# Charter of Hudson's Bay

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The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay was incorporated on May 2, 1670, with a Royal Charter from King Charles II. The charter granted the company a monopoly over the Indian Trade, especially the fur trade, in the region watered by all rivers and streams flowing into Hudson Bay in northern Canada, an area known as Rupert's Land after the first director of the Company, Prince Rupert of the Rhine. This region constitutes 3.9 million km² (1.5 million square miles) in the drainage basin of Hudson Bay, comprising over one-third the area of modern-day Canada and stretching into the north central United States, but the specific boundaries were unknown at the time.
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THE CHARTER FOR INCORPORATING THE HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY
Granted by His Majesty King Charles the Second, in the 22nd Year of his Reign, A.D. 1670
Charles the Second By the grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland defender of the faith &c
To All to whome these presentes shall come greeting
Whereas Our Deare and entirely Beloved cousin Prince Rupert Count Palatyne of the Rhyne Duke of Bavaria and Cumberland &c Christopher Duke of Albemarle William Earle of Craven Henry Lord Arlington Anthony Lord Ashley Sir John Robinson and Sir Robert Vyner Knightes and Baronettes Sir Peter Colliton Baronett Sir Edward Hungerford Knight of the Bath Sir Paul Neele Knight Sir John Griffith and Sir Phillipp Carteret Knightes James Hayes John Kirke Francis Millington William Prettyman John Fenn Esquires and John Portman Cittizen and Goldsmith of London have at theire owne great cost and charge undertaken an
Expedicion for Hudsons Bay in the North west part of America for the discovery of a new Passage into the South Sea and for the finding some Trade for Furrs Mineralls and other considerable Commodityes and by such theire undertaking have already made such discoveryes as doe encourage them to proceed further in pursuance of theire said designe by meanes whereof there may probably arise very great advantage to us and our Kingdome
And whereas the said undertakers for theire further encouragement in the said designe have humbly besought us to Incorporate them and grant unto them and theire successors the sole Trade and Commerce of all those Seas Streightes Bayes Rivers Lakes Creekes and Soundes in whatsoever Latitude they shall bee that lye within the the entrance of the Streightes commonly called Hudsons Streightes together with all the Landes Countryes and Territoryes upon the Coastes and Confynes of the Seas Streightes Bayes Lakes Rivers Creekes and Soundes aforesaid which are not now actually possessed by any of our Subjectes or by the Subjectes of any other Christian Prince or State
Now know yee that Wee being desirous to promote all Endeavours tending to the publique good of our people and to encourage the said undertaking have of our especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere mocion Given granted ratifyed and confirmed And by these Presentes for us our heires and Successors
Doe give grant ratifie and confirme unto our said Cousin Prince Rupert Christopher Duke of Albemarle William Earle of Craven Henry Lord Arlington Anthony Lord Ashley Sir John Robinson Sir Robert Vyner Sir Peter Colleton Sir Edward Hungerford Sir Paul Neile Sir John Griffith and Sir Phillipp Carterett James Hayes John Kirke Francis Millington William Prettyman John Fenn and John Portman That they and such others as shall bee admitted into the said Society as is hereafter expressed shall bee one Body Corporate and Politique in deed and in name by the name of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England tradeing into Hudsons Bay and them by the name of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England tradeing into Hudsons Bay one Body Corporate and Politique in deede and in name really and fully for ever for us our heirs and successors
doe make ordeyne constitute establish confirme and declare by these Presentes and that by the same name of Governor & Company of Adventurers of England Tradeing into Hudsons Bay they shall have perpetuall succession And that they and theire successors by the name of Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Tradeing into Hudsons Bay bee and at all tymes hereafter shall bee persons able and capable in Law to have purchase receive possesse enjoy and reteyne Landes Rentes priviledges libertyes Jurisdiccions Franchyses and hereditamentes of what kinde nature and quality soever they bee to them and theire Successors And alsoe to give grant demise alien assigne and dispose Landes Tenementes and hereditamentes and to doe and execute all and singuler other thinges by the same name that to them shall or may apperteyne to doe And that they and theire Successors by the name of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Tradeing into Hudsons Bay may pleade and bee impleaded answeare and bee answeared defend and bee defended in whatsoever Courtes and places before whatsoever Judges and Justices and other persons and Officers in all and singular Accions Pleas Suitts Quarrells causes and demandes whatsoever of whatsoever kinde nature or sort in such manner and forme as any other our Liege people of this our Realme of England being persons able and capable in Lawe may or can have purchase receive possesse enjoy reteyne give grant demise alien assigne dispose pleade defend and bee defended doe permit and execute And that the said Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Tradeing into Hudsons Bay and their successors may have a Common Seale to serve for all the causes and busnesses of them and theire Successors and that itt shall and may bee lawfull to the said Governor and Company and theire Successors the same Seall from tyme to tyme at theire will and pleasure to breake change and to make a new or alter as them shall seeme expedient
