An Ordinance and Constitution of the Treasurer, Council, and Company in England, for a Council of State and General Assembly. Dated July 24, 1621
TO all People, to whom these Presents shall come, be seen, or heard, The Treasurer, Council, and Company of Adventurers and Planters for the City of London for the first Colony of Virginia, send Greeting. KNOW YE, that we, the said Treasurer, Council, and Company, taking into our careful Consideration the present State of the said Colony of Virginia., and intending, by the Divine Assistance, to settle such a Form of Government there, as may be to the greatest Benefit and Comfort of the People, and whereby all Injustice, Grievances, and Oppression may be prevented and kept of as much as possible from the said Colony, have thought fit to make our Entrance, by ordering and establishing such Supreme Councils, as may not only be assisting to the Governor for the time being, in the Administration of Justice, and the executing of other Duties to this office belonging, but also, by their vigilant care and Prudence, may provide, as well for a Remedy of all Inconveniences, growing from time to time, as also for advancing of Increase, Strength, Stabllity, and Prosperity of the said Colony:
II. WE therefore, the said Treasurer, Council, and Company, by Authority directed to us from his Majesty under the Great Seal, upon mature Deliberation, do hereby order and declare, that, from hence forward, there shall be TWO SUPREME COUNCILS in Virginia, for the better Government of the said Colony aforesaid.
III. THE one of which Councils, to be called THE COUNCIL OF STATE (and whose Office shall chiefly be assisting, with their Care, Advise, and Circumspection, to the said Governor) shall be chosen, nominated, placed and displaced, from time to time, by Us, the said Treasurer, Council, and Company, and our Successors: Which Council of State shall consist, for the present, only of these Persons, as are here inserted, viz. Sir Francis Wyat, Governor of Virginia, Captain Francis West, Sir George Yeardley, Knight, Sir William Neuce, Knight Marshal of Virginia, Mr. George Sandys, Treasurer, Mr. George Thorpe, Deputy of the College, Captain Thomas Nence, Deputy for the Company, Mr. Pawlet, Mr. leech, Captain Nathaniel Powel, Mr. Christopher Davison, Secretary, Doctor Pots, Physician to the Company, Mr. Roger Smith, Mr. John Berkeley, Mr. John Rolfe, Mr. Ralph Harrier, Mr. John Potuntis, Mr. Michael lapworth, Mr. Harwood, Mr. Sarrvuel Macock. Which said Counsellors and Council we earnestly pray and desire, and in his Majesty's Name strictly charge and command, that (all Factions, Partialities, and sinister Respect laid aside) they bend their Care and Endeavours to assist the said Governor; first and principally, in the Advancement of the Honour and Service of God, and the Enlargement of his Kingdom amongst the Heathen People; and next, in erecting of the said Colony in due obedience to his Majesty, and all lawful Authority from his Majesty's Directions; and lastly, in maintaining the said People in Justice and Christian Conversation amongst themselves, and in Strength and Ability to withstand their Enemies. And this Council, to be always, or for the most Part, residing about or near the Governor
IV. The other Council, more generally to be called by the Governor, once yearly, and no oftener, but for very extraordinary and important occasions, shall consist, for the present, of the said Council of State, and of two Burgesses out of every Town, Hundred, or other particular Plantation, to be respectively chosen by the Inhabitants: Which Council shall be called THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, wherein (as also in the said Council of State) all Matters shall be decided, determined, and ordered, by the greater Part of the Voices then present; reserving to the Governor always a Negative Voice. And this General Assembly shall have free Power to treat, consult, and conclude, as well of all emergent Occasions concerning the Publick Weal of the said Colony and every Part thereof, as also to make, ordain, and enact such general Laws and Orders, for the Behoof of the said Colony, and the good Government thereof, as shall, from time to time, appear necessary or requisite;
V. WHEREAS in all other Things, ire require the said General Assembly, as also the said Council of State, to imitate and follow the Policy of the Form of Government, Laws, Customs, and Manner of Trial, and other Administration of Justice, used in the Realm of England, as near as may be, even as ourselves, by his Majesty's Letters Patent, are required.
