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Provifo re

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be lymitted, that then it shall be lawfull for us, our heires and fucceffors, to putt the faid perfon or perfons out of our allegiance and protection; and that it fhall be lawfull and free for all Princes to profecute with hoftility the said offenders and every of them, theire and every of theire procurers, ayders, abettors and comforters in that behalfe. Provided ferving to alfo, and our expreffe will and pleafure is, and wee do by the King's these presents for us, our heires and fucceffors, ordaine and other fubappoint, that these prefents fhall not in any manner enure, jects the right of fishor be taken to abridge, barre or hinder any of our lovinge ing on the fubjects whatfoever to use and exercise the trade of fishing coaft of the upon that coast of New-England in America by these pre- premises fents mentioned to be granted: But that they or any and granted. every or any of them fhall have full and free power and liberty to continue and ufe theire faid trade of fifhing upon the faid coaft in any of the feas thereunto adjoineing, or any armes of the feas or falt-water rivers where they have beene wont to fish, and to build and fet up upon the lands by these prefents granted, fuch wharfes, ftages, and workhouses as fhall be neceflary for the falting, drying, keeping and packing up of theire fifh to be taken or gotten upon that coast; and to cut downe and take fuch trees and other materialls there growing, or being, as fhall be needfull for that purpofe, and for other neceffary easements, helpes and advantage concerning theire faid trade of fifhing there, in fuch manner and forme as they have beene heretofore at any tyme accustomed to doe, without makeing any wilfull waste or fpoyle, any thing in thefe prefents contained to the contrary notwithstanding. And wee doe further for us, our heires These letand fucceffors, ordaine and grant the faid Governour and ters patent fhall be good Companie and their fucceffors, by thefe prefents, that thefe in law, and our letters patents fhall be firme, good, effectual, and avail- fhall be conable in all things and to all intents and conftructions of lawe, ftrued in faaccording to our true meaning herein before declared, and your of the fhall be conftrued, reputed, and adjudged in all cafes moft notwithfavourably on the behalfe and for the benefit and behoofe of standing any the faid Governour and Companie and their fucceffors: Al- miffions or though expreffe mention of the true yearly value, or certain- ons in them ty, of the premiffes, or any of them, or of any other gifts or or any forgrants, by us or any other of our progenitors or predeceffors, or other act to the forefaid Governour and Companie before this time of authority made, in these prefents is not made, or any ftatute, act, to the c ordinance, provifion, proclamation or reftraint to the con- trary. trary thereof heretofore had, made, published, ordained or provided, or any other matter, caufe, or thing whatsoever

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to the contrarie thereof in any wife notwithstanding. In witness whereof we have caufed these our letters to be made patent. Witnefs ourselves at Westminster, the fourth day of March, in the fourth yeare of our reigne,

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VIRGINIA CHARTERS.

NUMBER I. King JAMES I.'s LETTERS PATENT to Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers and others, for two feveral Colonies and Plantations, to be made in VIRGINIA, and other Parts and Territories of AMERICA. Dated April 10,

i606.

JAMES

I. JAMES, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. Whereas our loving and well difpofed fubjects, Sir Thomas Gates, and Sir George Somers, Knights, Richard Hackluit, Clerk, Prebendary of Weftminster, and Edward-Maria Wingfield, Thomas Hanham, and Ralegh Gilbert, Efqrs. William Parker and George Popham, Gentlemen, and divers others of our loving fubjects, have been humble fuitors unto us, that we would vouchsafe unto them our licence, to make habitation, plantation, and to deduce a colony of fundry 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 poffeffed by any chriftian prince or people, fituate, lying, and being all along the fea coafts, between four-and-thirty degrees of northerly latitude from the equinoctial line, and five-and-forty degrees of the fame latitude, and in the main land between the fame four-and-thirty and five-and-forty degrees, and the iflands thereunto adjacent, or within one hundred miles of the coaft thereof.

II. And to that end, and for the more fpeedy accomplishment of their faid intended plantation and habitation there, are defirous to divide themfelves into two feveral colonies and companies: the one confifting of certain knights, gentlemen, merchants, and other adventurers, of our city of London and elsewhere, which are, and from time to time fhall be, joined unto them, which do defire to begin their plantation and habitation in fome fit and convenient place, between four-andthirty and one-and-forty degrees of the faid latitude, along the coafts of Virginia and coafts of America aforefaid; and, the other confifting of fundry knights, gentlemen, merchants,

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and other adventurers, of our cities of Bristol and Exeter, and of our town of Plymouth, and of other places, which do join themselves unto that colony, which do defire to begin their plantation and habitation in fome fit and convenient place, between eight-and-thirty degrees and five-and-forty degrees of the faid latitude, all along the faid coaft of Virginia and America, as that coaft lieth.

