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James, by the grace of God [King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith], etc. Whereas our loving and well-disposed subjects, Sir Thomas Gates and Sir George Somers, Knights; Richard Hackluit, Clarke, Prebendarie of Westminster; and Edward Maria Wingfield, Thomas Hannam and Raleigh Gilberde, Esquires; William Parker and George Popham, Gentlemen; and divers others of our loving subjects, have been humble suitors unto us that we would vouchsafe unto them our license to make habitation, plantation and to deduce a colony of sundry of our people into that part of America commonly called Virginia, and other parts and territories in America either appertaining unto us or which are not now actually possessed by any Christian prince or people, situate, lying and being all along the sea coasts between four and thirty degrees of northerly latitude from the equinoctial line and five and forty degrees of the same latitude and in the main land between the same four and thirty and five and forty degrees, and the islands thereunto adjacent or within one hundred miles of the coast thereof;
And to that end, and for the more speedy accomplishment of their said intended plantation and habitation there, are desirous to divide themselves into two several colonies and companies, the one consisting of certain Knights, gentlemen, merchants and other adventurers of our city of London, and elsewhere, which are and from time to time shall be joined unto them which do desire to begin their plantations and habitations in some fit and convenient place between four and thirty and one and forty degrees of the said latitude all along the coast of Virginia and coasts of America aforesaid and the other consisting of sundry Knights, gentlemen, merchants, and other adventurers of our cities of Bristol and Exeter, and of our town of Plymouth, and of other places which doe join themselves unto that colony which doe desire to begin their plantations and habitations in some fit and convenient place between eight and thirty degrees and five and forty degrees of the said latitude all along the said coast of Virginia and America as that coast lie;
We, 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 humane civility and to a settled and quiet government, do by these our letters patents graciously accept of and agree to their humble and well intended desires;
And do, therefore, for us, our heirs and successors, grant and agree that the said Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Sumers, Richarde Hackluit and Edward Maria Wingfield, adventurers of and for our city of London, and all such others as are or shall be joined unto them of that Colony, shall called the First Colony, and they shall and may begin their said first plantation and seat of their first abode and habitation at any place upon the said coast of Virginia or America where they shall think fit and convenient between the said four and thirty and one and forty degrees of the said latitude; and that they shall have all the lands, woods, soil, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, mines, minerals, marshes, waters, fishing's, commodities and hereditamentes whatsoever, from the said first seat of their plantation and habitation by the space of fifty miles of English statute measure all along the said coast of Virginia and America towardes the west and south west as the coast lie, with all the islands within one hundred miles directly over against the same sea coast; and also all the lands, soil, grounds havens, ports, rivers, mines, minerals, woods, [marshes], waters, fishing's, commodities and hereditamentes whatsoever, from the said place of their first plantation and habitation for the space of fifty like English miles, all along the said coast of Virginia and America towards the east and northeast [or toward the north] as the coast lie, together with all the islands within one hundred miles directly over against the same sea coast; and also all the lands, woods, soil, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, mines, minerals, marshes, waters, fishing's, commodities and hereditamentes whatsoever, from the same fifty miles every way on the sea coast directly into the main land by the space of one hundred like English miles; and shall and may inhabit and remain there; and shall and may also build and fortify within any the same for their better safeguard and defense, according to their best discretions and the direction of the Counsel of that Colony; and that no other of our subjects shale permitted or suffered to plant or inhabit behind or on the backside of them towards the main land, without the express license or consent of the Counsel of that Colony thereunto in writing first had or obtained.
