Whereas the Colonie of Virginia, Planted by the hands of Our most deare
Father of blessed memory, for the propagation of Christian Religion,
the increase of Trade, and the enlarging of his Royall Empire, hath
not hitherto prospered so happily, as was hoped and desired, A great
occasion whereof his late Majesty conceived to be, for that the
government of that Colony was committed to the Company of Virginia,
encorporated of a multitude of persons of severall dispositions,
amongst whom the affaires of greatest moment were, and must be ruled
by the greater number of Votes and Voyces; And therefore his late
Majestie, out of His great Wisedome, and depth of Judgement, did desire
to resume that popular government, and accordingly the Letters Patents
of that Incorporation, were by his Highnesse direction in a Legall
course questioned, and thereupon judicially repealed, and adjudged to
bee voyde[1]; wherein his Majesties ayme was onely, to reduce that
government into such a right course, as might best agree with that
forme which was held in the rest of his Royall Monarchy, and was not
intended by him, to take away, or impeach the particular Interest of
any private Plantor, or Adventurer, nor to alter the same, otherwise
then should be of necessity for the good of the publique: And wheras We
continue the like care of those Colonies and Plantations, as Our late
deare Father did, and upon deliberate advice and consideration, are
of the same Judgement that Our said Father was of, for the government
of that Colony of Virginia; Now lest the apprehension of former
personall differences, which have heretofore happened (the reviving
and continuing whereof Wee utterly disallow, and strictly forbid)
might distract the mindes of the Plantors and Adventurers, or the
opinion, that We would neglect those Plantations, might discourage men
to goe or send thither, and so hinder the perfecting of that worke,
wherein We hold the honor of Our deare Father deceased, and Our owne
honour to be deeply engaged; We have thought fit to declare, and by
Our Royal Proclamation to publish Our owne Judgement, and resolution
in these things, which by Gods assistance Wee purpose constantly to
pursue. And therefore Wee doe by these presents publish and declare to
all Our loving Subjects, and to the whole world, that Wee hold those
Territories of Virginia and the Sommer-Ilands, as also that of New
England, where Our Colonies are already planted, and within the limits
and bounds whereof, Our late deare Father, by His Letters Patents,
under His great Seale of England, remaining of Record, hath given
leave and liberty to His Subjects to plant and inhabite, to be a part
of Our Royall Empire, descended upon Us and undoubtedly belonging and
appertaining unto Us; And that We hold Ourselfe, as well bound by Our
Regal office, to protect, maintaine, and support the same, and are so
resolved to doe, as any other part of Our Dominions:
And that Our full resolution is, to the end that there may be one
uniforme course of Government, in, and through Our whole Monarchie,
That the Government of the Colonie of Virginia shall immediately depend
upon Our Selfe, and not be committed to any Company or Corporation,
to whom it may be proper to trust matters of Trade and Commerce, but
cannot bee fit or safe to communicate the ordering of State-affaires,
be they of never so meane consequence: And that therefore Wee have
determined, That Our Commissioners for those Affaires, shall proceed
according to the tenor of Our Commission directed unto them, untill Wee
shall declare Our further pleasure therein. Neverthelesse We doe herby
declare, That Wee are resolved, with as much convenient expedition,
as Our Affaires of greater importance will give leave, to establish a
Councell, consisting of a few persons of understanding and qualitie,
to whom We will give trust for the immediate care of the Affaires of
that Colony, and who shall be answerable to Us for their proceedings,
and in matters of greater moment, shall be subordinate and attendant
unto Our Privie Councell heere; And that We will also establish another
Councell to be resident in Virginia, who shall be subordinate to Our
Councell here for that Colonie; and that at Our owne charge we will
maintaine those publique Officers and Ministers, and that strength of
Men, Munition, and Fortification, as shall be fit and necessary for
the defence of that Plantation, and will by any course that shall be
desired of Us, settle and assure the particular rights and interests of
every Planter and Adventurer, in any of those Territories, which shall
desire the same, to give them full satisfaction for their quiet and
assured enjoying thereof.
And lastly, whereas it is agreed on all sides, that the Tobacco of
those plantations of Virginia and the Sommer Islands (which is the
onely present meanes for their subsisting) cannot be managed for the
good of the Plantations, unlesse it be brought into one hand, whereby
the forreigne Tobacco may be carefully kept out, and the Tobacco of
those Plantations may yeeld a certaine and ready price to the owners
thereof; Wee doe hereby declare, That to avoid all differences and
contrariety of opinions, which will hardly be reconciled amongst the
Planters and Adventurers themselves, We are resolved to take the same
into Our owne hands, and by Our servants or Agents for Us, to give such
prices to the Planters and Adventurers for the same, as may give them
reasonable satisfaction and encouragement; but of the maner thereof,
Wee will determine hereafter at better leisure: And when We shall have
concluded the same, We shall expect, that all Our loving Subjects will
readily conforme themselves thereunto.
And in the meanetime, because the importation and use of forreigne
Tobacco, which is not of the growth of those Plantations, or one
of them, will visibly and assuredly undermine and destroy those
Plantations, by taking away the meanes of their subsistence, We doe
hereby strictly charge and command, That Our late Proclamation,
bearing date the ninth day of April last, intituled, (A Proclamation
touching Tobacco) shall in all points and parts thereof, be duely
and strictly observed, upon paine of Our high displeasure, and such
further penalties and punishments, as by the sayd Proclamation are
to be inflicted upon the offenders. And We doe hereby advise all Our
loving Subjects, and all others whom it may concerne, not to adventure
the breach of our Royall Commandement in any of the premisses, We being
fully resolved, upon no importunitie or intercession whatsoever, to
release or remit the deserved punishment of such, as shall dare to
offend against the same, seeing We holde not Our Selfe onely, but Our
people interested therein.
Given at Our Court at White-Hall, the thirteenth day of May, in the
first yeere of Our Reigne of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland.