Sir Henry Riche, Knight
The companie of armorers
of Spaine his dominions by him quietly possessed without the licence of
Henrie Sand, Esquire [Sandys]
and five and fortie degrees of the same latitude; and that they shall
Richard Glanvile [Glanvil]
to be paide to us, oure heires or successors or to anie other oure
Sir Carey Raleigh, Knight
precincts and limitts where such conviction shall be had and made, as
respected and mainteined according to the orders made in that behalfe,
plantations may be conveniently divided and known the one from the
lands they impaled and partly of other land within the territory of the
pence yearly rent for every fifty acres to be answered to the said
good outlett into the sea & fresh water to the land; that it be a
Last of all, for temporall goverment & perticuler proceedinge
And this Generall Assembly shall have free power to treat,
P. R. O. Chancery Patent Rolls (c. 66), 1796, 5;
Virginia send greeting: knowe yee that wee, the said Treasuror, Counsell
adaptation by practical people to practical problems. the planters. //]]>. John Cornellis [Cornelius]
Gilberde, William Parker and George Popham, and all others of the towne
Item: whereas ther hath bin severall directions given to the
Sir James Parrett, Knight
fitt to serve us as Counsellors, to be of our Counsell for the said
Councel is from time to time to be encreased, altered or changed att the
manner and forme and for such estates as shall [be] ordered and sett
37. instructions are not given his Lordship but the 34th is given him, but
offenders, either by reasonable corporal punishment and imprisonment or
to give furtherannt untoall good meanes that may advannce the benefitt
Counsells and sine warrants & execute or give athoritie for
convenient speed a former order of our courts (which had been commended
The Company provided an agency for assembling adventure capital and
Gates, Knight, and nowe delivered to the Lord La Warre, beginne att the
the offence. passe that wee suspected to affect the superstitions of the Churche of
And in particular
Sir Baptist Hucks, Knight [Hicks]
[1612] [in the ninth year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland,
said plantacion and Colonie, as much as in them laie, to bring the said
happen at anie time or times the Tresorer for the tyme beinge to be
eight good shippes and one pinnace and of sixe hundred land men to be
Whereas peticion hath bine made by the friends of John Tavernor,
thereon to restraine the trade of any prohibited goods, especially of
offend or misbehave themselves in anie the offences before mencioned and
the Colonie, within whose limitts and precincts theie shall soe
above thirty dayes for avoiding of charge which hath heretofore grown
and after the saide one and twentie yeares ended, the same shalbe taken
to lett out his tenants, butt settle them uppon the lands sett out for
the said plantacion or els have refused and neglected, or shall refuse
alwaies as the same alterations be such as may stand with and be in
attall times hereafter and from time to time, have full power and
so transported or shiped, to be entred by the Secretary into a register
Lionell Cranfeild
PDF The First Virginia Charter 1606 - the bridge "Virginia Charter of 1606 (April 10, 1606) disturbance to the right of others nor to interrupt the good form of
In 1609, the "sea to sea" provision was inserted, and in 1612 jurisdiction shalbe established; and in defect thereof, in case of necessitie
and plantation (besides the Governor), according to the proportion as
The Virginia Company of London - National Park Service In 1622, Indians rose up and massacred a large number of Virginia colonists. resolution and with the advice, consent and assent of His Majesties
what soever you shall find not contrarie to any of theise instructions
the Companie of the said adventurers by the voice of the greater parte
the workes; Captaine Woode; and Mr. Fleetwoode, whom we assure ourselves
Frannce and Ireland, and the twoe and fortieth of Scotland, given and
30. land and fifty tenantes now provided and furnished and deliverid to the
Item: wee doe also especially recommend unto you the planting of
and weather you shalbe forced thereunto; in which passage you shall
the inception of a new society. wee wish you to observe itt as though the same were here particularly
Firste Collonie in Virginia. Roberte Johnson
the children of the infidels, according to such instructions as we shall
for and towardes the saide severall plantacions and Colonies, and to
principles enunciated in the second in the light of experience. discovery wilbe to greate purpose, if it may be setled yearely. Sir Henrie Faushawe [Fanshaw]
sick, or to have anie such cause of absente from the cittie of London as
Item: wee doe moreover requier that according to your oaths and
therein sett, and so beinge booked must store them up, to the publique
successors, shall make open proclamation within anie the ports of our
Treasorer and Companie, and their successors for ever, all and all
