_Whereas by a Royal charter granted on the 2nd day of May in the two-and-twentieth year of the reign of his late Majesty King Charles the Second (in this our charter called "the original charter"), a company was incorporated by the name of "The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay" with a common seal, for the purpose of trading within the territories mentioned in said original charter: And whereas by the said original charter, after declaring that one of the Company should be elected in manner thereafter mentioned, to be called the Governor of the Company, and that the said Governor and Company should or might elect seven of their members in such form as thereafter mentioned, to be called the Committee of the Company, which Committee of seven or any three of them, together with the Governor or the Deputy-Governor for the time being, should have the general management of the affairs of the Company, it was declared that the Governor and Company and their successors should from thenceforth for ever be ruled, ordered, and governed according to such manner and form as was thereafter expressed, and not otherwise: And whereas by the said original charter, after appointing Prince Rupert to be the first Governor of the Company, and seven persons to be the seven first Committees of the Company, it was provided that it should and might be lawful to or for the said Governor and Company for the time being or the greater part of them at any public assembly, commonly called the Court General, to be holden for the said Company, the Governor of the said Company being always one from time to time, to elect, nominate, and appoint one of the said Company to be Deputy to the said Governor, which Deputy should take a corporal oath before the Governor and three or more of the Committee of the said Company for the time being, well and truly and faithfully to execute his said office of Deputy to the Governor of the said Company, and after his oath so taken should and might from time to time, in the absence of the said Governor, exercise and execute the office of Governor of the said Company in such sort as the said Governor ought to do: And whereas the said original charter similarly provided for the election in each and every year between the first and last day of November of one of the Company to be Governor for one whole year then next following, and required the Governor or Deputy-Governor for the time being to be present at each such election, and required the person so elected to be Governor of the Company, before being admitted to execute his office, to take a corporal 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 time being, that he would well and truly execute the office of Governor: