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The First Virginia Charter
April 10, 1606
James, by the grace of God [King of England, Scotland, France, and
Ireland, Defender of the Faith], etc. Whereas our loving and weldisposed
subjects, Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers, Knightes; Richarde
Hackluit, Clarke, Prebendarie of Westminster; and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde,
Thomas Hannam and Raleighe Gilberde, Esquiers; William Parker and George
Popham, Gentlemen; and divers others of our loving subjects, have been
humble sutors unto us that wee woulde vouchsafe unto them our licence to
make habitacion, plantacion and to deduce a colonie of sondrie of our people
into that parte of America commonly called Virginia, and other parts and
territories in America either appartaining unto us or which are not nowe
actuallie possessed by anie Christian prince or people, scituate, lying and
being all along the sea coastes between fower and thirtie degrees of
northerly latitude from the equinoctiall line and five and fortie degrees of
the same latitude and in the maine lande betweene the same fower and thirtie
and five and fourtie degrees, and the ilandes thereunto adjacente or within
one hundred miles of the coaste thereof;
And to that ende, and for the more speedy accomplishemente of
theire saide intended plantacion and habitacion there, are desirous to
devide themselves into two severall colonies and companies, the one
consisting of certaine Knightes, gentlemen, marchanntes and other
adventurers of our cittie of London, and elsewhere, which are and from time
to time shalbe joined unto them which doe desire to begin theire plantacions
and habitacions in some fitt and conveniente place between fower and thirtie
and one and fortie degrees of the said latitude all alongest the coaste of
Virginia and coastes of America aforesaid and the other consisting of
sondrie Knightes, gentlemen, merchanntes, and other adventurers of our
citties of Bristoll and Exeter, and of our towne of Plymouthe, and of other
places which doe joine themselves unto that colonie which doe desire to
beginn theire plantacions and habitacions in some fitt and convenient place
betweene eighte and thirtie degrees and five and fortie degrees of the saide
latitude all alongst the saide coaste of Virginia and America as that coastelieth;
Wee, greately commending and graciously accepting of theire
desires to the furtherance of soe noble a worke which may, by the providence
of Almightie God, hereafter tende to the glorie of His Divine Majestie in
propagating of Christian religion to suche people as yet live in darkenesse
and miserable ignorance of the true knoweledge and worshippe of God and may
in tyme bring the infidels and salvages living in those parts to humane
civilitie and to a setled and quiet govermente, doe by theise our lettres
patents graciously accepte of and agree to theire humble and well intended
desires;
And doe, therefore, for us, our heires and successors, grannte and
agree that the saide Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Sumers, Richarde Hackluit
and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, adventurers of and for our cittie of London,
and all suche others as are or shalbe joined unto them of that Colonie,
shalbe called the Firste Colonie, and they shall and may beginne theire
saide firste plantacion and seate of theire firste aboade and habitacion at
anie place upon the saide coaste of Virginia or America where they shall
thincke fitt and conveniente betweene the saide fower and thirtie and one
and fortie degrees of the saide latitude; and that they shall have all the
landes, woods, soile, groundes, havens, ports, rivers, mines, mineralls,
marshes, waters, fishinges, commodities and hereditamentes whatsoever, from
the said first seate of theire plantacion and habitacion by the space of
fiftie miles of Englishe statute measure all alongest the saide coaste of
Virginia and America towardes the weste and southe weste as the coaste
lieth, with all the islandes within one hundred miles directlie over
againste the same sea coaste; and alsoe all the landes, soile, groundes
havens, ports, rivers, mines, mineralls, woods, marrishes [marshes], waters,
fishinges, commodities and hereditamentes whatsoever, from the saide place
of theire firste plantacion and habitacion for the space of fiftie like
Englishe miles, all alongest the saide coaste of Virginia and America
towardes the easte and northeaste [or toward the north] as the coaste lieth,
together with all the islandes within one hundred miles directlie over
againste the same sea coaste; and alsoe all the landes, woodes, soile,
groundes, havens, portes, rivers, mines, mineralls, marrishes, waters,
fishinges, commodities and hereditamentes whatsoever, from the same fiftie
miles everie waie on the sea coaste directly into the maine lande by the
space of one hundred like Englishe miles; and shall and may inhabit and
remaine there; and shall and may alsoe builde and fortifie within anie the
same for theire better safegarde and defence, according to theire best
discrecions and the direction of the Counsell of that Colonie; and that noe
other of our subjectes shalbe permitted or suffered to plante or inhabit
behinde or on the backside of them towardes the maine lande, without the
expresse licence or consente of the Counsell of that Colonie thereunto in
writing firste had or obtained.