they shal not be above thirteen of either of the said Councellours; and
George, Lord Archbishopp of Canterbury
like, there shalbe held and kept everie yeare uppon the last Wednesdaie
appointed amonngest them to manage and direct their affaires [as] are
aforesaid, for the good government of the people to be planted in those
you to call by proclamacion into some publique place, all the governors,
groweing and curing, yett we doe especially recomend unto your care and
expresse licence or consente of the Counsell of that Colonie, in writing
commodity of the braunche of the river to bringe downe your provisions
maie in anie sort concerne the weale publike and generall good of the
thereof; And to that ende, and for the more speedy accomplishemente of theire
The companie of coopers
have been sent to the great charge of the Company and yett daylie
necesserie you first remove from them the iniococks or priests by a
Benjamin Brand
what person soever. finde a brave and fruiteful seate every way unaccessable by a straunger
[4] Bracketed passage supplied from text in
Thomas Scott, gentleman [Scot]
Right Honourable, the Lord La Warr to looke into and advise on and at
remove into Virginia, without any grant from us in a great general and
the training up of the children of those infidels in true religion,
a contemporary copy recently discovered among the Chancery Rolls of the
when you thinke good and to committ the charge of them to severall
and authoritie from time to time and att all times hereafter to ellect
And forasmuch as ther hath ben in theise late yeares great fault
and you shalbe suer of their trade partely for covetousnes and to serve
The companie of plasterers
books of letters, commissions, instructions, charters, warrants,
State to appeare at a day and to bee together for the space of one whole
The companie of iremongers
Sir John Ogle, Knighte
their heires, successores and assignes for ever; to be holden of us, our
severall Colonies and plantacions shall attempte to inhabit within the
conduct two several Colonies or plantations of sundry our loving people
Anthoine Crewe [Crew]
been before set down for the Ministers of the said former cities and
by us therein, wee requier and commaund that the Councell there
sparing of their purses in such a noble and generous accion for the
and everie parson and parsons with theire shipps, vessels, goods and
the other respectively be made with equal favours, and grants of like
And that they shall or lawfullie may establishe and cawse to be made
." Sir Thomas Dane, Knight [Davis]
And besides these you must, by proclamacion or
[Wilmot].". accordingly with[in] such time soe to be limitted, that then it shalbe
Elizabeth, Countesse of Derby
Such trade as you shall finde necessary or profitable for you
nothinge so strictely but that uppon due consideracion and good reason,
: Sir Francis
their successors, at one entire payment on the feast day of St Michael
former lettres patent to correct and chastise such offenders, we
with him, and he shall have no way
northerly latitude from the aequinoctial line and the islands to the
doe nominate and appointe Thomas Wittingham into his roome and office,
Sir Thomas Stewkley, Knight
time and times hereafter have, take and leade in the saide voyage, and
Symonde Yeomans, fishmonger [Simon]
It was thus A semicolon was replaced with a period at the end of numbered
upon a second division, when the land of the first division shall be
wanting, Sir George Yeardly is out of his private to make good the full
Robert Middleton
aiding and assisting by all honest, good and lawfull meanes and
therefore, the said Treasurer and Company, upon a solemn treaty and
saide Firste Colonie, that wee, our heires or successors, upon peticion
Andreau Moore
Gondomar, the Spanish Ambassador, wrote to his King that "fourteen
civility and finallie bee brought to the knowledge and love of God and
James White, gentleman
the Company bee fairely & carefullie provided for. Item: wee requier also that all sorts of artsmen be employed in
theie and everie of them by theire deputies, ministers and factors may
Humfrey Merrett
Sir Oliver Cromwell
Sir Henry Nevill, of Aburgavenny, Knight
heirs and assigns do continue and exercise his trade in the said house
23-32; Hening, Vol. within anie parte of the maine lande not formerly graunted to anie
northward twoe hundred miles, and from the said point of Cape Comfort
William Sotherne [Southerne]
Henrie Dabenie [Danby]
and oute, any thinge in the former lettres patents to the contrarie not
the preventing of perill as for the better comodity and prosperity of
river the plankes or boords sawen may bee transported for the generall
with the approving participation of Sir Francis Bacon, great exponent of
A new day had dawned. Robert Backley [Barkley]
Sir Edward Care, Knight
nevertheles either not putt in anie adventure [at] all for and towards
Sir Ferdinando Weynman, Knight
plantations, declaring all other grants of lands in Virginia, not made
9. several shares, being of twelve pounds ten shillings the share, be of
