The Three Charters of the Virginia Company of London. With Seven Related Documents; 1606-1621

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 confirme by our said lettres patent unto the said Treasorer and Companie 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 aforesaid 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, proffitts, 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 compasse of those twoe hundred miles by us soe grannted unto the said Treasurer and Companie as aforesaid, and yet not farr distant from the said Colony in Virginia, there are or may be divers islandes lying desolate and uninhabited, some of which are already made knowne and discovered by the industry, travell, and expences of the said Company, and others allsoe are supposed 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 humble 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 kingedomes, 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 protection of God Almighty and of our royall power and authority, have therefore of our especiall grace, certain 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 Virginia 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 betweene the one and fortie and thirty degrees of Northerly latitude, together with all and singuler [soils] landes, groundes, havens, ports, rivers, waters, fishinges, mines and mineralls, aswell royal mines of gold and silver as other mines and mineralls, perles, precious stones, quarries, and all and singuler other commodities, jurisdiccions, royalties, priviledges, franchises and preheminences, both within the said tract of lande uppon the maine and allso within the said iselandes and seas adjoyning, whatsoever, 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 adventurer or adventurers, undertaker or undertakers of anie discoveries, 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: provided 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 assignes 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 aforesaid, that our trusty and welbeloved subjects.19

George, Lord Archbishopp of Canterbury

Gilbert, Earle of Shrewsberry

Mary, Countesse of Shrewesbeiry

Elizabeth, Countesse of Derby

Margarett, Countesse of Comberland

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 Cramborne

William, Lord Bishopp of Duresme

Henry, Lord Bishopp of Worceter

John, Lord Bishopp of Oxonford

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, widdow

Edward Sackvill, Esquier

Sir Henry Nevill, of Aburgavenny, 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, Knight

Franncis Bradley

Richard Buckminster [Buck]

Franncis Burley

John Procter

Alexannder Whitakers

Thomas Frake, thelder, and

Henry Freake, thelder, Ministers of God's word

The mayor and citizens of Chichester

The mayor and jurates of Dover

The bailiffs, burgesses and comonalty 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 [Shilds]

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 Warner

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 Fishborne

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 Tunberley [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 London,

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 henceforth be reputed, deemed and taken to be and shalbe brethren and free members of the Companie and shall and maie, respectively, 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 that20

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 Counsellors 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 persons 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 matters 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 establishing 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 assembled 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 danngerous 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 elswhere, 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 wheresoever, being in amity with us, as our naturall liedge subjects borne in anie our realmes and dominions; and that all such persons 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, priviledges, immunities, benefitts, profitts and commodities, whatsoever, to the said Companie in anie sort belonging or apperteining as fully, freely [and] amplie as anie other adventurer or adventurers 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 hereafter, 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, implement, 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.