And further Wee will And by these presentes for us our Heires and successors
Wee doe ordeyne that there shall bee from henceforth one of the same Company to bee elected and appointed in such forme as hereafter in these presentes is expressed which shall be called The Governor of the said Company And that the said Governor and Company shall or may elect seaven of theire number in such forme as hereafter in these presentes is expressed which shall bee called the Committee of the said Company which Committee of seaven or any three of them together with the Governor or Deputy Governor of the said Company for the tyme being shall have the direcion of the Voyages of and for the said Company and Provision of the Shipping and Merchandizes thereunto belonging and alsoe the sale of all merchandizes Goodes and other things returned in all or any the Voyages or Shippes of or for the said Company and the mannageing and handleing of all other business affaires and thinges belonging to the said Company
And Wee will ordeyne and Grant by these presentes for us our heires and successors unto the said Governor and Company and theire successors that they the said Governor and Company and theire successors shall from henceforth for ever bee ruled ordered and governed according to such manner and forme as is hereafter in these presentes expressed and not otherwise And that they shall have hold reteyne and enjoy the Grantes Libertyes Priviledges Jurisdiccions and Immunityes only hereafter in these presentes granted and expressed and noe other And for the better
Wee have assigned nominated constituted and made And by these presentes for us our heires and successors
Wee doe assigne nominate constitute and make our said Cousin Prince Rupert to bee the first and present Governor of the said Company and to continue in the said Office from the date of these presentes until the tenth of November then next following if hee the said Prince Rupert shall soe long live and soe until a new Governor bee chosen by the said Company in forme hereafter expressed
And alsoe Wee have assigned nominated and appointed And by these presentes for us our heirs and Successors
Wee doe assigne nominate and constitute the said Sir John Robinson Sir Robert Vyner Sir Peter Colleton James Hayes John Kirke Francis Millington and John Portman to bee the seaven first and present Committees of the said Company from the date of these presentes until the said tenth Day of November then alsoe next following and soe until new Committees shall bee chosen in forme hereafter expressed
And further Wee will and grant by these presentes for us our heires and Successors unto the said Governor and Company and theire successors that itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said Governor and Company for the tyme being or the greater part of them present at any publique Assembly commonly called the Court Generall to bee holden for the said Company the Governor of the said Company being alwayes one from tyme to tyme elect nominate and appoint one of the said Company to bee Deputy to the said Governor which Deputy shall take a corporall Oath before the Governor and three or more of the Committee of the said Company for the tyme being well truely and faithfully to execute his said Office of Deputy to the Governor of the said Company and after his Oath soe taken shall and may from tyme to tyme in the absence of the said Governor exercize and execute the Office of Governor of the said Company in such sort as the said Governor ought to doe
And further Wee will and grant and by these presentes for us our heires and Successors unto the said Governor and Company of Adventurers of England tradeing into Hudsons Bay and theire Successors That they or the greater part of them whereof the Governor for the Tyme being or his Deputy to bee one from tyme to tyme and at all tymes hereafter shall and may have authority and power yearely and every yeare betweene the first and last day of November to assemble and meete together in some convenient place to bee appointed from tyme to tyme by the Governor or in his absence by the Deputy of the said Governor for the tyme being And that they being soe assembled itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said Governor or Deputy of the said Governor and the said Company for the tyme being or the greater part of them which then shall happen to bee present whereof the Governor of the said Company or his Deputy for the tyme being to bee one to elect and nominate one of the said Company which shall bee Governor of the same Company for one whole yeare then next following which person being soe elected and nominated to bee Governor of the said Company as is aforesaid before hee bee admitted to the Execucion of the said Office shall take a Corporall Oath before the last Governor being his Predecessor or his Deputy and any three or more of the Committee of the said Company for the tyme being that hee shall from tyme to tyme well and truely execute the Office of Governor of the said Company in all thinges concerneing the same and that Ymediately after the same Oath soe taken hee shall and may execute and use the said Office of Governor of the said Company for one whole yeare from thence next following and in like sort Wee will and grant that as well every one of the above named to bee of the said Company or fellowshipp as all other hereafter to bee admitted or free of the said Company shall take a Corporall Oath before the Governor of the said Company or his Deputy for the tyme being to such effect as by the said Governor and Company or the greater part of them in any publick Court to bee held for the said Company shall bee in reasonable and legall manner sett down and devised before they shall bee allowed or admitted to Trade or traffique as a freeman of the said Company