And wee doe likewise for us, our heires and successors, by theise
presentes grannte and agree that the saide Thomas Hannam and Raleighe
Gilberde, William Parker and George Popham, and all others of the towne of
Plymouthe in the countie of Devon, or elsewhere, which are or shalbe joined
unto them of that Colonie, shalbe called the Seconde Colonie; and that they
shall and may beginne theire saide firste plantacion and seate of theire
first aboade and habitacion at anie place upon the saide coaste of Virginia
and America, where they shall thincke fitt and conveniente, betweene eighte
and thirtie degrees of the saide latitude and five and fortie degrees of the
same latitude; and that they shall have all the landes, soile, groundes,
havens, ports, rivers, mines, mineralls, woods, marishes, waters, fishinges,
commodities and hereditaments whatsoever, from the firste seate of theire
plantacion and habitacion by the space of fiftie like Englishe miles, as is
aforesaide, all alongeste the saide coaste of Virginia and America towardes
the weste and southwest, or towardes the southe, as the coaste lieth, and
all the islandes within one hundred miles directlie over againste the saide
sea coaste; and alsoe all the landes, soile, groundes, havens, portes,
rivers, mines, mineralls, woods, marishes, waters, fishinges, commodities
and hereditamentes whatsoever, from the saide place of theire firste
plantacion and habitacion for the space of fiftie like miles all alongest
the saide coaste of Virginia and America towardes the easte and northeaste
or towardes the northe, as the coaste liethe, and all the islandes alsoe
within one hundred miles directly over againste the same sea coaste; and
alsoe all the landes, soile, groundes, havens, ports, rivers, woodes, mines,
mineralls, marishes, waters, fishings, commodities and hereditaments
whatsoever, from the same fiftie miles everie waie on the sea coaste,
directlie into the maine lande by the space of one hundred like Englishe
miles; and shall and may inhabit and remaine there; and shall and may alsoe
builde and fortifie within anie the same for theire better saufegarde
according to theire beste discrecions and the direction of the Counsell of
that Colonie; and that none of our subjectes shalbe permitted or suffered to
plante or inhabit behinde or on the backe of them towardes the maine lande
without the expresse licence or consente of the Counsell of that Colonie, in
writing thereunto, firste had and obtained.
Provided alwaies, and our will and pleasure herein is, that the
plantacion and habitacion of suche of the saide Colonies as shall laste
plante themselves, as aforesaid, shall not be made within one hundred like
Englishe miles of the other of them that firste beganne to make theire
plantacion, as aforesaide.
And wee doe alsoe ordaine, establishe and agree for [us], our
heires and successors, that eache of the saide Colonies shall have a
Counsell which shall governe and order all matters and causes which shall
arise, growe, or happen to or within the same severall Colonies, according
to such lawes, ordinannces and instructions as shalbe in that behalfe, given
and signed with our hande or signe manuell and passe under the Privie Seale
of our realme of Englande; eache of which Counsells shall consist of
thirteene parsons and to be ordained, made and removed from time to time
according as shalbe directed and comprised in the same instructions; and
shall have a severall seale for all matters that shall passe or concerne the
same severall Counsells, eache of which seales shall have the Kinges armes
engraven on the one side there of and his pourtraiture on the other; and
that the seale for the Counsell of the saide Firste Colonie shall have
engraven rounde about on the one side theise wordes: Sigillum Regis Magne
Britanie, Francie [et] Hibernie; on the other side this inscripture rounde
about: Pro Consillio Prime Colonie Virginie. And the seale for the Counsell
of the saide Seconde Colonie shall alsoe have engraven rounde about the one
side thereof the foresaide wordes: Sigillum Regis Magne Britanie, Francie
[et] Hibernie; and on the other side: Pro Consilio Secunde Colonie Virginie.
