and proportions and within such time as is herein after-mentioned for the carrying on and managing a Trade to the East-Indies by a General Joynt-Stock And for the purposes aforesaid We do hereby for us our Heirs and Successors Order Direct and Appoint that a Book or Books made of Vellum for the said New Subscriptions to be Inserted in a Book of Vellum within Six days to be provided shall be provided within Six Days after the Date hereof by the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East-Indies which shall lie open every Day in the Week Sundays excepted at the East-India House in Leaden-Hall-street to he open daily from Eight to Twelve in the Morning and from Two to Six in the Afternoon till the 10th January next London from the Hour of Eight to the Hour of Twelve in the Morning and from the Hour of Two to the Hour of Six in the Afternoon untill the Tenth day of January next inclusive In which said Book or Books it shall and may be lawful to and for any person or persons whatsoever being Natural born Subjects of this Our Realm and Persons Naturalized or Endenized to pay and Subscribe on or before the said 10th day of January now next ensuing such Sum and Sums of Money to be added to the present Joynt-Stock of the said Company as they shall think fit to Adventure in the said Trade So as no one person shall subscribe more than the Sum of Ten Thousand Pounds None to Subscribe above 10000. And We do hereby for Us Our Heirs and Successors direct and appoint That if it shall happen That the New Subscriptions to be made by virtue of these Presents shall exceed the Sum of 744000 l. in the whole If the Subscriptions exceed 744000 l. to be reduced to that Summe by the Court of Committees That then and in such case the Governour or Deputy Governour and the Court of Committees of the said Company to be qualified in such manner as is herein after expressed shall lessen and reduce the said New Subscriptions to the said Sum of 744000 l. rata pro rata and in proportion to the several Sums so newly Subscribed to the Joynt-Stock of the said Company And Our further Will and Pleasure is And we do hereby for Us Our Heirs and Successors Order and appoint That all and every Person and Persons so subscribing shall at the time of his or her Subscription The Subscribers to swear the Moneys subscribed is their own and for their own use and not in trust respectively take an Oath before the Governour or Deputy Governour or any three or more of the Committees of the said Company for the time being That the Moneys by him or her Subscribed is his or her own proper Moneys and that he or she Subscribes the same for his or her own Use and not in Trust or for the use of any other Person or Persons whatsoever The Governour c. to Administer the Oath To which said Governour or Deputy Governour or any three or more of the Committee of the said Company for the time being We do hereby for Us Our Heirs and Successors give full Power and Authority to give and Administer the said Oath And do hereby Order and direct them to administer the same accordingly Provided alwayes and our Will and Pleasure is And We do hereby for Us Our Heirs and Successors strictly require and command and do order and direct That all and every Person and Persons who shall make such Subscriptions as aforesaid shall at the time of such Subscription actually and bona fide pay down or cause to be paid down unto the Committee of the Treasury of the said Company for the time being or their Cashire A Third part of the Subscriptions to be paid down one full and entire Third part of the several Summes of Money by each of them respectively Subscribed to the said present Joynt-Stock and shall also pay the Remainder thereof on or at any time or times before the said 10th day of January now next coming And further The rest by the 10th January Our Will and Pleasure is And We do by these presents for Us our Heirs and Successors Grant unto the said Governour and Company and their Successors and do hereby order and direct That in all General Courts of the Adventurers of the said Company In all General Courts every Qualified Member having Such Persons being Members of the said Company and qualified as is herein mentioned shall have for and in respect of such Summes as they shall respectively have Subscribed and paid in to the Joynt-Stock of the said Company such number of Votes or Voices in a General Court of the said Company as are herein after limited and express'd That is to say That each Person having One Thousand pound or more in the Stock of the said Company 1000 l. Stock or more shall have a Vote for every 1000 l. to 10000 l. shall have one Vote for every Thousand pounds not exceeding Ten Thousand pounds and if Ten Thousand pounds or more yet that such Person shall have but Ten Votes whatsoever his or her Stock be None to have more then Ten Votes And further That no Person or Persons who shall have in the Joynt-Stock of the said Company for his or her own use any Sum less than One Thousand pounds And no Vote if less than 1000 l. shall have any Vote or Voice at a General Court of the said Company for or in respect of such Sum being less than One Thousand pounds And further We will and by these presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Grant unto the said Governour and Company and their Successors And do also hereby Order and Appoint That all and every Person and Persons who were Members or free of the said Company by former Charters or capable to be so All free of the Company by former Charters or capable to be so And all other Persons who shall Subscribe and pay in any Sum of Money into the said Joynt-Stock hereby appointed to be raised in such manner as is herein before directed shall be admitted Gratis into the Freedom of the said Company And all new Subscribers to be free of the Company gratis But that all and every Person and Persons who shall not be so qualified as aforesaid but shall come in by purchase of any part of the said General Joynt-Stock shall take upon him or her the Freedom of the said Company and before his or her Admission thereunto shall pay or cause to be paid to the said Governour and Company and their Successors the Sum of Five pounds of Lawful English Money Others to pay 5 l. for it by way of fine for his or her Admission into the said Freedom And such Person and Persons as also all Subscribers to the said Joynt-Stock who with the Subscribers shall take the Oaths Viz.