And further Wee will and grant by these presentes for us our heires and successors unto the said Governor and Company and theire successors that the said Governor or Deputy Governor and the rest of the said company and theire successors for the tyme being or the greater part of them whereof the Governor or the Deputy Governor from tyme to tyme to bee one shall and may from tyme to tyme and at all tymes hereafter have power and authority yearely and every yeare betweene the first and last day of November to assemble and meete together in some convenient place from tyme to tyme to bee appointed by the said Governor of the said Company or in his absence by his Deputy and that they being soe assembled itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said Governor or his Deputy and the Company for the tyme being or the greater part of them which then shall happen to bee present whereof the Governor of the said Company or his Deputy for the tyme being to bee one to elect and nominate seaven of the said Company which shall bee a Committee of the said Company for one whole yeare from thence next ensueing which persons being soe elected and nominated to bee a Committee of the said Company as aforesaid before they bee admitted to the execucion of theire Office shall take a Corporall Oath before the Governor or his Deputy and any three or more of the said Committee of the said Company being theire last Predecessors and that they and every of them shall well and faithfully performe theire said Office of Committees in all thinges concerneing the same And that imediately after the said Oath soe taken they shall and may execute and sue theire said Office of Committees of the said Company for one whole yeare from thence next following
And moreover Our will and pleasure is And by these presentes for us our heires and successors
Wee doe grant unto the said Governor and Company and theire successors that when and as often as itt shall happen the Governor or Deputy Governor of the said Company for the tyme being at any tyme within one yeare after that hee shall bee nominated elected and sworne to the Office of the Governor of the said Company as is aforesaid to dye or to bee removed from the said Office which Governor or Deputy Governor not demeaneing himselfe well in his said Office
Wee will to bee removable at the Pleasure of the rest of the said Company or the greater part of them which shall bee present at theire publick assemblies commonly called theire Generall Courtes holden for the said Company that then and soe often itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the Residue of the said Company for the tyme being or the greater part of them within convenient tyme after the death or removeing of any such Governor or Deputy Governor to assemble themselves in such convenient place as they shall think fitt for the eleccion of the Governor or Deputy Governor of the said Company and that the said Company or the greater part of them being then and there present shall and may then and there before theire departure from the said place elect and nominate one other of the said Company to bee Governor or Deputy Governor for the said Company in the place and stead of him that soe dyed or was removed which person being soe elected and nominated to the Office of Governor of Deputy Governor of the said Company shall have and exercize the said Office for and dureing the residue of the said yeare takeing first a Corporall Oath as is aforesaid for the due execucion thereof And this to bee done from tyme to tyme soe often as the case shall soe require
And also Our Will and Pleasure is and by these presentes for us our heires and successors
Wee doe grant unto the said Governor and Company that when and as often as itt shall happen any person or persons of the Committee of the said Company for the tyme being at any tyme within one yeare next after that they or any of them shall bee nominated elected and sworne to the Office of Committee of the said Company as is aforesaid to dye or to be removed from the said Office which Committees not demeaneing themselves well in theire said Office Wee will to be removeable at the pleasure of the said Governor and Company or the greater part of them whereof the Governor of the said Company for the tyme being or his Deputy to bee one that then and soe often itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said Governor and the rest of the Company for the tyme being or the greater part of them whereof the Governor for the tyme being or his Deputy to bee one within convenient tyme after the death or removeing of any of the said Committee to assemble themselves in such convenient place as is or shall bee usuall and accustomed for the eleccion of the Governor of the said Company or where else the Governor of the said