acquaint the Treasuror and Court with such impediments and difficulties as shall be incident LXII IN digesting of the olde accounts the Auditors shall take especiall care to cause the Secretary or Booke-keeper in a seuerall Booke to set downe particularly and exactly the names of all the Aduenturors with their seuerall sums aduentured as also what is paid or yet remaining vnpaid as well that right may be done to the Aduenturors as also the debts preserued which are due to the Company And this booke of the Aduenturors shall be extended till the Quarter Court in Easter Term 1619. LXIII THe Auditors shall keepe their meetings once at the least euery weeke in the Term time or oftner if need require and once euery moneth at least in the vacation times to ouersee the accounts and dispatch such other businesse as shall be committed to them LXIV THey shall also haue the authoritie of the Court to call before them such persons as are indebted or accomptable to the Company LXV IN regard of the greatnesse of the businesse for the present the Auditors are allowed an Officer to attend vpon them who shall be salariated at the pleasure of the Court. Comitties LXVI THe Comitties being to be sixteene and to be yearely chosen there shall be a yearelie alteration made of one fourth part at the least to the end many be trained vp in the businesse LXVII THe Comitties office is together with the Deputie to perform the orders of Courts for setting out Ships and buying prouisions for Virginia Wherein especiall care is to be had that neither the Husband nor any one man alone be entrusted with the making of those prouisions but two at the least to be appointed thereunto by the Deputie and Comitties in their Court who shall also bring in their bils and accounts to be examined and approued by the Comitties The like care shall they haue at the returne of Ships from Virginia for the goods belonging to the Companie to be safely kept and sould to the best aduantage either in Court or otherwise by the Courts direction The accounts of all which shall be transmitted to the Auditors and the money remaining returned to the Cash The Deputie and Comitties shall also haue care of the Inuoices to be made for the prouisions sent to Virginia and of the Certificats of the receipt to be thence returned As likewise of the Inuoices of the goods sent from Virginia All which shall be registred fairely in a booke LXVIII THe Comitties shall diligently keepe their Courts whensoeuer occasion of businesse shall require They shall be summoned by order from the Treasuror or Deputie And it shall not be counted a Court of Comitties vnlesse the Treasuror or Deputie with sixe Comitties be present The Secretary of the Company shall keepe a booke also of their proceedings Secretary LXIX THe Secretary shall attend the Treasuror and Deputie in such seruice of the Companie as wherein they shall haue cause to vse him And besides the generall Courts he shall of duety attend the Courts of Comitties and keepe seuerall bookes of their proceedings The Counseil Auditors and Comitties extraordinary he shall then also attend when and so often as he shall be thereunto required LXX HE shall be bound by oath to keepe secret all matters of secrecy And not to discouer the proceedings of the Counseil and Comitties extraordinary till such time as themselues shall publish the same LXXI THe Secretary vpon reference of any businesse from the Court to a select Comittie shall giue a note to the Messenger containing the businesse time place LXXII HIs office is also to be a Remembrancer to the generall Courts and to the Courts of Comitties for the prosequuting and performing of matters formerly ordered As also touching motions formerly made and referred to speciall Comitties or other farther consideration LXXIII IF at any time a generall Court shall order any money to be issued out of the Cash the Secretarie vnder his hand shall deliuer a Copie thereof to the Auditors if it be of old Debts and if otherwise then to the Deputie and Comitties who respectiuely shall vnder that Order make their warrant for the payment of that money vnlesse they finde the Court by wrong information to haue beene abused and deceiued in that Order whereof at the next Court they shall giue aduertisement LXXIV THe Secretaries Office is to keepe the Bookes of the Companie and fairely and orderly to enter in them the particulars here-vnder expressed and in such manner as he shall be directed by the Treasuror Deputie or Auditors First a Booke containing the Copies of the Kings Letters Patents to the Companie Also of all Letters Orders Directions and other writings from his Maiestie the Lords of the Counseil and other great Officers concerning the Companie or the affaires of Virginia together with the answeres made vnto them LXXV A Second Booke shall be kept of all the Lawes and standing Orders established hence-forward in the Quarter Courts and beginning with this day as well such as concerne the Gouernement of the Companie and businesse here as also the Gouernment of the Colonie and affaires in Virginia LXXVI IN a third Booke shall be registred all the