2. That his Ma[jes]tie wilbe pleased gratiously to extend his favour to the planters, for a new confirmation of their lands and goods by charter under the great seale of England, and therein to authorize the Lords to consider what is fitt to be done for the ratifying of the privileges formerly granted, and holding of a general assembly, to be called by the Governor upon necessary occasions, therein to propound laws and orders for the good government of the people; and for that it is most reasonable that his ma[jes]ties subjects should be governed only by such laws as shall have their originall from his ma[jes]ties royall approbation, it be therefore so ordered that those laws, so there made, only stand as propositions, until his ma[jes]tie shalbe pleased, under his great seal or privy seal, or by the Lords of his noble privy council, to ratify the same.
b. Certaine Answeres (by Charles I) to Capt. Harveye's Proposicons Touching Virginia
Virginia Magazine of History, VII, 370.
2. The sett[l]ing of Lands and goods and privileges is to be done here, and may be done by calling in the former books and charters at a convenient time. But the governor may be authorized shortly after his first coming into Virginia to call a grand assembly and there to set down an establishment of the Government, and ordaine laws and orders for the good thereof, and those to send hither to receive allowance [i.e., to be ratified]; and such as shall be soe allowed to be returned thither under the great seal and put in execution, the same to be temporary and changeable at his ma[jes]ties pleasure, signified under the like great seal.
[This is the formal restoration of the Virginia Assembly. The meeting in 1628 had been with special sanction for that particular occasion.]
c. Assembly Authorized in a Governor's Instructions, 1641
Virginia Magazine of History, II, 281 ff.
These instructions in the matter of the Assembly are said to have been given in the same form to Wyatt in 1639,—the governor who came between Harvey and Berkeley. For the significance of these papers, see American History and Government, §§ 34-35.
Instructions to Sir Wm. Berkeley, Knt., Governor of Virginia