VI. PROVIDED, that no Law or Ordinance, made in the said General Assembly, shall be or continue in Force or Validity, unless the same shall be solemnly ratified and confirmed, in a General Quarter Court of the said Company here in England and so ratified, be returned to them under our Seal; It being our Intent to afford the like Measure also unto the said Colony, that after the Government of the said Colony shall once have been well framed, and settled accordingly, which is to be done by Us, as by Authority derived from his Majesty, and the same shall have been so by us declared, no Orders of Court afterwards shall bind the said Colony, unless they be ratified in like Manner in the General Assemblies. IN WITNESS whereof we have hereunto set our Common Seal, the 24th of July 1621, and in the Year of the Reign of our Sovereign Lord, JAMES; King of England, &c., the * * * and of Scotland the * * *
(1) The text is from the History of the First Discovery and settlement of Virginia, by William Stithe (Sabin's edition, New York, 1865), Appendix IV. The Commission to Sir Francis Wyatt, Governor of Virginia, in regard to the ordinance is printed in Hening's Statutes at Large (Richmond, 1809), I. 113-114. The first Assembly of Virginia was convened July 3-Aug. 9, 1619, at Jamestown by Governor Yeardley under the authority of the Virginia Company, executed in November, 1618. This document, either a commission or instructions to Yeardley, has not been found, but probably was similar to the later ordinance of 1621. For report of the proceedings of the first assembly see Colonial Records of Virgina, Senate document, Extra, (Richmond, 1874.). Back
Source:
The Federal and State Constitutions Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the States, Territories, and Colonies Now or Heretofore Forming the United States of America
Compiled and Edited Under the Act of Congress of June 30, 1906 by Francis Newton Thorpe
Washington, DC : Government Printing Office, 1909.
Ordinances for Virginia; July 24-August 3, 1621
-
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1503
- Joined: Sat Mar 31, 2018 11:38 pm
- County: Fairbanks
- Your State: Alive
- Contact:
Ordinances for Virginia; July 24-August 3, 1621
Unread post by Destry »
“First, let no one rule your mind or body. Take special care that your thoughts remain unfettered... . Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect for those in power, but don't follow them blindly. Judge with logic and reason, but comment not. Consider none your superior whatever their rank or station in life. Treat all fairly, or they will seek revenge. Be careful with your money. Hold fast to your beliefs and others will listen.”
“Wise? No, I simply learned to think.”
“Wise? No, I simply learned to think.”
Return to “Virginia Historical Documents”
Jump to
- Forum Rules
- New? Start Here!
- The word of God
- ↳ His Hard Line Scriptures
- National Assembly Blog
- For users who need passwords reset or users that do not receive emails.
- Outbound email blocking
- TEN STEPS TO AN ASSEMBLY BY WILL THEY MA'KIT
- Handbook For The Restoration of The Peaceful Sovereign States of America!
- 2018.05.10 Operation & Functions By-laws NAM Generic v.2
- 1638 Fundamental Orders
- Reba Live Red State Talk Radio explaining the foundation our assemblies stand on!
- Michigan Assembly Introduction Video
- Lapbook for home schooling
- His Hard Line Podcasts on Assembly
- Announcements and Notices
- Assembly Progress Reports
- National Assembly
- ↳ Notices in progress
- ↳ National Assembly Meeting Session Archive
- ↳ Requests for Agenda subjects
- ↳ Notice of voting on motions agenda for the next national assembly business meeting.
- ↳ National Assembly Seated Positions List
- ↳ National Assembly Documents and Resources
- ↳ National Assembly Meeting Motions De Jure Motion List History in Chronological Order
- State Assembly Support
- ↳ State Assembly Documents & Support
- ↳ State Assembly General Discussions
- County Assembly Support
- ↳ County Assembly Documents & Support
- ↳ County Assembly General Discussions
- General and off topic chat
- ↳ His Hard Line EDU Spot
- ↳ His Hard Line Quick Look
- ↳ HHL-Field Training Manual 2000-25 Series
- ↳ Voice of The People News Paper
- ↳ General Off Topic Chat
- ↳ Old Historical Documents
- ↳ Letters from an American farmer
- ↳ The Republic
- ↳ Video Library
- ↳ Legal Documents
- ↳ Resourceful Websites
- ↳ Humor
- ↳ Health and Healing
- ↳ In the Kitchen
- ↳ Alternative Energy and Hidden Tech.