Patents Charters and Indentures of validitie heretofore granted or that hereafter shal be granted by the Treasuror and Companie all instructions from the Counseil all publique Letters written to Virginia or from thence receiued LXXVII A Fourth Booke shall be of the Acts of the generall Courts beginning with a new Booke at the last Quarter-Court LXXVIII A Fift Booke shall be of the Acts of the Comitties beginning from the same Court. In which Booke shall be registred all Inuoyces of the prouisions sent to Virginia from the Companie and the Certificats of the receipts to be thence returned As likewise the Inuoyces of the Goods sent from Virginia with the Husbands certificat of the receipt or defect LXXIX IN a sixt booke at the one end shall be registred the names of all the Aduenturors here by money or otherwise by seruice for which shares of Land in Virginia haue beene giuen by the Companie in their Quarter-Courts together with the number of Shares to each person belonging Where shall also be entred in a place by it selfe the lawfull Transports of Shares from one to another Here shall also be entred the names of his Maiesties Counseil for Virginia At the other end of the same Booke shall be registred the names of all the Planters in Virginia as well for the publique as vpon priuate Plantations which is to be done distinctly for each Plantation by it selfe And this is to be done vpon the Certificates hereafter returned from the Gouernour and Counseil in Virginia And from the Heads and Bodies of particular Plantations according to the tenor and effect of the Grants made vnto them and other Lawes and Orders made by the Companie All which shall be first published and allowed in a generall Court and not registred in this Booke
or of the Deputie in his absence IX NOthing shall be put to the question after sixe of the Clocke in the after-noone X. IN regard of the great businesse for Virginia yearely encreasing It shall be in the power of the Treasuror if hee see it so necessary to assemble the Quarter Courts both in the fore-noones and after-noones of the dayes appointed for them XI THe Companie shall be summoned to the Quarter Courts and Courts extraordinary by the Officer But of the ordinary Courts themselues shall take notice And the Secretary shall keepe a booke of the proceedings of the Courts who with the Booke-keeper Husband and Bedle shall at all Courts giue diligent attendance XII IT shall be lawfull at a generall Court and with consent thereof to dispence with all meetings in long Vacations or in such part of them as may be spared vnlesse some extraordinary matter befall in which case may be called extraordinary Courts XIII THe Treasuror and Company being a Body and Commonaltie perpetuall shall haue one faire and common Seale to be kept by the Treasuror and not to be affixed to any Grants or Instruments whatsoeuer otherwhere then in publique Courts or by warrant from thence XIV THe Treasuror and the Counseil or the Court haue power to admit any into this Society Elections XV. AT the great and generall Court commonly called the Quarter Court in Easter Terme all Offices of this Company excepting the Counseil shall be voide And the Court shall proceede to an election of new Officers in manner following XVI THE Treasuror in the beginning of the Court at the giuing vp of his Office shall declare by word or writing the present estate of the Colonie and Planters in Virginia And deliuer into the Court a Booke of his accounts for the yeere past examined and approued vnder the Auditors hands Declaring withall the present estate of the Cash XVII AFter the choise of a Treasuror a Deputie shall be chosen then the Auditors and Comitties and lastly the Secretarie Booke-keeper Husband and Bedle. XVIII AT the choise of each Officer the persons nominated for the election shall withdraw themselues till the party chosen be publiquely so pronounced And generally no man shall be present in the Court whilst himselfe or his matter passeth the iudgement of the Court. XIX IN regard of the weighty and manifold businesse of this Companie which is also like daily to encrease No man shall be chosen Treasuror of the Company of Virginia who at the time of his election is Gouernor of any other Company but vpon condition that before the next Quarter Court hee effectually resigne that other Gouernement except it seeme good for the behalfe of both Companies that the same man be also Gouernour of the Somer Ilands Company XX. IT is for weighty reasons thought very expedient that no man continue in the place of Treasuror or Deputie aboue three yeares at once XXI FOr the auoiding of diuers inconueniences It is thought fit that all elections of principall Officers in or for Virginia as also of the Treasuror and Deputie here be performed by a Ballating box as in some other Companies XXII EVery Officer as he is chosen shall openly in Court take his oath or if he be absent at the next Court he commeth to XXIII THe Treasuror Deputie Auditors and Comitties hauing no certaine allowance for their cares and labours the reward of these former Officers according to their deserts is referred