And we do likewise for us, our heirs and successors, by these presents grant and agree that the said Thomas Hannam and Raleighe Gilberde, William Parker and George Popham, and all others of the town of Plymouthe in the county of Devon, or elsewhere, which are or shale joined unto them of that Colony, shale called the Second Colony; and that they shall and may begin their said first plantation and seat of their first abode and habitation at any place upon the said coast of Virginia and America, where they shall think fit and convenient, between eight and thirty degrees of the said latitude and five and forty degrees of the same latitude; and that they shall have all the lands, soil, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, mines, minerals, woods, marshes, waters, fishing's, commodities and hereditaments whatsoever, from the first seat of their plantation and habitation by the space of fifty like English miles, as is aforesaid, all along the said coast of Virginia and America towards the west and southwest, or towards the south, as the coast lie, and all the islands within one hundred miles directly over against the said sea coast; and also all the lands, soil, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, mines, minerals, woods, marshes, waters, fishing's, commodities and hereditamentes whatsoever, from the said place of their first plantation and habitation for the space of fifty like miles all along the said coast of Virginia and America towards the east and northeast or towards the north, as the coast lie, and all the islands also within one hundred miles directly over against the same sea coast; and also all the lands, soil, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, woods, mines, minerals, marshes, waters, fishings, commodities and hereditaments whatsoever, from the same fifty miles every way on the sea coast, directly into the main land by the space of one hundred like English miles; and shall and may inhabit and remain there; and shall and may also build and fortify within any the same for their better safeguard according to their best discretions and the direction of the Counsel of that Colony; and that none of our subjects shale permitted or suffered to plant or inhabit behind or on the back of them towards the main land without the express license or consent of the Counsel of that Colony, in writing thereunto, first had and obtained.
Provided always, and our will and pleasure herein is, that the plantation and habitation of such of the said Colonies as shall last plant themselves, as aforesaid, shall not be made within one hundred like English miles of the other of them that first began to make their plantation, as aforesaid.
And we do also ordain, establish and agree for [us], our heirs and successors, that each of the said Colonies shall have a Counsel which shall govern and order all matters and causes which shall arise, grow, or happen to or within the same several Colonies, according to such laws, ordinances and instructions as shale in that behalf, given and signed with our hand or sign manual and pass under the Privy Seale of our realm of England; each of which Counsels shall consist of thirteen persons and to be ordained, made and removed from time to time according as shale directed and comprised in the same instructions; and shall have a several seal for all matters that shall pass or concern the same several Counsels, each of which seals shall have the King's arms engraved on the one side there of and his portraiture on the other; and that the seal for the Counsel of the said First Colony shall have engraved round about on the one side these words: Sigillum Regis Magne Britanie, Francie [et] Hibernie; on the other side this inscripture round about: Pro Consillio Prime Colony Virginia. And the seal for the Counsel of the said Second Colony shall also have engraved round about the one side thereof the foresaid words: Sigillum Regis Magne Britanie, Francie [et] Hibernie; and on the other side: Pro Consilio Second Colony Virginia.
And that also there shall a Counsel established here in England which shall in like manner consist of thirteen persons to be, for that purpose, appointed by us, our heirs and successors, which shall called our Counsel of Virginia; and shall from time to time have the superior managing and direction only of and for all matters that shall or may concern the government, as well of the said several Colonies as of and for any other part or place within the aforesaid precincts of four and thirty and five and forty degrees abovementioned; which Counsel shall in like manner have a seal for matters concerning the Counsel [or Colonies] with the like arms and portraiture as aforesaid, with this inscription engraved round about the one side: Sigillum Regis Magne Britanie, Francie [et] Hibernie; and round about the other side: Pro Consilio Suo Virginia.
And more over we do grant and agree for us, our heirs and successors, that the said several Counsels of and for the said several Colonies shall and lawfully may by virtue hereof, from time to time, without interruption of us, our heirs or successors, give and take order to dig, mine and search for all manner of mines of gold, silver and copper, as well within any part of their said several Colonies as of the said main lands on the backside of the same Colonies; and to have and enjoy the gold, silver and copper to be gotten there of to the use and behoove of the same Colonies and the plantations thereof; yielding therefore yearly to us, our heirs and successors, the fifty part only of all the same gold and silver and the fifteenth part of all the same copper so to be gotten or had, as is aforesaid, and without any other manner of profit or account to be given or yielded to us, our heirs or successors, for or in respect of the same.