III. We, greatly commending, and graciously accepting of, their defires for the furtherance of fo noble a work, which may, by the providence of Almighty God, hereafter tend to the glory of his divine Majefty, in propagating of chriftian religion to fuch people, as yet live in darkness and miferable ignorance of the true knowledge and worship of God, and may in time bring the infidels and favages, living in those parts, to human civility, and to a fettled and quiet government: Do, by these our letters patents, graciously accept of, and agree to, their humble and well intended defires. Grant to IV. And do therefore, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, the London grant and agree, that the faid Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Richard Hackluit, and Edward-Maria Wingfield, adventurers of and for our city of London, and all such where on others, as are, or fhall be, joined unto them of that color y, the coaft of fhall be called the first colony; and they shall and may begin rica, be- their faid first plantation and habitation, at any place upon tween lat. the faid coaft of Virginia or America, where they fhall think 34° and lat. fit and convenient, between the faid four-and-thirty and oneand-forty degrees of the faid latitude; and that they shall and of the have all the lands, woods, foil, grounds, havens, ports, their place rivers, mines, minerals, marshes, waters, fifhings, commodities, and hereditaments, whatsoever, from the faid firft diftance of feat of their plantation and habitation by the fpace of fifty miles of English ftatute measure, all along the faid coaft of from it,each Virginia and America, towards the weft and fouthwest, as the coaft lieth, with all the islands within one hundred miles the depth of 100 wiles directly over against the fame fea coaft; and alfo all the lands, foil, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, mines, minerals, woods, waters, marfhes, fifhings, commodities, and hereditaments, whatsoever, from the faid place of their firft plantation and habitation for the fpace of fifty like English miles, all along the faid coafts of Virginia and America, towards the east and north-east, or towards the north, as the coaft lieth, together with all the iflands within one hundred miles, directly over against the said sea coaft; and also all the lands, woods, foil, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, mines, minerals, marshes, waters, fishings, commodities, and here

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ditaments, whatfoever, from the fame fifty miles every way on the fea coaft, directly into the main land by the space of one hundred like English miles; and fhall and may inhabit and remain there; and fhall and may also build and fortify within any the fame, for their better fafeguard and defence, according to their beft difcretion, and the difcretion of the Council of that colony; and that no other of our subjects hall be permitted, or fuffered, to plant or inhabit behind, or on the backfide of them, towards the main land, without the exprefs licence or confent of the Council of that colony, thereunto in writing firft had and obtained.

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V. And we do likewise, for us, our heirs, and fucceffors, Grant to by these presents, grant and agree, that the faid Thomas mouth comHanham, and Ralegh Gilbert, William Parker, and George pany of liPopham, and all others of the town Plymouth in the county berty to fetof Devon, or elsewhere, which are, or fhall be, joined unto where on them of that colony, fhall be called the fecond colony; and the coaft of that they shall and may begin their faid plantation and feat of North Ametheir first abode and habitation, at any place upon the faid rica, becoaft of Virginia and America, where they fhall think fit and 380 and lat. convenient, between eight-and-thirty degrees of the faid 45°. latitude, and five-and-forty degrees of the fame latitude; and and of the that they fhall have all the lands, foils, grounds, havens, fea coaftnear ports, rivers, mines, minerals, woods, marches, waters, their place fifhings, commodities, and hereditaments, whatsoever, from me the first feat of their plantation and habitation by the space of diftance of fifty like English miles, as is aforefaid, all along the faid so miles coafts of Virginia and America, towards the weft and fouthweft, or towards the fouth, as the coaft lieth, and all the the depth of iflands within one hundred miles, directly over against the 100 miles faid fea coaft; and alfo all the lands, foils, grounds, havens, main land, ports, rivers, mines, minerals, woods, marfhes, waters, fishings, commodities, and hereditaments, whatsoever, from the faid place of their first plantation and habitation for the space of fifty like English miles, all along the said coast of Virgi nia and America, towards the east and north-eaft, or towards the north, as the coaft lieth, and all the islands also within one hundred miles directly over against the same sea coast; and alfo all the lands, foils, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, woods, mines, minerals, marfhes, waters, fifhings, commodities, and hereditaments, whatsoever, from the fame fifty miles every way on the fea coaft, directly into the main land, by the space of one hundred like English miles; and fhall and may inhabit and remain there; and fhall and may also build and fortify within any the fame for their better fafeguard, accord

into the

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