upon their Admission shall take the Oaths appointed to be taken by a late Act of Parliament made in the First Year of our Reign Entituled An Act for the abrogating of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and appointing other Oaths and also the Oath usually taken by all Persons made Free of the said Company before the Governour or Deputy Governour of the said Company for the time being to whom We do hereby for Us Our Heirs and Successors give Power and Authority to Administer the said Oaths accordingly And further We will and by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do grant unto the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East-Indies and their Successors That it shall and may be lawful to and for the Governour or Deputy Governour of the said Company for the time being The Governour or Deputy Governour of the Company to call General Courts and Courts of Committees from time to time to call and we do hereby order and direct That they shall call a General Court and Court of Committees to be holden for the said Company which shall consist only of such Members of the said Company who shall at such time have in the Joynt-Stock of the said Company To consist of such only as have a 1000 l. Stock each in their own right and have taken the said Oaths the Sum of One Thousand pounds at least in his or her own Right and shall have also taken the Oaths appointed to be by them taken as aforesaid in which said General Court or Court of Committees the Governour or Deputy Governour of the said Company for the time being shall be present The Governour or Deputy to have a Casting Voice in such Courts And in case of equality of Votes or Voices shall have a Casting Voice And further also that all the Members of the said Company so qualified as aforesaid or the Major part of them from time to time and at all times hereafter shall and may have power and Authority Yearly and every Year between the Tenth and last day of April to assemble and meet together in some convenient Place to be appointed from time to time by the Governour Governour Deputy and 24 Committees to be yearly chosen in April or in his absence by the Deputy Governour of the said Company for the time being And that it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Governour or Deputy of the said Governour and other the Members of the said Company qualified as aforesaid for the time being or the Major part of them being so assembled in a General Court whereof the Governour of the said Company or his Deputy for the time being to be one to nominate and Elect out of the Members of the said Company a Governour Deputy Governour and Twenty Four Committees each of them being respectively qualified to be chosen into the said several Offices in manner as herein after is expressed That is to say to nominate and Elect one of the Members of the said Company who shall then have in the Joynt-Stock of the said Company The Governour to have 1000 l. Stock in his own right the Sum of Four Thousand pounds at least in his own Right to be Governour of the said Company for one whole Year from thence next following and also one other of the Members of the said Company who shall then have in the Joynt-Stock of the said Company the Sum of Four Thousand pounds at least in his own Right The Deputy the same to be Deputy Governour of the said Company for one whole year next ensuing And also Twenty Four Members of the said Company who shall each of them then have in the Joynt-Stock of the said Company The Committees each 1000 l. the Sum of One Thousand pounds at least in his own Right to be Committees of the said Company for one whole Year from thence next ensuing And Moreover Our Will and Pleasure is and by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors We do grant unto the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East-Indies and their Successors and do hereby Order and Appoint That when and as often as it shall happen the Governour Deputy Governour or any of the Committees of the said Company for the time being at any time within one Year after that they shall be Nominated Elected and Sworn into their said several Offices to Die that then and so often it shall and may be lawful to and for the Residue of the Members of the said Company If any die within the year others duly qualified to be Elected in their stead qualified as aforesaid for the time being or the major part of them within convenient time after the Death of any such Governour Deputy Governour or any of the Committees of the said Company to assemble themselves in such convenient place as they shall think fit and in a General Court to Elect and Nominate some other Member or Members of the said Company respectively qualified as aforesaid into the Office or Offices of Governour Deputy Governour and Committees of the said Company in the place and stead of him or them that so died which Person and Persons being so Elected and Nominated to the said Office of Governour Deputy Governour or Committees of the said Company shall have and Execute the said Office or Offices for and during the residue of the said Year Provided alwayes And our Will and Pleasure is And We do hereby for Us our Heirs and Successors order direct and appoint that all and every Person and Persons who shall hereafter be Elected to the Office or Offices of Governour Deputy Governour or Committees of the said Company shall before they be admitted to the Execution of their several Offices The Governour Depaty and Committees before they Act to take the Oaths Viz. respectively take the Oaths before mentioned and appointed to be taken by the said late Act of Parliament Intituled An Act for the Abrogating of the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and appointing other Oaths and also the Oaths for the due and faithful Execution of their said several Offices before such Persons and in such manner as hath been heretofore used and accustomed by vertue of any former Charters or Letters Patents and this as often as the Case shall require And further our Will and Pleasure is and by these Presents for Us our Heirs and Successors We do grant unto the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East-Indies and to their Successors That it shall and may be lawful to and for the said Governour and others the Members of the said Company qualified as aforesaid for the time being from time to time to assemble themselves for or about any the Matters Causes Affairs or Business of the said Trade The Governour and other qualified Members of the Company may Assemble and hold General Courts