Company for the tyme being or his Deputy shall appoint And that the said Governor and Company or the greater part of them whereof the Governor for the tyme being or his Deputy to bee one being then and there present shall and may then and there before theire Departure from the said place elect and nominate one or more of the said Company to bee of the Committee of the said Company in the place and stead of him or them that soe died or were or was soe removed which person or persons soe elected and nominated to the Office of Committee of the said Company shall have and exercize the said Office for and dureing the residue of the said yeare takeing first a Corporall Oath as is aforesaid for the due execucion thereof and this to bee done from tyme to tyme so often as the case shall require And to the end the said Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Tradeing into Hudsons Bay may bee encouraged to undertake and effectually to prosecute the said designe of our more especial grace certaine knowledge and meere Mocion
Wee have given granted and confirmed And by these presentes for us our heires and successors
Doe give grant and confirme unto the said Governor and Company and theire successors the sole Trade and Commerce of all those Seas Streightes Bayes Rivers Lakes Creekes and Soundes in whatsoever Latitude they shall bee that lie within the entrance of the Streightes commonly called Hudsons Streightes together with all the Landes and Terriroryes upon the Countryes Coastes and confynes of the Seas Bayes Lakes Rivers Creekes and Soundes aforesaid that are not already actually possessed by or granted to any of our Subjectes or possessed by the Subjectes of any other Christian Prince or State with the Fishing of all Sortes of Fish Whales Sturgions and all other Royall Fishes in the Seas Bays Islets and Rivers within the premisses and the Fish therein taken together with the Royalty of the Sea upon the Coastes with the Lymittes aforesaid and all Mynes Royall as well discovered as not discovered of Gold Silver Gemms and pretious Stones to bee found or discovered within the Territoryes Lymittes and Places aforesaid And that the said Land bee from henceforth reckoned and reputed as one of our Plantacions or Colonyes in America called Ruperts Land
And further We doe by these presentes for us our heires and successors make create and constitute the said Governor and Company for the tyme being and theire successors the true and absolute Lordes and Proprietors of the same Territory lymittes and places aforesaid And of all other the premisses
Saving always the faith Allegiance and Soveraigne Dominion due to us our heires and successors for the same
To have hold possesse and enjoy the said Territory lymittes and places and all and singular other the premisses hereby granted as aforesaid with theire and every of theire Rightes Members Jurisdiccions Perogatives Royaltyes and Appurtenances whatsoever to them the said Governor and Company and theire Successors for ever
To bee holden of us our heires and successors as of our Mannor of East Greenwich in our Country of Kent in free and common Soccage and not in Capite or by Knightes Service
Yeilding and paying yearley to us our heirs and Successors for the same two Elkes and two Black beavers whensoever and as often as Wee our heirs and successors shall happen to enter into the said Countryes Territoryes and Regions hereby granted
And further our will and pleasure is And by these presentes for us our heires and successors
Wee doe grant unto the said Governor and Company and to theire successors that itt shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Governor and Company and theire successors from tyme to tyme to assemble themselves for or about any the matters causes affaires or buisnesses of the said Trade in any place or places for the same convenient within our Dominions or elsewhere and there to hold Court for the said Company and the affaires thereof And that alsoe itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for them and the greater part of them being soe assembled and that shall then and there bee present in any such place or places whereof the Governor or his Deputy for the tyme being to bee one to make ordyne and constitute such and soe many reasonable Lawes Constitucions Orders and Ordinances as to them or the greater part of them being then and there present shall seeme necessary and convenient for the good Government of the said Company and of all Governors of Colonyes Fortes and Plantacions Factors Masters Mariners and other Officers employed or to bee employed in any of the Territories and Landes aforesaid and in any of theire Voyages and for the better advancement and contynuance of the said Trade or Traffick and Plantacions and the same Lawes Constitucions Orders and Ordinances soe made to putt in use and execute accordingly and at theire pleasure to revoake and alter the same or any of them as the occasion shall require And that the said Governor and Company soe often as they shall make ordeyne or establish any such Lawes Constitucions Orders and Ordinances in such forme as aforesaid shall and may lawfully impose ordeyne limitt and provide such paines penaltyes and punishmentes upon all Offenders contrary to such Lawes Constitucions Orders and Ordinances or any of them as to the said Governor and Company for the tyme being or the greater part of them then and there being present the said Governor or his Deputy being alwayes one shall seeme necessary requisite or convenient for the observacion