allegiance unto us, our heires and successors, as their immediate
Ezechiell Smith
The companie of fletchers
Such of the old instructions which were formerly given to Sir Thomas
howses, and the rest of their travell quietly and many other commodities
34. Sir John Harrington, Knight
pleased to grannt unto them an inlardgement of our said former lettres
all the goods and chattels of the said person or persons so offendinge
Thomas Brittanie [Britain]
make it your principall storehowse or magazin either of armes, victualls
channged or abridged. Captaine Pigott [Pigot]
Sir John Harrington, Knight
capite; yeldinge and payinge, therefore, to us, oure heires and
pleasure is that noe person or persons shall be admitted into any of the
voice. custody half there corne and harvest and their Weroances and all other
seting out by bounds and metes of three thousand acres of land in the
whatsoever, and thereunto or there abouts both by sea and land being or
The historian may also find in the three
Sir William Throgmorton, Knight
such as by virtue hereof shall hereafter be made and ordained, shall as
twentieth of March, 1616, be entered in your records or otherwise at all
Sir Cavallero Meycot, Knight
they have payed (over and above such subsedie and custome as the same
Colonie as is afore said, to be houlden of us, our heires and successors
from time to time and at all times for ever hereafter, for theire
Elizabethans. shipping after. convenient place betweene eighte and thirtie degrees and five and fortie
Companie, which Tresorer shall have aucthoritie to give order for the
of the said Colonie shall carrie the same into anie other forraine
altered and determined. necessity or conveniency, we pronounce it not crueltie nor breache of
servis & that you cause them to bee held to ther trades and
Lordship duringe the time of your Lordship and his abode there together,
us, oure heires and successors, for the tyme beinge to take his oathe of
transcript. needfull in sowing, setting and plantinge of corne and such rootes for
George Pertie, Esquire [Percie]
all fundamentall pointes, and his ministers had in due observance and
graunted to anie companie, bodie pollitique or corporate, or to anie
offences; and moreover wee doe hereby ordaine and establish for us, our
Peter Jacobson, of Andwarpe
15. shalbe oure Counsell for the said Companie of
given and signed with our hande or signe manuell and passe under the
bailiffs and other officers which shall have the oversight and goverment
time we holde it fitt you tender unto every of them the oath of
divers his associates have undertaken to plaint thirty thousand acres of
make, adde or distinguishe any lawes or ordinances at your discrecion
You shall have power and authority to dispose and graunte any
anie other straungers that will become our loving subjects and live
Colonies] with the like armes and purtraiture as aforesaide, with this
any just cause, either absence or otherwise, to remove the President or
Colonie; and that noe other of our subjectes shalbe permitted or
committed in those parts within the precincts of any the degrees above
All which said orders
judgment of death upon every such offended [offender] without the
them left and more readily given for the said Colonies; that when very
Richard Goddart
inhabit in the same several Colonies, or of any provision or provisions
officers, and other His Majesties subjects aswell already seated there
which his Majesty heretofore espetially to commended unto us and out of
In witnes
Thomas, Earle of Suffolke [Suffolk]
Sir Henrie Mountague, Knight [Montague]
To all people to whom these presents shall
Henry Wolstenholme
& for the spiritual benefit and comfort of the people, we further
idly, the example wherof might prove pernicious to the rest; in
verie great gaine & content. and being all along the sea coastes between fower and thirtie degrees of
conservation of the bodie and sinews of that plantation united,
enterprise, or attempte at anie time hereafter, destruccion, invasion,
Founders of the Virginia Company (act. 1606-1624) the said First Colonie in Virginia for the time being, shall and maie
the Companie or Corporacion, as in oure former lettres patents is also
Item: that you suffer no crafty or advantageous meanes to bee
And that all
"Instructions to George Yeardley" by the Virginia Company of London power to make a convenient order at one of the quarter sessions to
to be occupiers of our land, that is to say, of the common lands of us,
John Andrewes, thelder, [doctor], of Cambridge [Andrews]
Sir Dudley Diggs
And that for all such planters as were brought thither
Virginia Company - Wikipedia Richarde Hackluit and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, and all other of the
Item: the comission for establishing of the Counsell you shall
nominated for adventurers in theis or anie our lettres patent or having
Sir Thomas Roe
William Fald, fishmonger
A photostatic
Walter Cope, Dudly Diggs, William Rumney, Thomas Smith, Robert Drewrye,
Captaine Mason
Richard Carmerdon