where they please in any place or places for the same convenient within our Dominions or elsewhere and there to hold a General Court for the said Company and the Affairs thereof And that also it shall and may be lawful to or for them or the major part of them being so assembled and that shall then and there be present in any such place or places whereof the Governour or his Deputy for the time being to be one to make ordain and constitute such and so many reasonable Laws and the Governour or Deputy being present may make By-Laws for the Companies better Government Constitutions Orders and Ordinances as to them or the greater part of them being then and there present shall seem necessary and convenient for the good Government of the same Company And the same Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinances so make to put in use and execute accordingly and at their pleasure to revoke or alter the same or any of them as Occasion shall require and revoke or alter them And that the said Governour and Company so often as they shall make ordain or establish any such Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinances in form aforesaid shall and may impose ordain limit and provide such lawful pains and may impose lawful Penalties Fines c. punishments and penalties by Fines and Amerciaments or by any other lawful ways and means upon or against all Offenders contrary to such Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinances or any of them as to the said Governour and Company for the time being or the greater part of them then and there being present the said Governour or his Deputy being alwayes One shall seem necessary requisite and convenient for the observation of the same Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinances And the same Fines and Amerciaments shall and may by their Officers and Servants from time to time to be appointed for that purpose levy take and have to the use of the said Governour and Company and their Successors And levy the same to their own use without the impediment of Us our Heirs or Successors or of any the Officers or Ministers of Us our Heirs or Successors and without any account therefore to Us our Heirs or Successors to be rendered or made All and singular which Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinances so as aforesaid to be made We will to be duely observed and kept All which By-Laws shall be kept c. if approved by a General Court and not repugnant to the Laws of the Land under the pains and penalties therein to be contained so alwayes as the said Laws Constitutions Orders and Ordinances Fines and Amerciaments be first approved by a General Court of Adventurers or the major part of them for the time being and so as the same be reasonable and not contrary or repugnant to the Laws Statutes or Customes of this our Realm Provided alwayes and our further Will and Pleasure is and we do hereby for Us our Heirs and Successors order and appoint That the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East Indies or their Successors shall not at any time hereafter Licence or permit any Person or Persons whatsoever to Trade or Traffick No permission to any Person to Trade or Ships to pass into or from the East-Indies on any private account or any Ship or Ships to Sail or pass into or from any part of the said East-Indies on any Private Account whatsoever and that if any such License or Permission shall be granted contrary to our said Order and appointment herein before declared That then and in each such Case as well these Presents as also the said recited Letters Patents on Penalty of forfeiting this and the last Charter bearing date the Seventh day of October last past and all and every the Powers Grants Matters and Things therein and herein contained shall cease determine and be utterly void to all Intents and Purposes any thing to the contrary notwithstanding And We do further hereby for Us our Heirs and Successors direct order and appoint the said Governour and Company and their Successors That during the continuance of the said Joynt-Stock of the said Company No private Contract No private Contract for the Sale of any Goods or Merchandizes shall be made by the said Company to any Member or Members of the said Company or any other Person or Persons whatsoever excepting only such Salt-Petre as shall be sold for the use of Us excepting Salt-petre for the Crown our Heirs and Successors But that all Goods and Merchandizes belonging to the said Company shall be sold openly and publickly by Inch of Candle but all Goods Sold at the Companies Candle and for their account at their publick Sales upon the Companies Account And that all Moneys arising by the Sale of any Goods or Merchandizes of the said Company shall be faithfully and bona fide accounted for and applyed to the publick and common Benefit and Advantage of the General Joynt-Stock of the said Company and the Money arising thereby applyed to the Companies use and of all and every the Persons therein concerned ratably and according to every persons proportion and share in the said Joynt-Stock and not to the private Advantage of any particular person or Persons whatsoever And that no Lot of any Goods or Merchandizes shall be put up or Sold which shall exceed the value of Five Hundred Pounds Jewels excepted No Lot of Goods except Jewels to exceed 500 l. And for the better Increase of Trade and Encouraging the Exportation of Goods and Merchandizes of the Growth Product and Manufacture of this Kingdom It is Our further Will and Pleasure and we do hereby for Us our Heirs and Successors order and appoint That the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London Trading into the East-Indies and their Successors shall Yearly and every Year during the continuance of the said Joynt-Stock Export and carry to the East-Indies Goods of the Growth Product or Manufacture of this our Kingdom of England To Export yeatly to India 100000 l. worth of Goods of the Product c. of England so many as shall amount to the Value of One Hundred Thousand Pounds at the least Provided alwayes and upon Condition and the said Governour and Company do hereby for themselves and their Successors Covenant Grant and Agree to and with Us our Heirs and Successors And we do hereby for Us our Heirs and Successors order and appoint that they the said Governour and Company and their Successors shall Yearly and every Year during the continuance of the said Joynt-Stock Furnish To furnisn the Crown yearly with 500 Tons of Salt-petre at the Prices tollowing Sell and Deliver out of their Warehouses in or near the City of London unto the Officers of the Ordnance of Us our Heirs and Successors or to such other Person or Persons as We our Heirs or Successors shall in that