of the same Lawes Constitucions Orders and Ordinances And the same Fynes and Amerciamentes shall and may by theire Officers and Servantes from tyme to tyme to bee appointed for that purpose levy take and have to the use of the said Governor and Company and theire successors without the impediment of us our heires or successors or of any the Officers or Ministers of us our heires or successors and without any accompt therefore to us our heires or successors to bee made All and singuler which Lawes Constitucions Orders and Ordinances soe as aforesaid to bee made Wee will to bee duely observed and kept under the paines and penaltyes therein to bee conteyned soe alwayes as the said Lawes Constitucions Orders and Ordinances Fynes and Amerciamentes bee reasonable and not contrary or repugnant but as neare as may bee agreeable to the Lawes Statutes or Customes of this our Realme
And furthermore of our ample and abundant grace certaine knowledge and meere mocion
Wee have granted and by these presentes for us our heires and successors doe grant unto the said Governor and Company and theire Successors That they and theire Successors and theire Factors Servantes and Agentes for them and on theire behalfe and not otherwise shall for ever hereafter have use and enjoy not only the whole Entire and only Trade and Traffick and the whole entire and only liberty use and priviledge of tradeing and Trafficking to and from the Territory Lymittes and places aforesaid but alsoe the whole and entire Trade and Trafficke to and from all Havens Bayes Creekes Rivers Lakes and Seas into which they shall find entrance or passage by water or Land out of the Territoryes Lymittes or places aforesaid and to and with all the Natives and People Inhabitting or which shall inhabit within the Territoryes Lymittes and places aforesaid and to and with all other Nacions Inhabitting any the Coaste adjacent to the said Territoryes Lymittes and places which are not already possessed as aforesaid or whereof the sole liberty or priviledge of Trade and Trafficke is not granted to any other of our Subjectes And Wee of our further Royall favour And of our more especiall grace certaine knowledge and meere Mocion Have granted and by these presentes for us our heires and Successors doe grant to the said Governor and Company and to theire Successors That neither the said Territoryes Lymittes and places hereby Granted as aforesaid nor any part thereof nor the islandes Havens Portes Cittyes Townes or places thereof or therein conteyned shall bee visited frequented or haunted by any of the Subjectes of us our heires or successors contrary to the true meaneing of these presentes and by vertue of our Perogative Royall which wee will not have in that behalfe argued or brought into Question
Wee streightly Charge Command and prohibitt for us our heires and Successors all the subjectes of us our heires and Successors of what degree or Quality soever they bee that none of them directly or indirectly doe visit haunt frequent or Trade Trafficke or Adventure by way of Merchandize into or from any the said Territoryes Lymittes or Places hereby granted or any or either of them other then the said Governor and Company and such perticuler persons as now bee or hereafter shall bee of that Company theire Agentes Factors and Assignes unlesse itt bee by the Lycence and agreement of the said Governor and Company in writing first had and obteyned under theire Common Seale to bee granted upon paine that every such person or persons that shall Trade or Traffick into or from any the Countryes Territoryes or Lymittes aforesaid other then the said Governor and Company and theire Successors shall incurr our Indignacion and the forfeiture and the losse of the Goodes Merchandizes and other thinges whatsoever which soe shall bee brought into this Realme of England or any the Dominions of the same contrary to our said Prohibicion or the purport or true meaneing of these presentes for which the said Governor and Company shall finde take and seize in other places out of our Dominions where the said Company theire Agentes Factors or Ministers shall Trade Traffick inhabitt by vertue of these our Letters Patente As alsoe the Shipp and Shippes with the Furniture thereof wherein such goodes Merchandizes and other thinges shall bee brought or found the one halfe of all the said Forfeitures to bee to us our heires and successors and the other halfe thereof
Wee doe by these Presentes cleerely and wholly for us our heires and Successors Give and Grant unto the said Governor and Company and theire Successors
And further all and every the said Offenders for theire said contempt to suffer such other punishment as to us our heires or Successors for soe high a contempt shall seeme meete and convenient and not to bee in any wise delivered untill they and every of them shall become bound unto the said Governor for the tyme being in the summe of one thousand Poundes at the least at noe tyme then after to Trade or Traffick into any of the said places Seas Streightes Bayes Portes Havens or Territoryes aforesaid contrary to our Expresse Commandment in the behalfe herein sett downe and published
And further of our more especiall grace
Wee have condiscended and granted And by these presentes for us our heires and Successors doe grant unto the said Governor and Company and theire successors That Wee our heires and Successors will not Grant liberty lycence or power to any person or persons whatsoever contrary to the tenour of these our Letters Patente to Trade trafficke or inhabit unto or upon any the Territoryes lymittes or places afore specifyed contrary to the true meaneing of these presentes without the consent of the said Governor and Company or the most part of them