to the pleasure of the Court wherein new Officers are chosen Treasuror XXIV THe Treasurors duetie is to keepe the ordinary Courts of Virginia and vpon cause extraordinary to call Courts extraordinarily And in all Courts and other meetings hee is to haue a casting voyce XXV HE is to moderate the Courts in qualitie of a President And to cause grauity decency and good order to be obserued And for breach thereof after a graue admonition first giuen and not preuailing to proceede to reformation by the iudgement of the Court. XXVI HE is to propound and put all things to the question which the Court requires vnder paine of being immediately put from his Office if he refuse In which case the Deputie shall doe it vnder the like paine And if he refuse then any of the Counseil there present XXVII WHereas the Treasuror is to put to the question all things which the Court requires It is explaned to be intended of such things as are not contrary to his Maiesties Letters Patents or Instructions not to the standing Lawes and Orders of the Companie XXVIII HE is to haue care that the extraordinary Comitties appointed by the Courts to seuerall businesse doe prosecute the same and giue seasonable account of their doings to the Court XXIX HE is also to haue an especiall care that no Grant or Patent doe passe from the Companie but vpon examination thereof by a select Comittie who are exactly to obserue the Orders made concerning them And to this end with diuers others he is to haue a vigilant eye on the Companies and Counseils Seaâ—es that they be not wronged by abusing of them XXX THe Treasuror vpon receipt of publique Letters from or concerning Virginia shall assemble at least foure of the Counseil to impart them to them and by their assents shall cause them to be read in Court vnlesse there be some cause of secresie In which case he shall communicate them with the Counseil onely In like sort the publique Letters and Instructions to be sent to the Gouernour Counseil or People in Virginia or otherwise concerning them hee shall cause to be publiquely read and approued by the Court or Counseil as the case shall require And neither he nor any other shall of his owne head or authoritie write or send any directions swaruing from such as the Court or Counseil shall giue vpon paine to be dis-franchized XXXI THe Treasuror shall assemble the Counseil vpon all weightie occasions requiring serious deliberation And shall haue care with them that the Lords of his Maiesties priuie Counseil be acquainted with all matters of extraordinary and greatest importance concerning the State XXXII HE is to doe his best that fit Counsailors be chosen And being chosen is to haue care that they take their oathes XXXIII THe Treasuror is to haue care also that the generall Comitties keepe their Courts with the Deputie vpon all occasions of businesse XXXIV HE is to doe his best that fit men be chosen also to that place And that they which are chosen be sworne XXXV THe Treasuror at his pleasure shall sit in any Assembly of Comitties ordinary or extraordinary vnlesse it concerne himselfe XXXVI THe Treasuror shall stand charged with the publique Treasure of the Company And is to haue care thâ—t it be duely got in And not issued out but by lawfull warrant and to the Companies vse XXXVII A Lawfull warrant for charges of the present yeare is that which is signed by the Deputie and foure of the Comitties And for former charges
maintenance of the Officers there But they shall be maintained there out of the publique Lands Lawes CV NO Lawes or standing Orders shall be made by the Companie but in this manner First after the proposing of them in Court they shall be referred to the examination of a select Comittie The Comitties shall present their Labours to the view of the Counseil The Counseil approuing them they shall be brought to the Court of preparation on the Munday before the Quarter-Court and there openly read And lastly they shall passe the iudgement of the Quarter-Court CVI. THe Lawes and Orders thus made shall be fairely registred by the Secretary in a parchment Booke which he shall bring in euery Court and lay on the table that all men may peruse them that are so disposed CVII IN the Quarter-Court in Hillarie Term all Lawes and standing Orders concerning the Companie here shall be publiquely read in the beginning of the Court. CVIII THe abrogating of a Law or Order shall proceede by the same degrees by which the making CIX ALL Orders heretofore made repugnant or swaruing from these shall be henceforth voyd Grants of Land CX ALL Grants of Lands and Liberties in Virginia shall be passed by Indenture the Counterpane wherof shall be sealed by the Grantees and kept in the Companies Chest of Euidences And the Secretary shall haue the engrossing of all such Indentures CXI NO Patents or Indentures of Grants of Lands in Virginia shall be sealed but being read and approoued in a Quarter-Court the same hauing been also first examined and allowed vnder the hands of a select Comittie for that purpose CXII NO libertie shall be granted tending to the exempting of any man from the authoritie of the