- ↳ General News
- ↳ 5G microwave and the space fence
- ↳ Living Without the System by Clyde Edward Powell 22 DVD disk set
- ↳ Computers and Software
- ↳ Hoaxes and Scams
- The 50 Nation=States
- ↳ Alabama
- ↳ Alabama Introductions
- ↳ Alabama General Chat
- ↳ Alabama Historical Documents
- ↳ Alaska assembled settled
- ↳ Alaska Introductions
- ↳ Alaska General Chat
- ↳ Alaska's Historical Documents
- ↳ Website
- ↳ Arizona
- ↳ Arizona Introductions
- ↳ Arizona General Chat
- ↳ Arizona's Historical Documents
- ↳ Arkansas Assembled
- ↳ Arkansas Introductions
- ↳ Arkansas General Chat
- ↳ Arkansas Historical Documents
- ↳ Website
- ↳ California assembled
- ↳ California Introductions
- ↳ California General Chat
- ↳ California's Historical Documents
- ↳ Colorado
- ↳ Colorado Introductions
- ↳ Colorado General Chat
- ↳ Colorado Historical Documents
- ↳ Connecticut
- ↳ Connecticut Intruductions
- ↳ Conneticut General Chat
- ↳ Connecticut's Historical Documents
- ↳ Delaware
- ↳ Delaware Introductions
- ↳ Delaware General Chat
- ↳ Delaware's Historical Documents
- ↳ Florida assembled
- ↳ Florida Introductions
- ↳ Florida General Chat
- ↳ Florida's Historical Documents
- ↳ Website
- ↳ Georgia Assembled
- ↳ Georgia Introductions
- ↳ Georgia General Chat
- ↳ Georgia's Historical Documents
- ↳ Georgia Website
- ↳ Hawai'i assembled questionable
- ↳ Hawai'i Introductions
- ↳ Hawai'i General Chat
- ↳ Hawaii's Historical Documents
- ↳ Idaho
- ↳ Idaho Introductions
- ↳ Idaho General Chat
- ↳ Idaho's Historical Documents
- ↳ Illinois Assembled
- ↳ Illinois Introductions
- ↳ Illinois General Chat
- ↳ Illinois Historical Documents
- ↳ Indiana
- ↳ Indiana Introductions
- ↳ Indiana General Chat
- ↳ Indiana's Historical Documents
- ↳ Iowa
- ↳ Iowa Introductions
- ↳ Iowa General Chat
- ↳ Iowa's Historical Documents
- ↳ Kansas
- ↳ Kansas Introductions
- ↳ Kansas General Chat
- ↳ Kansas Historical Documents
- ↳ Kentucky assembled
- ↳ Kentucky Introductions
- ↳ Kentucky General Chat
- ↳ Kentucky Historical Documents
- ↳ Louisiana
- ↳ Louisiana Introductions
- ↳ Louisiana General Chat
- ↳ Louisiana Historical Documents
- ↳ Maine
- ↳ Maine Introductions
- ↳ Maine General Chat
- ↳ Maine Historical Documents
- ↳ Maryland
- ↳ Maryland Introductions
- ↳ Maryland General Chat
- ↳ Maryland Historical Documents
- ↳ Massachusetts
- ↳ Massachusetts Introductions
- ↳ Massachusetts General Chat
- ↳ Massachusetts Historical Documents
- ↳ Michigan assembled settled
- ↳ Michigan Introductions
- ↳ Michigan General Chat
- ↳ Michigan Historical Documents
- ↳ Website
- ↳ Minnesota
- ↳ Minnesota Introductions
- ↳ Minnesota General Chat
- ↳ Minnesota Historical Documents
- ↳ Mississippi
- ↳ Mississippi Introductions
- ↳ Mississippi General Chat
- ↳ Mississippi Historical Documents
- ↳ Website
- ↳ Missouri Assembled
- ↳ Missouri Introductions
- ↳ Missouri General Chat
- ↳ Missouri Historical Documents
- ↳ Website
- ↳ Montana dis-assembled
- ↳ Montana Introductions
- ↳ Montana General Chat
