Page:Economic History of Virginia Vol 1.djvu/541

 the Company with reference to the head right received the royal approval. The form adopted for the land patent immediately after the dissolution of the Company ran thus: &#8220;To all to whom. . . . whereas by the Ordinances and Constitutions made and set forth by the late Company, it is ordered and appointed that such lands and dividends as shall be due to any adventurers or planters of what condition or quality soever be laid out and assigned unto them by the Governor and Council here, and whereas the same power and authority is confirmed and granted by his Majestys letters Patent directed unto mee and the Counsell of state bearing date the fourteenth day of March 1625, now know ye that I Sir George Yeardley,&#8221; etc. See Virginia Land Patents, vol. 1623-1643, p. 49. In 1634 the form ran thus: &#8220;Whereas by Letters Patent bearing date the twoe and twentieth of July, one thousand six hundred thirtie four, from the Rt. Hon ble Lords of his Majesties Most Hon ble Privie Council, their Lordships did authorize the Governor and Council of Virginia to dispose of such portions of land to all planters being freemen as they had power to doe before the year 1625, when, according to divers orders and Constitutions in that year appointed, all dividends of land anyways due or belonging to any adventurers or planters of what condition or quality soever,&#8221; etc. See Virginia Land Patents, vol. 1623-1643, p. 158. In 1639 the following form was in use: &#8220;To all to whom. . . I Francis Wyatt. . . whereas by instructions from the King&#8217;s Most excellent Majestie, directed to me and the Council of State, his Majestie was gratiously pleased to authorize me the said governor and Council to grant patents and to assign such portions of lands to all adventurers and planters as have been usually heretofore in like rates, either to adventurers of money or transportation of people to the colony, according to the orders of the late Company and since allowed by his Majesty, and likewise that there be the same portion of fiftie acres of land graunted and assigned for every person that hath been transported to the Colony since Midsummer 1625. And that the same course bee continued to all persons transported hither until it shall be otherwise determined by his Majestie. Now know,&#8221; etc. See Virginia Land Patents, vol. 1623-1643, p. 702. On the 26th of March, 1627, Charles the First being now in occupation of the throne, the letters patent of James the First were confirmed, and were confirmed for the second time in 1631, and for the third time in 1633, and in the twelfth year of Charles the First's reign, were confirmed for the fourth time. In the instructions which were given to Wyatt when he became