And that alsoe ther shalbe a Counsell established here in Englande
which shall in like manner consist of thirteen parsons to be, for that
purpose, appointed by us, our heires and successors, which shalbe called our
Counsell of Virginia; and shall from time to time have the superior managing
and direction onelie of and for all matters that shall or may concerne the
govermente, as well of the said severall Colonies as of and for anie other
parte or place within the aforesaide precinctes of fower and thirtie and
five and fortie degrees abovementioned; which Counsell shal in like manner
have a seale for matters concerning the Counsell [or Colonies] with the like
armes and purtraiture as aforesaide, with this inscription engraven rounde
about the one side: Sigillum Regis Magne Britanie, Francie [et] Hibernie;
and rounde about the other side: Pro Consilio Suo Virginie.
And more over wee doe grannte and agree for us, our heires and
successors, that the saide severall Counsells of and for the saide severall
Colonies shall and lawfully may by vertue hereof, from time to time, without
interuption of us, our heires or successors, give and take order to digg,
mine and searche for all manner of mines of goulde, silver and copper, as
well within anie parte of theire saide severall Colonies as of the saide
maine landes on the backside of the same Colonies; and to have and enjoy the
goulde, silver and copper to be gotten there of to the use and behoofe of
the same Colonies and the plantacions thereof; yeilding therefore yerelie to
us, our heires and successors, the fifte parte onelie of all the same goulde
and silver and the fifteenth parte of all the same copper soe to be gotten
or had, as is aforesaid, and without anie other manner of profitt or
accompte to be given or yeilded to us, our heires or successors, for or in
respecte of the same.
And that they shall or lawfullie may establishe and cawse to be
made a coine, to passe currant there betwene the people of those severall
Colonies for the more ease of trafiique and bargaining betweene and amongest
them and the natives there, of such mettall and in such manner and forme as
the same severall Counsells there shall limitt and appointe. And wee doe
likewise for us, our heires and successors, by theise presents give full
power and auctoritie to the said Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Sumers,
Richarde Hackluit, Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, Thomas Hannam, Raleighe
Gilberde, William Parker and George Popham, and to everie of them, and to
the saide severall Companies, plantacions and Colonies, that they and everie
of them shall and may at all and everie time and times hereafter have, take
and leade in the saide voyage, and for and towardes the saide severall
plantacions and Colonies, and to travell thitherwarde and to abide and
inhabit there in everie of the saide Colonies and plantacions, such and
somanie of our subjectes as shall willinglie accompanie them, or anie of
them, in the saide voyages and plantacions, with sufficiente shipping and
furniture of armour, weapon, ordonnance, powder, victall, and all other
thinges necessarie for the saide plantacions and for theire use and defence
there: provided alwaies that none of the said parsons be such as hereafter
shalbe speciallie restrained by us, our heires or successors.
Moreover, wee doe by theise presents, for us, our heires and
successors, give and grannte licence unto the said Sir Thomas Gates, Sir
George Sumers, Richarde Hackluite, Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, Thomas Hannam,
Raleighe Gilberde, William Parker and George Popham, and to everie of the
said Colinies, that they and everie of them shall and may, from time to time
and at all times for ever hereafter, for theire severall defences, incounter
or expulse, repell and resist, aswell by sea as by lande, by all waies and
meanes whatsoever, all and everie suche parson and parsons as without
espiciall licence of the said severall Colonies and plantacions shall
attempte to inhabit within the saide severall precincts and limitts of the
saide severall Colonies and plantacions, or anie of them, or that shall
enterprise or attempt at anie time hereafter the hurte, detrimente or
annoyance of the saide severall Colonies or plantacions.