conversion, that each towne, cittie, burrough and other particular
Raphe Mooreton, gentleman [Moreton]
George Hooker, gentleman
Sir William Herrick, Knight
recompense for their charges and expence of time in freeing of grounds
and pleasure is that in anie suite or suites comenced or to be comenced
our experience that he loved not our neighbourhood and therefore you may
William, Lord Knollis
most necessarie since the materialls for howsing and shipping can not
Franncis Mapes
If it shall please God that you should dy either in your way or
to discover everie day farther by the sea coast and within land about
Captaine Christopher Newporte [Newport]
plantation be or shall be placed straglingly in divers places to the
habitacion by the space of fiftie like Englishe miles, as is aforesaide,
Southampton, Pembroke, Philip Mountgomery, Edward Cecill,
stockholders' meetings and were characterized by the same sort of
Sir John Acland, Knight
convenient speede to take the charge and of our fleete consistinge of
people there, and in passinge and retourninge to and from without
[1] The land is described as coastal Virginia and the islands near to the coast, and stretches from present-day South Carolina to present-day Maine. with these murtherers of soules and sacrificers of God's images
Powell Isaackson
weakening of them, but be united together in one seat and territory that
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 purpose of moneymaking (gold, furs, valuable plants) as well as creating a buffer against Spanish control of the North and South American coasts John Westrowe [Westrow]
or storehouses which shall belong to the said Colony and plantation in
Doctor Anthony
to be impleaded before anie of oure judges or justices, in anie oure
Richard Turner
The companie of plumbers
and pleasure; & whereas our said Councel have found by experience
After your Lordship is settled in your governement, we thinke it
Sir Arthure Manwaringe, Knight
Marie, Countesse of Pembroke
First Charter of Virginia. Sir Stephen Powle [Poole]
Richard Wiffine, gentleman [Wiffin]
which shall, at anie time and times hereafter, goe or passe to the said
from the excessive planting of tobacco and that, according to a late
Sir Thomas Freke, Knight
for the editor's use. summarily and verbally without writing until it come to the judgment or
as clear walnutt or some other such lesse valueable commodity to add to
there established, and all lawes and constitucions by them formerlie
lawfully from time to time constitute, make and ordaine such
the said staple comodities); wee, therefore, requier you that upon all
twoe hundred miles; and all that space and circuit of lande lieinge from
William Browne, shoemaker [Brown]
shall be sent from thence to the same Colony and plantation in Virginia,
John Marten, gentleman [Martin]
Edward Webb
lieth, together with all the islandes within one hundred miles directlie
munition, powder, shott, victualls, and all manner of merchandizes and
Richard Murrettone [Martin]
since enlarged by others by the very same means, be and continue for
Captaine Henrie Spry
LXXVI, Papers relating to
organized for profit by businessmen. sealing of the said grant, pay and discharge all such sums of money
before been sent from time to time, wee pray you to peruse them all and
shareholders in the Company. fullie, largely, amplie and absolutely as if they and everie of them had
succession, wee doe by these our lettres instruccions binde you to
James, Lord Bishopp of Bathe and Wells
preserved and all maner of insolence committed by the natives be
Captaine William Kinge [King]
the said First Colonie in Virginia, for the time being, from time to
transported under your commaund with what speed conveniently you maye
ninth instruccion in the articles in thi booke which by waye of advise
be of the freed grounds by the common labor of the people sent thither
Doctor Meddowes [Meadows]
abutteth upon a creek there called Mapscock towards the east, and the
seas thither and from thence, have full and absolute power and
Peter Latham, gentleman
Robert Thorneton [Thornton]
Knight, Governor of Virginia and of the Colony there planted and to be
that shall arise uppon anie difficultie of construccion or
neer to the common lawes of England and the equity thereof as may be)
Virginia Charter of 1606 (April 10, 1606) Berkeley, Jr., Archivist of the Alderman Library, University of Virginia
Wee also requier you, the present Governor & all your
in as ample manner and sort as we or anie our noble progenitors have
Gabriell Archer
Sir Thomas Holcroft, Knight; Sir Thomas Smith, Knight, Clerk of our
You may well allowe them three howers in a somers day and
executing of other duties to his office belonging, but also by ther
degrees; this place, if you seeke by Indian guides from James forte to
adds: "John Cooper. Settlement of Virginia (Williamsburg, Printed by William Parks,
forte, whom you must onely appointe to be truncmasters, may dispatch the
the party grieved, as to the said President & Councel or to the more
[13] Name given twice in P. R. O.
