THE THREE CHARTERS OF THE
VIRGINIA COMPANY OF LONDON

With Seven Related Documents;
1606-1621
With an introduction by

Samuel M. Bemiss

President, Virginia Historical Society

Virginia 350th Anniversary Celebration Corporation
Williamsburg, Virginia
1957

COPYRIGHT©, 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
(Sometimes called "The Great Charter")		[95]
Virginia Company Instructions to Governor and
Council inVirginia, July 24, 1621		[109]
Treasurer and Company. An Ordinance and Constitution
forCouncil 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 in the three charters here published a pattern for a parliamentary system and its development into the American form of government. He might even perceive the inception of a new society.