Virginia -- History -- Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 -- Sources
At the reading of the names of the Burgesses, Exception was taken
against Captaine Warde as having planted here in Virginia without any
authority or comission from the Tresurer, Counsell and Company in
Englande. But considering he had bene at so great chardge and paines to
augmente this Colony, and had adventured his owne person in the action,
and since that time had brought home a good[20] quantity of fishe, to
relieve the Colony by waye of trade, and above all, because the
Comission for authorising the General Assembly admitteth of two
Burgesses out of every plantation w^{th}out restrainte or exception.
Upon all these considerations, the Assembly was contented to admitt of
him and his Lieutenant (as members of their body and Burgesses) into
their society. Provided, that the said Captaine Warde, w^{th} all
expedition, that is to saye between this and the nexte general assembly
(all lawful impediments excepted), should procure from the Tresurer,[21]
Counsell and Company in England a comission lawfully to establish[22]
and plant himselfe and his Company as the Chieffs[23] of other
Plantations have done. And in case he doe neglect this he is to stande
to the censure of the nexte generall assembly. To this Captaine Warde,
in the presence of us all, having given his consente and undertaken to
performe the same, was, together w^{th} his Lieutenant, by voices of the
whole Assembly first admitted to take the oath of Supremacy, and then to
make up their number and to sitt amongst them.
[19] 30, Bancroft.
[20] goode, McDonald.
[21] Treasurer, McDonald.
[22] establishe, McDonald, Bancroft.
[23] Chiefes, McDonald.
This being done, the Governour himselfe alledged that before we
proceeded any further it behooved us to examine whither it were fitt,
that Captaine Martin's Burgesses shoulde[24] have any place in the
Assembly, forasmuche as he hath a clause in his Patente w^{ch} doth not
onely exempte him from that equality and uniformity of lawes and orders
w^{er}[25] the great charter faith are to extende[26] over the whole
Colony, but also from diverse such lawes as we must be enforced[27] to
make in the General Assembly. That clause is as followeth: Item. That it
shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Captain John Martin, his
heyers, executours and assignes to governe and comaunde all suche[28]
person or persons as at this time he shall carry over with him, or that
shalbe[29] sente him hereafter, free from any comaunde of the Colony,
excepte it be in ayding and assisting the same against[30] any forren or
domestical enemy.
[24] should, Bancroft.
[25] W^{ch}, McDonald and Bancroft.
[26] extend, Bancroft.
[27] inforced, McDonald.
[28] such, McDonald.
[29] shall be, McDonald.
[30] ag^{st}, McDonald.
Upon the[31] motion of the Governour, discussed the same time in the
assembly, ensued this order following:
An order of the General Assembly touching a clause in
Captain[32] Martin's Patent at James Citty, July 30, 1619.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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