Gouernor of Virginia or of the Supreame Counseils or Courts there established in any case of Treason Rebellion or Sedition or vpon any dutie to be performed for the necessary defence of the Countrey or the preseruation of the publique peace and suppressing Tumults within the Land or for trials in matters of Iustice by way of appeale or otherwise by lawfull Orders to be from hence deliuered or in cases consented vnto as well by a generall Assembly of the Colonie there as by the Companie here in a Quarter-Court And all Grants former or future swaruing from this Order shall be so farre forth deemed vnlawfull and surreptitious as being repugnant to the Limitations in his Maiesties Letters Patents CXIII IN all Grants of Lands a fift of the Roiall Mines of Gould and Siluer shall be reserued to the Companie as an other fift is alreadie reserued to the Crowne CXIV IN all Patents or Indentures of Grants of Lands the Grantees shall couenant to employ their people in great part in Staple Commodities as Corne Wine Silke Silke grasse Hempe Flax Pitch and Tar Pot-ashes and Sope-ashes Iron Clap-boord and other Materialls and not wholly or chiefly about Tobacco and Sassaphras CXV ALL Grants of Land in Virginia to the old Aduenturors their Heires and Assignes that is to such as haue heretofore brought in their money to the Treasurie for their seuerall shares being of twelue pound ten shillings the share shall be of one hundred Acres the share vpon the first diuision and of as many more vpon a second diuision when the Land of their first diuision shall be sufficiently peopled And for euery person which they shall transport thither before Midsomer day one thousand sixe hundred twentie fiue if he continue there three yeares or dye in the meane time after he is shipped it shall be to the Transporters of fiftie acres the person vpon the first diuision and fiftie more vpon a second diuision in like manner without paying any Rent to the Companie for the one or the other And in all such Grants the names of the Aduenturors and the seuerall number of each of their shares shall be expressed Prouided alwayes that if the said Aduenturors or any of them doe not truely and effectually within one yeare next after the sealing of the said Grant pay and discharge all such summes of money wherein by subscription or otherwise vpon notice thereof giuen from the Auditors they stand indebted to the Companie Or if the said Aduenturors or any of them hauing not lawfull right either by purchase from the Companie or by assignement from some other former Aduenturor within one yeare after the said Grant or by speciall gift of the Companie vpon merit preceding in a full Quarter Court to so many shares as he or they pretend doe not within one yeare after the said Grant satisfie and pay to the said Treasuror and Companie for euery share so wanting after the rate of twelue pounds ten shillings the share that then the said Grant for so much as concerneth the whole part and all the Shares of the said person so behinde and not satisfying as aforesaid shall be vtterly voide CXVI ALL Grants of Land in Virginia to new Aduenturors that is to say to such as hereafter shall be free of the Companie paying the Companie for their Shares before Midsomer 1625. shall for their owne persons and shares be of like condition with the former to all intents and purposes But for such other as shall at their charges be transported into Virginia before the said Midsomer 1625. in manner afore said shall be reserued a yearely Rent of twelue pence for euery fiftie acres acrewing to them by vertue of such transportation to be answered to the said Treasuror and Companie and their Successors for euer after the first seuen yeares of euery such Grant CXVII ALL Grants to all other persons not comprised in the two Orders last before set downe that is to say to such Planters as before Midsomer day 1625. shall goe into Virginia with intent there to inhabit if they continue there three yeares or dye after they are shipped there shall be grant made of fiftie acres for euery person vpon a first diuision and as many more vpon a second diuision the first being peopled which Grant shall be made respectiuely to such persons and their Heires at whose charges the said persons going to inhabit in Virginia shall be transported with reseruation of twelue pence yearely Rent as aforesaid CXVIII IN all the foresaid Grants shall be inserted a Condition or prouiso that the Grantees shall from time to time make a true Certificat to the said Treasuror Counseil and Companie from the chiefe Officer or Officers of the places respectiuely of the number names ages sex trades and conditions of euery such person so transported or shipped before the said Midsomer day 1625 to be entred by the Secretarie into a Register Booke for that purpose to be made CXIX FOr the preuenting of fraud and dammage to the Companie in their Rents by drawing new Aduenturors or Planters vpon purchase of a few old Aduentures into th'immunitie of the old Aduenturors of not paying any Rent for the shares of fiftie acres the person transported by them before the foresaid day it is