- ↳ Montana Historical Documents
- ↳ Nebraska
- ↳ Nebraska Introductions
- ↳ Nebraska General Chat
- ↳ Nebraska Historical Documents
- ↳ Nevada
- ↳ Nevada Introductions
- ↳ Nevada General Chat
- ↳ Nevada Historical Documents
- ↳ New Hampshire
- ↳ New Hampshire Introductions
- ↳ New Hampshire General Chat
- ↳ New Hampshire Historical Documents
- ↳ New Jersey
- ↳ New Jersey Introductions
- ↳ New Jersey General Chat
- ↳ New Jersey Historical Documents
- ↳ New Mexico
- ↳ New Mexico Introductions
- ↳ New Mexico General Chat
- ↳ New Mexico Historical Documents
- ↳ New York assembled
- ↳ New York Introductions
- ↳ New York General Chat
- ↳ New York Historical Documents
- ↳ Website
- ↳ North Carolina assembled
- ↳ North Carolina Introductions
- ↳ North Carolina General Chat
- ↳ North Carolina Historical Documents
- ↳ North Dakota assembled Questionable
- ↳ North Dakota Introductions
- ↳ North Dakota General Chat
- ↳ North Dakota Historical Documents
- ↳ Ohio
- ↳ Ohio Introductions
- ↳ Ohio General Chat
- ↳ Ohio Historical Documents
- ↳ Oklahoma
- ↳ Oklahoma Introductions
- ↳ Oklahoma General Chat
- ↳ Oklahoma Historical Documents
- ↳ Oregon Assembled
- ↳ Oregon Introductions
- ↳ Oregon General Chat
- ↳ Oregon Historical Documents
- ↳ Website
- ↳ Pennsylvania
- ↳ Pennsylvania Introductions
- ↳ Pennsylvania General Chat
- ↳ Pennsylvania Historical Documents
- ↳ Rhode Island
- ↳ Rhode Island Introductions
- ↳ Rhode Island General Chat
- ↳ Rhode Island Historical Documents
- ↳ South Carolina
- ↳ South Carolina Introductions
- ↳ South Carolina General Chat
- ↳ South Carolina Historical Documents
- ↳ South Dakota
- ↳ South Dakota Introductions
- ↳ South Dakota General Chat
- ↳ South Dakota Historical Documents
- ↳ Tennessee Assembled
- ↳ Tennessee Introductions
- ↳ Tennessee General Chat
- ↳ Tennessee Historical Documents
- ↳ Texas
- ↳ Texas Introductions
- ↳ Texas General Chat
- ↳ Texas Historical Documents
- ↳ Utah
- ↳ Utah Introductions
- ↳ Utah General Chat
- ↳ Utah Historical Documents
- ↳ Vermont
- ↳ Vermont Introductions
- ↳ Vermont General Chat
- ↳ Vermont Historical Documents
- ↳ Virginia
- ↳ Virginia Introductions
- ↳ Virginia General Chat
- ↳ Virginia Historical Documents
- ↳ Washington
- ↳ Washington Introductions
- ↳ Washington General Chat
- ↳ Washington Historical Documents
- ↳ West Virginia
- ↳ West Virginia Introductions
- ↳ West Virginia General Chat
- ↳ West Virginia Historical Documents
- ↳ Wisconsin - Assembled
- ↳ Wisconsin Introductions
- ↳ Wisconsin General Chat
- ↳ Wisconsin Historical Documents
- ↳ Website
- ↳ Wyoming
- ↳ Wyoming Introductions
- ↳ Wyoming General Chat
- ↳ Wyoming Historical Documents
- International Community
- ↳ Australia
- ↳ Australia General Chat
- ↳ Australia History
- ↳ Canada
- ↳ Canada Introductions
- ↳ Canada General Chat
- ↳ Canada Historical Documents
- ↳ Germany
- ↳ Germany Introductions
- ↳ Germany General Chat
- ↳ Website
- ↳ Ireland
- ↳ Ireland Introductions
- ↳ Ireland General Chat
- ↳ Slovakia
- Suggestion Box