Page:A Collection of Charters and Statutes relating to the East India Company.pdf/10

ii Subjects, Without paying farther Customs.—The Company may export, in their first Voyage now preparing, Thirty, thousand Pounds in foreign Coin or Bullion, so as at least Six thousand Pounds there be first coined in the Queen's Mint, and the like for the subsequent Voyages, provided the Company first import at least so much foreign Coin or Bullion, in Gold or Silver, into this Realm, of Which Six thousand Pounds shall be coined as aforesaid. The Company may send yearly to the East Indies Six good Ships, and Six Pinnances, with Five hundred Mariners, unless the Navy-royal goes forth.—None of the Queen's Subjects, but the Company, their Servants, or Assigns, shall resort to India— without being licenced by the Company, upon Pain of forfeiting Ships and Cargoes, with Imprisonment, till the Offenders give One thousand Pounds Bond to the Company not to trade thither again.—Nevertheless, for the Encouragement of Merchant-strangers and others to bring Commodities into the Realm, the Queen gives power to the Company to grant Licences to trade to the East Indies; and She promises not to grant Leave to any others to trade thither during the Company's Term, without their Consent. The Majority of any general Meeting of the Company may admit Apprentices, Servants, Factors, &c. to the Fellowship or Freedom of the Company.—The Silver to be exported shall only be shipped at the Ports of London, Dartmouth, and Plymouth and shall be duly entered by the Custom-house Officers, without paying any Custom for the Same.—Gold and Silver imported shall be entered before the landing thereof:With Proviso, That in Case this Charter shall hereafter appear not to be profitable to the Crown and Realm, then, upon Two Years Notice to the Company, the Charter shall cease and determine; but if profitable, then the Queen promises, at the End of the said fifteen Years, upon the Company's Suit, to grant them a new Charter for Fifteen Years longer.

Second Charter, dated 31st May, 1609.

ING James the First granted to the former Members of the Company a new Charter, (the Earls of Salsbury, (High Treasurer), Nottingham, (High Admiral), and Worcester, (Master of the Horse), William Lord Cavendish, and eleven Knights, standing at the Head of the List,

whereby they were again incorporated by their former Name, with Perpetual Succession, and invested with the sole, exclusive Trade within the Limits described in their former Charter, for ever. But with Power reserve to the Crown to resume the Charter on Three Years Warning, if its Continuance should no be profitable to the Crown or the Realm.

The Charter contains a Repetition in the General of the Powers and Privileges granted by the Former, with some additional ones, relating chiefly to the Payment of the Customs, and the better securing the.exclusive Trade from Invasion by Interlopers. But the former Constitution of the Company, and the Modes prescribed by their former Charter for the Management and carrying on their Trade, are preserved intire.

Third Charter, dated 3d April, 1661.

HE Preamble to this Charter states, that divers Disorders and Inconveniencies had been committed by the King's Subjects and by Foreigners, to the great Prejudice of the Company and Interruption of their Trade, whereupon the Company had besought the King to confirm their Charters granted them by Queen Elizabeth and King James.The King accordingly grants, ratifies, and confirms unto the Governor and Company, that they shall be a body corporate and politic, by their former Name, with perpetual Succession for ever. And the Charter then proceeds, like that of King James, to the Nomination of the First Governor, Deputy Governor, and Twenty-four Committees, with Instructions for their annual Election, and grants to the Company the following Powers, in addition to those given them by their last Charter, (viz.)

That the Commissioners of Customs shall permit no Entry of India Goods, but such as shall be allowed of by the Governor and Company, under their Seal, or under the Hand of the Company's Officer, to be by them appointed to sit at the Custom House for that Purpose. That.