An ordinance issued in 1621, giving Virginia a written constitution. It provided for a Governor and a permanent Council, appointed by the Virginia Company, and for an elected assembly, with legislative powers, to meet annually. The acts of this assembly were subject to the Governor’s veto, and must further be ratified by the Company in London, while all ordinances issued by the Company equally required the ratification of the assembly. It was also provided that the procedure of the colonial courts should be assimilated to the English practice. Voivodes. The Princes of Moldavia and Wallachia were so called until 1789, when these principalities came under the protection of Russia. Volksraad. The popular assembly in the Orange Free State and the South African Republic was so called. Voortrekkers. The name given to the Boers who took part in the Great Trek of 1836-7. Vote of Non-Addresses. A resolution of the Long Parliament, passed on January 15, 1648, refusing, in view of the duplicity shown by Charles in the negotiations at Carisbrook, to receive any message from, or make any application to, the King. Vowel’s Plot. A Royalist conspiracy to assassinate the Protector on his way to Hampton Court in 1654. Vox in Excelso, Bull. A bull of Clement V, issued in 1312, suppressing the Order of the Knights Templars. W Wager of Battle. A method of trial based on the Norse trial by duel, introduced into England by William the Conqueror. Any person charged with an offence by a private individual could challenge him to mortal combat, and if he were successful, or could escape defeat for a whole day, was acquitted of the charge. Wager of battle was not legally abolished until 1819. Wahabis. A sect of fanatical Mohammedans, whose centre is at Nejd, in Arabia, though they are spread over the whole Moslem world. As a military power they were at one time to be feared, but their organization was broken up by Mehemet Ali and Ibrahim Pasha at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Waitangi, Treaty of. A treaty between the British Government and the Maories in 1840, whereby the latter acknowledged the English sovereignty over New Zealand, while they were guaranteed in the undisturbed possession of their lands. Wai-Wupu. The new board appointed by the Emperor of China in 1902, to succeed the Tsung-li-Yamen in the control of Foreign Affairs. It has precedence over all the other departments of State. Walcheren Expedition. An abortive expedition despatched by England to the Island of Walcheren in 1809, with the object of capturing Antwerp and destroying the French fleet in the Scheldt. The expedition captured Flushing, but had no further success, and was withdrawn within the year, the major portion of the force employed having been incapacitated by fever. Waldemariana, Constitutio. The constitution established in Denmark by Waldemar III, surnamed the Restorer (1340-75). Waldenses.