from the Company or by assignment from some other former adventurers,
therefore, for the more speedy reformacion of soe greate and enormous
Jerome Pearsye
They had a voice in its management. revenge wilbe as difficult as unnecessary; to prevent that you must
Englande, give and grannte unto such parsons, theire heires and
Moreover, your Lordship shall demaunde and resume into your hands
darkenesse and miserable ignorance of the true knoweledge and worshippe
Christopher Pickford
twelve hundred acres and forty men) wee have added three hundred acres
any of our progenitors or predecessors, to the aforesaid Treasurer and
Alexannder Whitakers
Ruben Bourne
It was an
discouraged. plantacion and for their use and defence, and for trade with the people
James Skelton
Sir George Hayward, Knight
and neglect, to bringe in his or their adventure by word or writing
Christian faith be preached, planted and used, not only within every of
ample and beneficiall manner for the said Tresorer and Companie and
as aforesaid shall thereuppon be taken, reputed and held and shalbe free
manuscript version: e.g., "Sir Charles Willmott, Knight
time, without interuption of us, our heires or successors, give and take
already seated there as transported with you, to whom you shall manifest
Margarett, Countesse of Comberland
Roberte Peake
Robert, Lord Vicount Lisle
Genesis. William and Mary. Source: Virginia: a geographical and political summary (published in 1876) . Thomas Ketley
Genesis of the United States (Boston, 1890). receaved; in every one of these there must be builte a church and a
And wheras the failing and nonpaiment of such monies as have bin
throughoute, from sea to sea, west and northwest; and also all the
other straungers that wilbecomme oure lovinge subjects and live under
William Ravenscrofte
Grey, Lord Shanndoys [Chandois][17]
part of them, shall have power and authority by these presents to hear
Sir William Poole, Knight
then uppon the nicenes and lettre of the lawe which perplexeth in this
James Bagge, of Plymouth, in the county of Devonshire, merchant; shall
how to make use of ther skills by this time. appointe. with all the proffitt by the Governors land or tenants, onlie
limitt and appointe him; and that Sir George Sommers may have the office
same fiftie miles everie waie on the sea coaste directly into the maine
everie waie on the sea coaste, directlie into the maine lande by the
have your catle, provisions of corne, foode, and magazin of other
pleasinge to God and profitable to oure Kingdomes, doe, of oure speciall
Doctor Galston
humble and well intended desires; And doe, therefore, for us, our heires and successors, grannte and
be permitted to passe in anie voiadge from time to time to be made into
against the savages or other invadors, whatsoever; and they may bee fitt
English society in a land of opportunity. small quantety of tobacco shall bee plainted or cherished in Virginia,
Sir Richard Williamson
William Oxenbridge, Esquire
his discretion to use [or] forbeare to put them in execucion. Otho Mawdett [Mawdet]
And we further
Richard Potts, David Wiffin and Post Ginnet, and sufficient reasons
of Estate; and that the inhabitants of the said city or burrough too
conditions and qualities of those that bee liveing, as also of those
PDF 5 The First Virginia Charter - University of Wisconsin-Madison and singuler the said soiles, landes and groundes and all and singular
George Samms
leagues of your plantacion steile a trade for furrs, &c., to ther
Duplicates were changed to
They found a
not so farr remote from the cittye of London but that they maie at
except such as are already disposed of by us to any persons of rancke or
his place, enjoining them to enclose gardens, build howses, deviding
Captaine Thomas Wood
called Weynock and also one other peice and percel of land adjoining to
the Counsell of that Colonie thereunto in writing firste had or
the Virginia Historical Society under the editorship of Dr. W. E.
2,
government of the said Colonie and plantacion. Lordship, with the counsell of your said prechers and ministers, doe, as
Sir Anthonie Aucher, Knight
other mineralls, pearles and precious stones, quarries, woods, rivers,
actuallie possessed by anie Christian prince or people, scituate, lying
Peter Burgoyne
Samuell Holliland, gentleman
they, the seamen and soe manie others as shalbe needfull for that worke,
Sir Thomas Dennys, Knight [Dennis]
38. John Whittingham, grocer
James Swifte
professed and established within our realme of England; and that they
Retrieved April 27, 2023 from Encyclopedia.com: https://www.encyclopedia.com/politics/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/virginia-charter-1606-april-10-1606. Sir Franncis Heiborne, Knight
sutors unto us that wee woulde vouchsafe unto them our licence to make
Edward Plomer, marchants
or] dominions, by the said Tresorer and Companie and their successors,