His
Majestyes Grant & Declaracon in Favour of his subjects Inhabiting
in Virginia
Charles
the Second, by the grace of God King of England, Scotland,
France and Ireland Defendor of the Faith. To all to whome
these presents shall come Greeting. Know yee that wee of our
especiall grace, certaine knowledge and meere motion have
declared and granted, And by these presents doe for us our
heires and Successors declare and grant, That all the Subjects
of us our heires and successors from tyme to tyme Inhabiting
within our Colony and Plantation of Vriginia shall have their
immediate Dependance upon the Crowne of England, under the
Rule and Government of such Governour or Governours as Wee,
our heires or Successors shall from tyme to tyme apoint in
that behalfe, and of or upon noe other person or persons whatsoever.
And further that the Governor for the time being shalbe Resident
in that Country, Except Wee or our heires shall at anytime
Commaund his Attendance in England or Elswhere, in which case
a Deputie shall be chosen to continue during the absence of
such Governour in manner as hath formerly beene used; enlesse
Wee Our Heires or Successors shall thinke fitt to Nominate
such Deputie. And further, if any Governour shall happen to
dye, then another Governour shall and may be chosen as hath
beene formerly used; to continue untill Wee our Heires or
Successors shall appoint a New Governour. And Moreover, that
all Lands now possessed by the severall and respective Planters
or Inhabitants of Virginia are and shall be Confirmed
and Established to them and their Heires for Ever, where the
property of any particular mans Interest in any Lands there
shall not be altered or prejudiced by reason thereof And our
further will and pleasure is, And wee doe hereby of our further
grace and favour Declare and Grant, that for the Encouragement
of such our Subjects as shall from time to time goe to dwell
in the said Plantacon, there shall be assigned out of the
lands (not already appropriated) to every person soe coming
to dwell Fiftie Acres, according as hath beene used and allowed
since the first Plantacion, to be held of us, our Heires and
Successors, as of our Mannor of East-Greenwich in the County
of Kent, in free and comon Soccage And
further that all Lands possessed by any Subject, inhabiting
in Virginia which is Escheated or shall Escheate unto Us our
Heires or Successors shall and may bee enjoyed by such Inhabitant
or Possessor his Heires and Assignes for ever, Paying twoe
poundes of Tobacco Composicon for every Acre, which is the
Rate sett by our Governour according to our Instruccons to
him in that behalf: And further that the Governour and Counsell,
or any Five or more of them (whereof the Governour or his
Deputye to be alwayes one) shall and hereby have full power
and authority to heare and determine all Treasons, Murders,
Felonyes and other Offences comitted or done or to be comitted
or done within the said Government, soe as they proceede
therein as neere as may be to the Lawes and Statutes of this
our Kingdome of England. And lastly Know yee that wee being
of our Royall goodnesse graciously inclined to favour the
Subjects of Us, our heires and Successors, which now doe or
hereafter shall Inhabite in the said Countrey of Virginia
and to give the more liberall & ample Encouragement to Plantacions
there Doe hereby declare our Royall Will and pleasure
to be that all and every Classe, Article and Sentence in these
our Letters Patents conteined shall be from tyme o tyme for
ever hereafter, as often as any ambiguity, Doubt or Question
shall or may happen to arise; thereupon, expounded, contrued,
deemed and taken to bee by us meant and intended, and shall
enure and take effect in the most beneficiall and avayleable
sence to all intents and purposes for the profitt and advantage
of the Subjects of us, our heires and Successors of Virginia
aforesaid; aswell against Us our Heires and Successors, as
against all and every other person and persons whatsoever:
Any Law, Statute Custom or usage to the contrary thereof in
anywise notwithstanding. In Witnes whereof wee have caused
these our Letters o bee made Patents.
Witnes ourself att Westminster, the tenth day of October,
in the Eight and twentyeth yeare of our Raigne
Examinat cum Originali p me
Sa. Wiseman, P ipm Regem, Barker
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