Hazard's State Papers (1792), I, 189 ff. The first part of the extract here given presents King James' view of recent troubles with the Virginia Company.
... And whereas Wee, out of our zeal and affection to the furthering of the said Plantations, having still a watchfull and carefull eye to the same, and finding the courses taken for the setling thereof, had not taken the good effect which Wee intended and so much desired, did, by our Commission lately graunted to certaine Persons of Qualitie and Trust, cause the state of the said country of Virginia be to examined how it stood, as well in point of livelihood as government; ... to the end, yf good cause were, Wee might by our royall hand, supply what should be defective. And whereas our Commissioners, after much care and paines expended in execution of our said Commissions, did certifie us, that our Subjects and People sent to inhabite there, and to plant themselves in that country, were most of them by God's visitations, sickness of bodie, famine, and by massacres of them by the native savages of the land, dead and deceased, and those that were living of them lived in necessitie and want, and in danger by the Savages: but the Country, for any thing appeared to the said Commissioners to the contrary, they conceaved to be fruitfull and healthfull after our People had been some time there; and that if industry were used it would produce divers good and staple Commodities, though in the sixteene years government past, it had yealded fewe or none; ... and that yf our first graunt herein mentioned, and our most prudent and princely instructions given in the beginning of the Plantation, for the direction of the affaires thereof ... had bin pursued, much better effect had bin produced than had bin by the alteration thereof, into soe popular [democratic] a course ...: Whereupon Wee entring into mature and deliberate consideration of the premisses, did, by the advise of the Lords of our Privie Counsell, resolve, by altering the Charters of the said Company, as to the point of government wherein the same might be found defective, to settle such a course as might best secure the safetie of the People there, and cause the said Plantation to flourish, and yet with the preservation of the interest of every Planter or Adventurer, soe far forth as their present interests shall not prejudice the publique Plantations; But because the said Treasurer and Company did not submitt their Charters to be reformed, our proceedings therein were stayed for a tyme, untill, uppon a Quo Warranto ... by due course of Lawe, the said charters were avoyded; [And whereas the King intends to prepare another charter, and in the interval, by a commission of July 15, 1629, has established a supervising council in England for the Colony (composed of members of the Privy Council), now, according to advice from this council] ... untill some other constant ... course be resolved upon ... Knowe yee ... that Wee reposing assured trust and confidence in the understanding, care, fidelitie, experience, and circumspection of you, ... Sir Francis Wyatt, Francis West, Sir George Yardeley, George Sandys, Roger Smith, Ralph Hamor, John Martin, John Harvy, Samuell Mathews, Abraham Perrey, Isaacke Madison, and William Clayborne, have nominated and assigned, and do hereby nomynate and assigne you the said Sir Francis Wyatt, to bee the present Governor, and you the said Francis West, Sir George Yardeley, and the rest before mentioned, to be our present Councell of and for the said Colonye and Plantation in Virginia: Giving and granting unto you, and the greater nomber of you, by theis presents respectively, full power and authoritie to performe and execute the places, powers, and authorities incident to a Governor and Councell in Virginia, respectively, and to direct and governe, correct and punish our Subjects nowe inhabiting or being, or which hereafter shall inhabite or be in Virginia, or in any the Isles, portes, havens, creaks, or territories thereof, either in tyme of peace or warre, and to order and direct the affaires touching or concerning that Colonie or Plantation in those forraigne partes onely;[19] and [to] doe, execute and performe all and every other matters and things concerning that Plantation, as fullye and amplye as any Governor and Councell resident there, at any tyme within the space of five yeares now last past ... Nevertheless, our will and pleasure is, that yee proceed therein according to such instructions as yee, or such of you as have bene heretofore of our Councell there, have received, or according to such instructions as you shall hereafter receave from Us, or our Commissioners here. ... And lastly, our will and pleasure is, that this our commission shall continue in force untill such tyme as Wee by some other writing under our Signett, privie Seale, or greate Seale, shall signify our pleasure to the contrary....
30. Yeardley's Commission from Charles I, March 4/14, 1624/5
Hazard's State Papers (1792), I, 230-234. This commission, so far as concerns the powers of the governor, followed the commission given in No. 29 above. Cf. American History and Government, § 34.
[The King, Charles I,] reposing assured Truste and Confidence in the Understanding, Care, Fidelitie, Experience, and Circumspection of you the said Sir George Yardeley, Francis West, John Hervey, George Sandys, John Pott, Roger Smith, Ralph Hamor, Samuell Matthews, Abraham Percey, William Clayborne, William Tacker, Jabes Whitacres, Edward Blaney, and William Farrar, have nominated and assigned ... you the said Sir George Yardeley, to be the present Governour, and you the said John Harvey, and the rest before mentioned to be the present Councell of and for the said Collony and Plantation in Virginia, giveing ... unto you full Power and authority to performe and execute the Places, Powers, and Authorities incident to a Governour and Councell of Virginia respectively; and to direct and governe, correct and punish our Subjects ... in Virginia, eyther in tyme of Peace or Warr; and to order and direct the Affaires touching or concerneing that Collony or Plantation in those forreigne parts only; and to execute and performe all and every other Matters and Things concerneing that Plantation, as fully and amply as any Governour and Councell resident there, at anie time within the Space of Five Years now last past, had or might performe or execute: ...
[Observe that there is no reference to the Assembly in this document or in the preceding one.]
31. The Colony favors the Policy of the Company
a. The Assembly enacts a precautionary "Bill of Rights," March, 1624
Hening's Statutes at Large, being a Collection of the Laws of Virginia (1823). Cf. American History and Government, § 34.
It had become apparent that the King was about to destroy the Company and take over the colony. This Assembly enacted some thirty brief statues. Three are of interest in this connection.