards to remain for ever to the use of the present Company. Merchants, aliens, denizens, and strangers to be admitted on payment of 100 marks. Customs from 15 Dec. 1618 to 15 Dec. 1619 free to the adventurers of the first voyage. Grant to Thos. Button, captain of the Resolution, and John Ingram, master of the Discovery, and to the mariners and companies of those ships who set to sea in April 1612, for discovery of the said passage, and to their executors of all customs from 15 Dec. 1616 to 15 Dec. 1617, half to the use of Capt. Button, and the other among the rest of the company in the two ships, as Sir Thos. Smythe, Sir Dud. Diggs, and John Wolstenholme shall, in their discretion, order and appoint. Power to exercise martial law. [Parchment. DOMESTIC, Jac. I., Sign Manuals, Vol II, No. 30. Cal., p. 179.] |
