singular ships, vessels and boats and all manner of merchandise and wares, clothing, implements, beasts, cattle, horses and mares which are or remaine upon or within the premises, or any part thereof, and belonging unto us in any manner or wise, and Wee are pleased, and do by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, grant unto the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies, that for the better supply of the said island (being a place of no trade or traffique) and of the castles erected and placed and to be erected and placed in or upon the said island or within the premises or limitts thereof and of the inhabitants thereof to send of this kingdom to the said island and to the castles, fortifications, forts, garrisons, collonies, plantations and inhabitants thereof, all kinde of clothing, provisions, victuals, ammunition, ordinance and supplyments necessary for such purpose without paying any custom subsidy or other duty for the same; as also to transport and carry over such number of men being willing thereunto as they shall think fitt; and forasmuch as Wee have made such grant of the said island and premises to the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies and their successors as before is mentioned, it is therefore needfull such powers, and premises and jurisdictions be granted unto them as be requisite for the good government and safety thereof, and of the inhabitants thereof; Know yee therefore further, that reposing especiall trust and confidence in theire fidelitye, justis, wisdome, provident circumspection, have granted and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors, do grant unto the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies, and their successors that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London for the time being, or the major part of them, present at any publique assembly, commonly called the Generall Court for the said Company, the Governour of the said Company or Deputy being alwaies one, or for the said Governour or his Deputy or Committees for the time being or the major part of them, present att any assembly commonly called the Generall Court of Committees holden for the said Company, the Governour or his Deputy likewise being alwaies one from time to time ordain, make establish, and under theire common seal to publish any laws, orders, ordinances and constitutions, whatsoever, for the Government and other use Company's of the said island and premises and the inhabitants Legislative thereof; and the same, or any of them againe Power. and from time to time to revoak, abrogate and change, as they in their directions shall think fitt and convenient; and also to impose, limitt and provide such paines, punishments, and penalties by fines, amerciaments, imprisonments of body, and where the quality of the offence shall require, by taking away life and member as to the said Governour and Company for the time being, or the majority of them present at any such Generall Court or to the said Governour, or his Deputy Power to appoint Governours and other Ministers. or Committees of the said Company or the major part of them present at any such Court of Committees as To the extent of aforesaid, the said Governour or his Deputy being Life and Limb. alwaies one shall seem necessary requisite and convenient for the observation of the same laws, constitutions, orders, and ordinances and for the punishment of offenders against the same; so also as the said laws constitutions orders ordinances pains, punishments penalties be consonant to reason and not repugnant nor contrary, but as neer as may be agreeable to the laws of this our realme of England and subject to the saveings therein contained. And also of our further especiall grace, certain knowledge and meer motion, Wee do by these presents, for us, our heirs and successors, give and grant unto the said Governour and Company and their successors, that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Governour or his Deputy and the said Committees of the said Company for the time being, or the major part of them, at any of them said Courts commonly called the Court of Committees, holden for the said Company from time to time to nominate, make and constitute and ordain and confirme by such name or names, stile or stiles, as to them shall seem good such Governour or Governours, or Ministers cheife factors, and agents or other factors or agents as shall be by them thought fitt and needfull to be made and used for the Government, and other use and uses of the said island St. Helena, and of the Castles, forts, fortifications, and other the premises hereby granted and such Governour and Governours, Officers and Ministers, Factors or agents at their directions to revoake, discharge, alter and change, and also to discharge, alter and change all and singular the Governour, Governours officers and Ministers as heretofore have bin by us made and appointed for the Government and other use of the island of St. Helena, or any of the forts, fortifications, limmetts, etc., or presincts therefore; and Wee are also pleased, and by these presents for us, our heirs and successors do give and grant unto the said Governour and Company, and their successors that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Governour or his Deputy and Committees of the Company for the time being, or the major part of them, by themselves or by their Governour or Governours, Officers or Ministers, Factors and agents, to be ordained and appointed as aforesaid, according to the nature and limitts of their respective offices and places within the said island St. Helena, the territories and presincts thereof, Judicial Powers. to correct, punish govern and rule, all and every the subjects of us our heirs and successors that now do, or any time hereafter shall inhabit within the said island and presincts thereof, according to such laws, ordinances, orders and constitutions, as by the samesaid Governour and Company at any Generall Court, or Court of Committees as aforesaid shall be established and to do all and every other thing and things which is to the complete establishment of justice doth belong by court Military Power. sessions of judicature and manners of proceedings thereunto like unto those established and used in our realme of England. Although in these presents express mention be not made thereof, and by Judges and by their officers, by them the said Governour, or his Deputy and Committee of the said Company, or the major part of them, or by the said Chief Governour or Governours of the island St. Helena to be delegated to award process, hold please, judge and determine all actions, suitts, and causes whatsoever of any kind or nature, and to execute all and every such judgements, alwaies the said laws, ordinances and proceedings be reasonable and not repugnant or contrary, but as near as may be to the laws, statutes, governments and policy, of our kingdom of England, and subject to the saveings herein. And Wee do also confirme and grant unto the said Governour and Company, and their successors, as also to all and every such Governour or Governours of officers Ministers and Commanders as shall be appointed by the said Governour, or his Deputy, or Committees of the said Company as aforesaid, to have power and authority