Giving and grannting by theise presents unto the saide Sir Thomas
Gates, Sir George Somers, Richarde Hackluite, and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde,
and theire associates of the said Firste Colonie, and unto the said Thomas
Hannam, Raleighe Gilberde, William Parker and George Popham, and theire
associates of the saide Second Colonie, and to everie of them from time to
time and at all times for ever hereafter, power and auctoritie to take and
surprize by all waies and meanes whatsoever all and everie parson and
parsons with theire shipps, vessels, goods and other furniture, which shalbe
founde traffiqueing into anie harbor or harbors, creeke, creekes or place
within the limitts or precincts of the saide severall Colonies and
plantacions, not being of the same Colonie, untill such time as they, being
of anie realmes or dominions under our obedience, shall paie or agree to
paie to the handes of the Tresorer of the Colonie, within whose limitts and
precincts theie shall soe traffique, twoe and a halfe upon anie hundred of
anie thing soe by them traffiqued, boughte or soulde; and being stranngers
and not subjects under our obeysannce, untill they shall paie five upon
everie hundred of suche wares and commoditie as theie shall traffique, buy
or sell within the precincts of the saide severall Colonies wherein theie
shall soe traffique, buy or sell, as aforesaide; which sommes of money or
benefitt, as aforesaide, for and during the space of one and twentie yeres
nexte ensuing the date hereof shalbe whollie imploied to the use, benefitt
and behoofe of the saide severall plantacions where such trafficque shalbe
made; and after the saide one and twentie yeres ended the same shalbe taken
to the use of us, our heires and successors by such officer and minister as
by us, our heires and successors shalbe thereunto assigned or appointed.
And wee doe further, by theise presentes, for us, our heires and
successors, give and grannte unto the saide Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George
Sumers, Richarde Hackluit, and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, and to theire
associates of the saide Firste Colonie and plantacion, and to the saide
Thomas Hannam, Raleighe Gilberde, William Parker and George Popham, and
theire associates of the saide Seconde Colonie and plantacion, that theie
and everie of them by theire deputies, ministers and factors may transport
the goods, chattells, armor, munition and furniture, needfull to be used by
them for theire saide apparrell, defence or otherwise in respecte of the
saide plantacions, out of our realmes of Englande and Irelande and all other
our dominions from time to time, for and during the time of seaven yeres
nexte ensuing the date hereof for the better releife of the said severall
Colonies and plantacions, without anie custome, subsidie or other dutie unto
us, our heires or successors to be yeilded or paide for the same.
Alsoe wee doe, for us, our heires and successors, declare by
theise presentes that all and everie the parsons being our subjects which
shall dwell and inhabit within everie or anie of the saide severall Colonies
and plantacions and everie of theire children which shall happen to be borne
within the limitts and precincts of the said severall Colonies and
plantacions shall have and enjoy all liberties, franchises and immunites
within anie of our other dominions to all intents and purposes as if they
had been abiding and borne within this our realme of Englande or anie other
of our saide dominions.
Moreover our gracious will and pleasure is, and wee doe by theise
presents, for us, our heires and successors, declare and sett forthe, that
if anie parson or parsons which shalbe of anie of the said Colonies and
plantacions or anie other, which shall trafficque to the saide Colonies and
plantacions or anie of them, shall at anie time or times hereafter
transporte anie wares, marchandize or commodities out of [any] our dominions
with a pretence and purpose to lande, sell or otherwise dispose the same
within anie the limitts and precincts of anie of the saide Colonies and
plantacions, and yet nevertheles being at the sea or after he hath landed
the same within anie of the said Colonies and plantacions, shall carrie the
same into any other forraine countrie with a purpose there to sell or
dispose of the same without the licence of us, our heires or successors in
that behalfe first had or obtained, that then all the goods and chattels of
the saide parson or parsons soe offending and transporting, together with
the said shippe or vessell wherein suche transportacion was made, shall be
forfeited to us, our heires and successors.
