1606.
April 10.
Westminster. |
48. Letters Patent to "our loving and well-disposed subjects,"
Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Richard Hakluyt, Prebendary of Westminster, Edward Maria Wingfield, Thomas Hannam,
Raleigh Gilberte, William Parker, George Popham, "and divers
others," smotors to his Majesty for license to make habitation, and
plantation, and to deduce a colony of sundry of "our people" into
Virginia, and other parts in America, appertaining to his Majesty
or not actually possessed by any Christian Prince or People, along
the Sea coasts and in the main land, between 34 deg. and 45 deg.
N. L., and the Islands adjacent or within one hundred miles of the
coast; who are desirous to divide themselves into two several
Colonies and Companies, the one consisting of certain Knights,
Gentlemen, Merchants, and other Adventurers of London and elsewhere, to begin their plantations and habitations between 34 and
41 deg. N. L.; and the other, consisting of sundry Knights,
Gentlemen, Merchants, and other Adventurers of Bristol, Exeter,
Plymonth, and other places, to begin their plantations and habitations, between 38 and 45 deg. N. L. The King, greatly commending
and graciously accepting of their desires to the furtherance of so
noble a work, which may, by the Providence of Almighty God,
hereafter tend to the Glory of His Divine Majesty, in propagating
of Christian Religion to such people, as yet live in darkness, and
miserable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God,
and may in time bring the Infidels and Savages living in those
parts, to human civility and to a settled and quiet Government,
for himself, his heirs and successors, grants and agrees, that said
Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Richard Hakluyt, and Edward Maria Wingtield, Adventurers of London, and all others
joined with them, shall be called the first Colony, and may begin
their first plantation, where they think fit between said 34 and
41 deg. N. L., and enjoy all lands, havens, rivers, mines, minerals,
waters, fishings, commodities, and hereditaments whatsoever, for
fifty English statute miles along said coast of Virginia and America
towards the West and South west, and for fifty like miles towards
the East and North-east, with all islands within one hundred
miles, directly over against the same Sea Coast, and, directly into
the main land for one hundred like miles; with power to inhabit
there, and to build and fortify to their best discretions and by
the direction of the Council of that Colony, no others to plant and
inhabit, without license of the Council of that Colony in writing. His
Majesty likewise grants and agrees, that said Thomas Hannam,
Raleigh Gilberte, William Parker, George Popham, and all others
of Plymouth, co. Devon or elsewhere, joined with them, shall be
called the Second Colony, and may begin their said first plantation
where they think fit between said 38 and 45 deg. N. L.; with all
lands, &c., for fifty miles, &c., and all islands, &c., directly into
the mainland, for one hundred miles; with power as before provided for the first Colony, &c. Provided always, that the last
Colony planted shall not be within one hundred miles of the
other. Each of said Colonies shall have a Council, to govern all
matters within said Colony, according to instructions to be signed
by his Majesty under the Privy Seal; each of which Councils to
consist of thirteen persons, to be ordained and removed from time
to time according as shall be directed in same instructions; and
Council to have a seal, with the King's Arms engraven on one side
and his portraiture on the other; the seal for the Council of said
first Colony, to have engraven round about on one side, these
words, "Sigillum Regis Magnæ Britanniæ Franciæ et Hiberniæ,"
and on the other side "Pro Consilio primæ Coloniæ Virginiæ"; the
seal for the Council of said Second Colony to have on one side, said
inscription, and on the other side "Pro Consilio secundæ Coloniæ
Virginiæ." A Council also to be established in England, to consist
of thirteen persons, to be appointed by his Majesty, &c., to be
called "Our Council of Virginia," to have the superior direction
of said Colonies, and to have a seal with said like arms and
portraiture, with the inscriptions "Sigillum Regis Magnæ Britanniæ
Franciæ et Hiberniæ "and" Pro Consilio suo Virginiæ." With
power to the said several Councils to dig for all mines of gold,
silver, and copper, within any part of said Colonies, and to enjoy
the same, yielding to the King, &c., the fifth part of all gold and
silver, and the fifteenth part of all copper; and to establish and
cause to be made, a coin to pass current there, for the more ease of
traffic amongst them and the natives. And power to said Sir
Thos. Gates, Sir George Somers and the others aforenamed, and to
the said several Companies, Plantations, and Colonies, to lead in
said voyage to inhabit in said Colonies, such of his Majesty's subjects as shall willingly accompany them, with sufficient shipping
and furniture of armour, weapons, ordnance, powder, victuals, and
all other things necessary for said plantations. Provided always
that none of said persons be such as shall be hereafter specially
restrained by his Majesty's license to said Sir Thos. Gates and
others aforenamed, to expulse and resist by sea and land, all persons
that shall without special license attempt to inhabit within the
precincts of said Colonies, or do anything to the hurt, detriment or
annoyance of the same; to take all persons, with their ships and
goods, found trafficking within the precincts of said Colonies, until
they, being his Majesty's subjects, shall agree to pay to the Treasurer
of that Colony two-and-a-half upon any hundred bought or sold,
and if strangers, five upon every hundred; said sums of money for
one and twenty years to be employed to the use of said plantations,
and afterwards to the use of his Majesty, his heirs and successors.
With liberty to said Colonies to transport the goods, chattels,
armour, munition, and furniture needful for their apparel, defence,
or otherwise, out of his Majesty's Dominions for seven years free
of customs, or other duty. With power to all inhabitants of said
Colonics and their children to enjoy all liberties, &c., as if born in
his Majesty's Dominions. If any person shall transport any wares,
&c., with the pretence of disposing of the same within the precinets
of said Colonies, and shall carry same into any Foreign country,
with a purpose to dispose of the same without license of his
Majesty, said goods to be forfeited to his Majesty. Provided always
that if any person rob, spoil, or commit any act of hostility by sea
or land upon the subjects of his Majesty, or of any Prince in
amity with him, and after Proclamation shall not make full satisfaction, said person to be put out of his Majesty's allegiance and
protection. Finally, his Majesty for himself, his heirs and successors, grants and agrees that upon petition in that behalf to be
made, his Majesty will, by Letters Patent, grant to such persons,
as the most part of the Council of each Colony shall nominate, all
the lands, tenements, and hereditaments which shall be within the
precincts of that Colony aforesaid; to be holden of his Majesty,
his heirs and successors, in fee and common soccage only, and not
in capite; all which lands, &c., shall be so distributed and divided
amongst the Undertakers for plantation of said Colonies and the
planters therein, in the manner to be ordered by the most part of
said Councils of said Colonies. [Patent Roll, 4 Jas. I., Part 19,
No. 1709. Printed in Hazard.] |