And of our more abundant grace and favour to the said Governor and Company
Wee doe hereby declare our will and pleasure to bee that if it shall soe happen that any of the persons free or to bee free of the said Company of Adventurers of England Tradeing into Hudsons Bay who shall before goeing forth of any Shipp or Shipps appointed for
A Voyage or otherwise promise or agree by Writeing under his or theire handes to adventure any summe or Sumes of money towardes the furnishing any provision or maintainance of any voyage or voyages sett forth or to bee sett forth or intended or meant to bee sett forth by the said Governor and Company or the more part of them present at any Publick Assembly commonly called theire Generall Court shall not within the Space of twenty Dayes next after Warneing given to him or them by the said Governor or Company or theire knowne Officer or Minister bring in and deliver to the Treasurer or Treasurers appointed for the Company such summes of money as shall have been expressed and sett downe in writeing by the said Person or Persons subscribed with the name of the said Adventurer or Adventurers that then and at all Tymes after itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said Governor and Company or the more part of them present
Whereof the said Governor or his Deputy to bee one at any of theire Generall Courtes or Generall Assemblyes to remove and disfranchise him or them and every such person and persons at their wills and pleasures and hee or they soe removed and disfranchised not to bee permitted to trade into the Countryes Territoryes Lymittes aforesaid or any part thereof nor to have any Adventure or Stock goeing or remaining with or amongst the said Company without the speciall lycence of the said Governor and Company or the more part of them present at any Generall Court first had and obteyned in that behalfe Any thing before in these presentes to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding
And Our Will and Pleasure is And hereby wee doe alsoe ordeyne that itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said Governor and Company or the greater part of them whereof the Governor for the tyme being or his Deputy to bee one to admitt into and to bee of the said Company all such Servantes or Factors of or for the said Company and all such others as to them or the most part of them present at any Court held for the said Company the Governor or his Deputy being one shall be thought fitt and agreeable with the Orders and Ordinances made and to bee made for the Government of the said Company
And further Our will and pleasure is And by these presentes for us our heires and Successors
Wee doe grant unto the said Governor and Company and to theire Successors that itt shall and may bee lawfull in all Eleccions and By-Lawes to bee made by the Generall Court of the Adventurers of the said Company that every person shall have a number of votes according to his Stock that is to say for every hundred poundes by him subscribed or brought into the present Stock one vote and that any of these that have Subscribed lesse then one hundred poundes may joyne theire respective summes to make upp one hundred poundes and have one vote joyntly for the same and not otherwise
And further of our expeciall grace certaine knowledge and meere mocion
Wee doe for us our heires and successors grant to and with the said Governor and Company of Adventurers of England Tradeing into Hudsons Bay that all Landes Islandes Territoryes Plantacions Fortes Fortificacions Factoryes or Colonyes where the said Companyes Factoryes and Trade are or shall bee within any the Portes and places afore lymitted shall bee ymediately and from henceforth under the power and command of the said Governor and Company theire Successors and Assignes
Saving the faith and Allegiance due to bee performed to us our heires and successors as aforesaid and that the said Governor and Company shall have liberty full Power and authority to appoint and establish Governors and all other Officers to governe them And that the Governor and his Councill of the severall and respective places where the said Company shall have Plantacions Fortes Factoryes Colonyes or Places of Trade within any the Countryes Landes or Territoryes hereby granted may have power to judge all persons belonging to the said Governor and Company or that shall live under them in all Causes whether Civil or Criminall according to the Lawes of this Kingdome and to execute Justice accordingly And in case any crime or misdemeanor shall bee committed in any of the said Companyes Plantacions Fortes Factoryes or Places of Trade within the Lymittes aforesaid where Judicature cannot bee executed for want of a Governor and Councill there then in such case itt shall and may bee lawfull for the chiefe Factor of that place and his Councill to transmitt the party together with the offence to such other Plantacion Factory or Fort where there shall bee a Governor and Councill where Justice may bee executed or into this Kingdome of England as shall bee thought most convenient there to receive such punishment as the nature of his offence shall deserve
And Moreover Our will and pleasure is And by these presentes for us our heires and Successors
