Page:The Life of George Washington, Volume 1.djvu/76

 46 INTRODUCTION. chap, ii. pany, to fill all vacancies therein by election. 1609. This council was empowered to appoint and remove all officers for the colony, and to make all ordinances for its government, provided they be not contrary to the laws of England ; and to rule and correct the colonists according to such ordinances. License was given to transport to Virginia all persons willing to go thither, and to export merchandise free from customs for seven years. There was also granted, for twenty-one years, freedom from all subsidies in Virginia, and from all impo- sitions on importations and exportations from or to any of the king's dominions, " except only the five pounds in the hundred due for customs." The colonists were declared to be entitled to the rights of natural subjects. The governor was empowered to establish martial law in case of rebellion or mutiny ; and, to prevent the superstitions of the church of Rome from taking root in the plantation, it was de- clared that none should pass into Virginia, but such as shall have first taken the oath of su- premacy. 1 " The company, being thus enlarged, was enabled to take more effective measures for the settlement of the country. They soon fitted out nine ships, with five hundred emigrants, and such supplies as were deemed necessary k Charter..,. See Stith's Ap.