Provided alwaies, and our will and pleasure is and wee doe hereby
declare to all Christian kinges, princes and estates, that if anie parson or
parsons which shall hereafter be of anie of the said severall Colonies and
plantacions, or anie other, by his, theire, or anie of theire licence or
appointment, shall at anie time or times hereafter robb or spoile by sea or
by lande or doe anie acte of unjust and unlawfull hostilitie to anie the
subjects of us, our heires or successors, or anie of the subjects of anie
king, prince, ruler, governor or state being then in league or amitie with
us, our heires or successors, and that upon suche injurie or upon juste
complainte of such prince, ruler, governor or state or their subjects, wee,
our heires or successors, shall make open proclamation within anie the ports
of our realme of Englande, commodious for that purpose, that the saide
parson or parsons having committed anie such robberie or spoile shall,
within the terme to be limitted by suche proclamations, make full
restitucion or satisfaction of all suche injuries done, soe as the saide
princes or others soe complained may houlde themselves fully satisfied and
contented; and that if the saide parson or parsons having committed such
robberie or spoile shall not make or cause to be made satisfaction
accordingly with[in] such time soe to be limitted, that then it shalbe
lawfull to us, our heires and successors to put the saide parson or parsons
having committed such robberie or spoile and theire procurers, abbettors or
comfortors out of our allegeannce and protection; and that it shalbe
lawefull and free for all princes and others to pursue with hostilitie the
saide offenders and everie of them and theire and everie of theire
procurors, aiders, abbettors and comforters in that behalfe.
And finallie wee doe, for us, our heires and successors, grannte
and agree, to and with the saide Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Sumers,
Richarde Hackluit and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, and all other of the saide
Firste Colonie, that wee, our heires or successors, upon peticion in that
behalfe to be made, shall, by lettres patents under the Greate [Seale] of
Englande, give and grannte unto such parsons, theire heires and assignees,
as the Counsell of that Colonie or the most part of them shall for that
purpose nomminate and assigne, all the landes, tenements and hereditaments
which shalbe within the precincts limitted for that Colonie, as is
aforesaid, to be houlden of us, our heires and successors as of our mannor
of Eastgreenwiche in the countie of Kente, in free and common soccage onelie
and not in capite.
And doe, in like manner, grannte and agree, for us, our heires and
successors, to and with the saide Thomas Hannam, Raleighe Gilberd, William
Parker and George Popham, and all others of the saide Seconde Colonie, that
wee, our heires [and] successors, upon petition in that behalfe to be made,
shall, by lettres patentes under the Great Seale of Englande, give and
grannte unto such parsons, theire heires and assignees, as the Counsell of
that Colonie or the most parte of them shall for that purpose nomminate and
assigne, all the landes, tenementes and hereditaments which shalbe within
the precinctes limited for that Colonie as is afore said, to be houlden of
us, our heires and successors as of our mannor of Eastgreenwich in the
countie of Kente, in free and common soccage onelie and not in capite.
All which landes, tenements and hereditaments soe to be passed by
the saide severall lettres patents, shalbe, by sufficient assurances from
the same patentees, soe distributed and devided amongest the undertakers for
the plantacion of the said severall Colonies, and such as shall make theire
plantacion in either of the said severall Colonies, in such manner and forme
and for such estates as shall [be] ordered and sett [downe] by the Counsell
of the same Colonie, or the most part of them, respectively, within which
the same lands, tenements and hereditaments shall ly or be. Althoughe
expresse mencion [of the true yearly value or certainty of the premises, or
any of them, or of any other gifts or grants, by us or any our progenitors
or predecessors, to the aforesaid Sir Thomas Gates, Knt. Sir George Somers,
Knt. Richard Hackluit, Edward-Maria Wingfield, Thomas Hanham, Ralegh
Gilbert, William Parker, and George Popham, or any of them, heretofore made,
in these presents, is not made; or any statute, act, ordnance, or provision,
proclamation, or restraint, to the contrary hereof had, made, ordained, or
any other thing, cause, or matter whatsoever, in any wise notwithstanding.]
In witnesse wherof [we have caused these our letters to be made patents;]
witnesse our selfe at Westminister the xth day of Aprill [1606, in the
fourth year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland
the nine and thirtieth.]
[Lukin]
Exactum per breve de private sigillo [etc.]
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The U. S. Constitution
