Having thus prepared them, he read over unto them the greate Charter, or comission of priviledges, orders and lawes, sent by Sir George Yeardley out of Englande.[64] Which[65] for the more ease of the Committies, having divided into fower books, he read the former two the same forenoon for expeditious[66] sake, a second time over, and so they were referred to the perusall of twoe Comitties, w^{ch} did reciprocally consider of either, and accordingly brought in their opinions. But some man may here objecte to what ende we should presume to referre that to the examination of Comitties w^{ch} the Counsell and Company in England[67] had already resolved to be perfect, and did expecte nothing[68] but our assente thereunto?[69] To this we answere, that we did it not to the ende to correcte or controll anything therein contained, but onely in case we should finde ought not perfectly squaring w^{th} the state of this Colony or any lawe w^{ch} did presse or binde too harde, that we might by waye of humble petition, seeke to have it redressed, especially because this great Charter is to binde us and our heyers for ever. [62] W^{ch}, McDonald. [63] Gen^{ll}, McDonald. [64] The substance of these will be found in the paper, "A briefe Declaration," &c. See post.--. [65] W^{ch}, McDonald. [66] expeditions, Bancroft. [67] Englande, McDonald. [68] nothinge, McDonald. [69] thereunto, McDonald and Bancroft. The names of the Comitties for perusing the first booke of the fower: 1. Captain William Powell, 2. Ensigne Rosingham, 3. Captaine Warde, 4. Captaine Tucker, 5. Mr. Shelley, 6. Thomas Douse, 7. Samuel Jordan, 8. Mr. Boys. The names of the Comitties for perusing the second booke: 1. Captaine Dawne,[N] 2. Captaine Graves, 3. Ensigne Spense, 4. Samuel Sharpe, 5. William Cap, 6. Mr. Pawlett, 7. Mr. Jefferson, 8. Mr. Jackson. These Comitties thus appointed, we brake up the first forenoon's assembly. [N] Lawne, McDonald, and Bancroft, the list of Burgesses on p. 10, showing this to be proper. * * * * *