And that they shall or lawfully may establish and cause to be made a coin, to pass current there between the people of those several Colonies for the more ease of traffic and bargaining between and amongst them and the natives there, of such metal and in such manner and form as the same several Counsels there shall limit and appoint. And wee doe likewise for us, our heirs and successors, by these presents give full power and authority 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 every of them, and to the said several Companies, plantations and Colonies, that they and every of them shall and may at all and every time and times hereafter have, take and lead in the said voyage, and for and towards the said several plantations and Colonies, and to travel thitherward and to abide and inhabit there in every of the said Colonies and plantations, such and so many of our subjects as shall willingly accompany them, or any of them, in the said voyages and plantations, with sufficient shipping and furniture of armor, weapon, ordnance, powder, victual, and all other things necessary for the said plantations and for their use and defense there: provided always that none of the said parsons be such as hereafter shale specially restrained by us, our heirs or successors.
Moreover, wee doe by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, give and grant license 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 every of the said Colonies, that they and every of them shall and may, from time to time and at all times for ever hereafter, for their several defenses, encounter or expulse, repel and resist, as well by sea as by land, by all ways and means whatsoever, all and every such parson and parsons as without special license of the said several Colonies and plantations shall attempt to inhabit within the said several precincts and limits of the said several Colonies and plantations, or any of them, or that shall enterprise or attempt at any time hereafter the hurt, detriment or annoyance of the said several Colonies or plantations.
Giving and granting by these presents unto the said Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Richarde Hackluite, and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, and their associates of the said First Colony, and unto the said Thomas Hannam, Raleighe Gilberde, William Parker and George Popham, and their associates of the said Second Colony, and to every of them from time to time and at all times for ever hereafter, power and authority to take and surprize by all ways and means whatsoever all and every parson and parsons with their ships, vessels, goods and other furniture, which shale found trafficking into any harbor or harbors, creek, creeks or place within the limits or precincts of the said several Colonies and plantations, not being of the same Colony, until such time as they, being of any realms or dominions under our obedience, shall pay or agree to pay to the hands of the Treasurer of the Colony, within whose limits and precincts they shall so traffic, two and a half upon any hundred of any thing so by them trafficked, bought or sold; and being strangers and not subjects under our obeisance, until they shall pay five upon every hundred of such wares and commodity as they shall traffic, buy or sell within the precincts of the said several Colonies wherein they shall so traffic, buy or sell, as aforesaid; which sums of money or benefit, as aforesaid, for and during the space of one and twenty years next ensuing the date hereof shale wholly employed to the use, benefit and behoove of the said several plantations where such traffic shale made; and after the said one and twenty years ended the same shale taken to the use of us, our heirs and successors by such officer and minister as by us, our heirs and successors shale thereunto assigned or appointed.
And wee doe further, by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, give and grant unto the said Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Sumers, Richarde Hackluit, and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, and to their associates of the said First Colony and plantation, and to the said Thomas Hannam, Raleighe Gilberde, William Parker and George Popham, and their associates of the said Second Colony and plantation, that they and every of them by their deputies, ministers and factors may transport the goods, chattels, armor, munitions and furniture, needful to be used by them for their said apparel, defense or otherwise in respect of the said plantations, out of our realms of England and Ireland and all other our dominions from time to time, for and during the time of seven years next ensuing the date hereof for the better relief of the said several Colonies and plantations, without any custom, subsidy or other duty unto us, our heirs or successors to be yielded or paid for the same.
Also wee doe, for us, our heirs and successors, declare by these presents that all and every the parsons being our subjects which shall dwell and inhabit within every or any of the said several Colonies and plantations and every of their children which shall happen to be borne within the limits and precincts of the said several Colonies and plantations shall have and enjoy all liberties, franchises and immunities within any of our other dominions to all intents and purposes as if they had been abiding and borne within this our realm of England or any other of our said dominions.