Wee doe give and grant unto the said Governor and Company and theire Successors free Liberty and Lycence in case they conceive it necessary to send either Shippes of War Men or Amunicion unto any theire Plantacions Fortes Factoryes or Places of Trade aforesaid for the security and defence of the same and to choose Commanders and Officers over them and to give them power and authority by Commission under theire Common Seale or otherwise to continue or make peace or Warre with any Prince or People whatsoever that are not Christians in any places where the said Company shall have any Plantacions Fortes or Factoryes or adjacent thereunto as shall bee most for the advantage and benefitt of the said Governor and Company and of theire Trade and alsoe to right and recompence themselves upon the Goodes Estates or people of those partes by whome the said Governor and Company shall sustyne any injury losse or dammage or upon any other People whatsoever that shall any way contrary to the intent of these presentes interrupt wrong or injure them in theire said Trade within the said places Territoryes and Lymittes granted by this Charter and that itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said Governor and Company and theire Successors from tyme to tyme and at all tymes from henceforth to Erect and build such Castles Fortifications Fortes Garrisons Colonyes Plantacions Townes or Villages in any partes or places within the Lymittes and Boundes granted before in these presentes unto the said Governor and Company as they in theire Discrecions shall thinke fitt and requisite and for the supply of such as shall bee needefull and convenient to keepe and bee in the same to send out of this Kingdome to the said Castles Fortes Fortifications Garrisons Colonyes Plantacions Townes or Villages all Kindes of Cloathing Provision of Victuales Ammunicion and Implementes necessary for such purpose paying the Dutyes and Customes for the same As alsoe to transport and carry over such number of Men being willing thereunto or not prohibited as they shall thinke fitt and alsoe to governe them in such legall and reasonable manner as the said Governor and Company shall thinke best and to inflict punishment for misdemeanors or impose such Fynes upon them for breach of theire Orders as in these Presentes are formerly expressed
And further Our will and pleasure is And by these presentes for us our heires and Successors
Wee doe grant unto the said Governor and Company and to theire Successors full Power and lawfull authority to seize upon the Persons of all such English or any other of our Subjects which shall saile into Hudsons Bay or Inhabit in any of the Countryes Islandes or Territoryes hereby Granted to the said Governor and Company without theire leave and Licence in that Behalfe first had and obteyned or that shall contemne or disobey theire Orders and send them to England and that all and every Person and Persons being our Subjectes any wayes Imployed by the said Governor and Company within any the Partes places and Lymittes aforesaid shall bee lyable unto and suffer such punnishment for any Offences by them committed in the Partes aforesaid as the President and Councill for the said Governor and Company there shall thinke fitt and the meritt of the offence shall require as aforesaid. And in case any Person or Persons being convicted and Sentenced by the President and Councill of the said Governor and Company in the Countryes Landes or Lymittes aforesaid theire Factors or Agentes there for any Offence by them done shall appeale from the same That then and in such Case itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the said President and Councill Factors or Agentes to seize upon him or them and to carry him or them home Prisoners into England to the said Governor and Company there to receive such condigne punnishment as his Cause shall require and the Law of this Nacion allow of and for the better discovery of abuses and injuryes to bee done unto the said Governor and Company or theire Successors by any Servant by them to bee imployed in the said Voyages and Plantacions itt shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Governor and Company and theire respective Presidentes Chiefe Agent or Governor in the partes aforesaid to examine upon Oath all Factors Masters Pursers Supra Cargoes Commanders of Castles Fortes Fortificacions Plantacions or Colonyes or other Persons touching or concerning any matter or thing in which by Law or usage an Oath may bee administered soe as the said Oath and the matter therein conteyned bee not repugnant but agreeable to the Lawes of this Realme
And Wee doe hereby streightly charge and Command all and singuler our Admiralls Vice-Admiralls Justices Mayors Sherriffs Constables Bayliffes and all and singuler other our Officers Ministers Liege Men and Subjects whatsoever to bee ayding favouring helping and assisting to the said Governor and Company and to theire Successors and to theire Deputyes Officers Factors Servantes Assignes and Ministers and every of them in executeing and enjoying the premisses as well on Land as on Sea from tyme to tyme when any of you shall thereunto bee required
Any Statute Act Ordinance Proviso Proclamacion or restraint heretofore had made sett forth ordeyned or provided or any other matter cause or thing whatsoever to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding
In witness whereof we have caused these our Letters to bee made Patentes Witness Ourself at Westminster the second day of May in the two and twentieth yeare of our Raigne
By Writt of Privy Seale
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