THE THREE CHARTERS OF THE
VIRGINIA COMPANY OF LONDON
With Seven Related Documents;
With an introduction by
Samuel M. Bemiss
President, Virginia Historical Society
VIRGINIA 350TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CORPORATION
WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA
COPYRIGHT(C), 1957 BY
VIRGINIA 350TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
CORPORATION, WILLIAMSBURG, VIRGINIA
Jamestown 350th Anniversary
Historical Booklet Number 4
CONTENTS
Introduction v
The First Charter, April 10, 1606 1
Articles, Instructions and Orders
November 20, 1606 13
Ordinance and Constitution, March 9, 1607 23
The Second Charter, May 23, 1609 27
Virginia Council Instructions to
Sir Thomas Gates, May, 1609 55
Virginia Council Instructions to
Sir Thomas West, 1609/10 70
The Third Charter, March 12, 1612 76
Virginia Company Instructions to
Sir George Yeardley, November 18, 1618 95
(Sometimes called "The Great Charter")
Virginia Company Instructions to Governor and
Council in Virginia, July 24, 1621 109
Treasurer and Company. An Ordinance and Constitution for Council and Assembly in Virginia, July 24, 1621 126
INTRODUCTION
Historians may trace in the Royal charters issued to the Virginia
Company of London a course of empire; a Company organized for profit by the ablest businessmen of their time--merchants, manufacturers, statesmen, and artists who bound themselves together in a joint stock enterprise. The historian may also find…