of Government and command in and over the said port and island and they and every of them shall and lawfully may, from time to time, and at all times hereafter, for their several defence, and safety, encounter, expell, repell, resist, subdue, retayne and possess by force of armes as well by sea as by land, and by all waies and means whatsoever, all and every such person or persons whatsoever, as without the special license and authority of us, our heirs and successors, or of the said Governour and Company or their successor shall attempt to inhabit within the presincts and limmitts of the said island, and also every such person and persons whatsoever as shall enterprize or attempt any destruction or invasion, hurt, detriment, or annoyances thereunto or to our subjects inhabiting within the same or any part thereof, or to them, or any of their goods, merchandize, interests, property, or estates whatsoever; and Wee do further, for us, our heirs and successors, hereby declare, ordayne and grant that such principall Governours of the said island as shall from time to time be duly authorized and appointed, in manner aforesaid, shall have full powers and authority in their respective places and charges to use and exercise all such powers and authorities in their respective places, in such cases of rebellion, mutiny, or sedition, of refusing to serve in wars, flying to the enemye, forsaking the colours or ensignes or other officers, law custom and disaplene, military in as large and ample a manner, to all intents and purposes whatsoever, as any Captain General of our Army, by virtue of his office, have used and accustomed, and may or might do; and of our more especiall grace, certain knowledge and meer motion, Wee do, for us, our heirs and successors, further ordaine and grant, that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Governour of the said Company, or his Deputy for the time being, or the appointment of the major part of the Committees Governor to have the power of Captain General. Power to administer Oaths. for the said Company assembled in any of their said Courts commonly called their Courts of Committee from time to time and at all times hereafter, to administer such a formall legall oath as by their directions shall be reasonably devised with any person or persons to be employed in, for, or concerning the said island St. Helena, or any part thereof, as well as for the true and faithful execution and performance of their respective offices and employment as also for the rendering a just, true and perfect account of writeing of all such goods, monies and other things as by reason of their said offices and employments, shall come to their respective hands unto the said Governour and Company to such person or persons as shall be by them appointed to take the same account; and also to all Governours, Officers, Ministers, Agents, Factors of what nature soever or by what title soever they shall be called which shall be lawfully sent or placed in the said island St. Helena, as well for the good Government thereof and the inhabitants there, as for the ordering, safe keeping and true accomping of and for all such laws, goods, profitts, commodities, matters and things whatsoever, as shall be committed to their charge, or any of their Government, charge, care and custody; and also to such persons as the Governour or said Deputy, with the major part of the said Committees for the time being shall think meet for the examination of, or clearing the truth in any case whatsoever concerning the said Company and relating to the said island St. Helena, or concerning any prisoner from thence proceeding or thereunto belonging; and Wee do, for us our heirs and successors, give and grant unto the said Governour and Company, and their successors, that the Chief Governour or Governours resident in the said island of what names or title soever they be called, shall have the like power to minister a formall and legall oath to all other officers and inferior Ministers whatsoever on the said island St. Helena for the just true and faithful discharge of their severall places, duties and services as also unto any other person or persons whatsoever for the examination, satisfying and clearing the truth in any cause as well concerning the said Island St. Helena as any other particular business there arising for the maintaining and administration of peace and justice amongst the inhabitants of the said island, or any other person in that place and our pleasure is, and Wee do, for us, our heirs and successors declare by these presents, that all and every the persons being our subjects which do or shall inhabit within the said port or island, and every their children and posterity which shall happen to be borne within the presincts thereof, shall have and enjoy all liberties, franchises, immunities, capacities and abilities, of franchises and natural subjects within any of our dominions, to all intents and purposes as if they had been abiding and borne within this our realme of England or in any of our dominions; and lastly our Will and pleasure is, and Wee do by these Natives of St. Helena to be Free Denizens of England. presents, for us, our heirs and successors, ordain and grant unto the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London trading into the East Indies, that these our letters patents, and all and singular grants and causes therein contayned, shall be and continue firme, strong and sufficient and available in the law, and shall be contayned, reputed and taken as well to the meaning and intent as to the words of the same most graciously and honourably for the best advantage and benefitt of the said Governour and Comgery, and their successors, although express mention be not made herent, of the true yearly value and certainty of the premises, or any pert thereof or of any other gifts or grants made by us, or any do ancestors or predecessors, to them the said Governour and Cruseny or any other person or persons whatsoever or any otus defect herein or any law, statut, act, provision, order, orNA published, ordayned, or provided, or any other cause, they things whatsoever to the contrary thereof, or in any we w withstanding. In witness whereof, Wee have caused these ove letters patent to be made witness ourselfe at Westter the 10% day of December in the five and twentieth year d or mega, By writt of proyed Sput, Yoom. The pay of the Government Officers was as folow, from 1673 to 1687: Captain Field, Governor and Captain of a Convery, Fifty youte, also gratuity Fifty pounds, ie. One hundred pounds per annu Captain Beale, Deputy-Governor, Captant aut for Komen Fifty pounds per annum. Lieutenants Ensigns Sergeants. £2 10 £1 £29 " Gunners Gunners' mates Private soldiers The Minister Mr. Swindle, £25, making one hundred pounds The Chirurgeon, Twenty-five pounds, prawny swanny Ave, making Fifty pounds. The Minister and Chirurgeon besides their dat were such allowed the same proportion of had a other BESLETE, In returning the salutes of foreign rom. It was th that no more than seven guns should at any time be fred, and only three, to ships in the Company's service; but interlopers were not on any account whatever to be simon. An extract from a letter addressed to the St. Helena Govern ment by the home authorities reads: |