Moreover our gracious will and pleasure is, and wee doe by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, declare and set forth, that if any person or persons which shall of any of the said Colonies and plantations or any other, which shall traffic to the said Colonies and plantations or any of them, shall at any time or times hereafter transport any wares, merchandise or commodities out of [any] our dominions with a pretence and purpose to land, sell or otherwise dispose the same within any the limits and precincts of any of the said Colonies and plantations, and yet nevertheless being at the sea or after he hath landed the same within any of the said Colonies and plantations, shall carry the same into any other foreign country with a purpose there to sell or dispose of the same without the license of us, our heirs or successors in that behalf first had or obtained, that then all the goods and chattels of the said parson or parsons so offending and transporting, together with the said ship or vessel wherein such transportation was made, shall be forfeited to us, our heirs and successors.
Provided always, and our will and pleasure is and wee doe hereby declare to all Christian kings, princes and estates, that if any parson or parsons which shall hereafter be of any of the said several Colonies and plantations, or any other, by his, their, or any of their license or appointment, shall at any time or times hereafter rob or spoil by sea or by land or doe any act of unjust and unlawful hostility to any the subjects of us, our heirs or successors, or any of the subjects of any king, prince, ruler, governor or state being then in league or amity with us, our heirs or successors, and that upon such injury or upon just complaint of such prince, ruler, governor or state or their subjects, wee, our heirs or successors, shall make open proclamation within any the ports of our realm of England, commodious for that purpose, that the said parson or parsons having committed any such robbery or spoil shall, within the term to be limited by such proclamations, make full restitution or satisfaction of all such injuries done, so as the said princes or others so complained may hold themselves fully satisfied and contented; and that if the said parson or parsons having committed such robbery or spoil shall not make or cause to be made satisfaction accordingly within] such time so to be limited, that then it shale lawful to us, our heirs and successors to put the said parson or parsons having committed such robbery or spoil and their procurers, abettors or comforters out of our allegiance and protection; and that it shale lawful and free for all princes and others to pursue with hostility the said offenders and every of them and their and every of their procurers, aiders, abettors and comforters in that behalf.
And finally wee doe, for us, our heirs and successors, grant and agree, to and with the said Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Sumers, Richarde Hackluit and Edwarde Maria Winghfeilde, and all other of the said First Colony, that wee, our heirs or successors, upon petition in that behalf to be made, shall, by letters patents under the Great [Seale] of England, give and grant unto such parsons, their heirs and assignees, as the Counsel of that Colony or the most part of them shall for that purpose nominate and assign, all the lands, tenements and hereditaments which shale within the precincts limited for that Colony, as is aforesaid, to be houlden of us, our heirs and successors as of our manner of Eastgreenwiche in the county of Kent, in free and common soccage only and not in capite.
And doe, in like manner, grant and agree, for us, our heirs and successors, to and with the said Thomas Hannam, Raleighe Gilberd, William Parker and George Popham, and all others of the said Second Colony, that wee, our heirs [and] successors, upon petition in that behalf to be made, shall, by letters patents under the Great Seale of England, give and grant unto such parsons, their heirs and assignees, as the Counsel of that Colony or the most part of them shall for that purpose nominate and assign, all the lands, tenements and hereditaments which shale within the precincts limited for that Colony as is afore said, to be houlden of us, our heirs and successors as of our manner of Eastgreenwich in the county of Kent, in free and common soccage only and not in capite.
All which lands, tenements and hereditaments so to be passed by the said several letters patents, shale, by sufficient assurances from the same patentees, so distributed and divided amongst the undertakers for the plantation of the said several Colonies, and such as shall make their plantation in either of the said several Colonies, in such manner and form and for such estates as shall [be] ordered and set [down] by the Counsel of the same Colony, or the most part of them, respectively, within which the same lands, tenements and hereditaments shall lie or be. Although express mention [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 whereof [we have caused these our letters to be made patents;] witness our self at Westminister the xth day of April [1606, in the fourth year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the nine and thirtieth.]
Questions on The First Virginia Charter