Plymouth Council Charter (November 3, 1620) granted by King James I (1566-1625), declared the purpose of the colony:
<James, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and Ireland, Defender of the Faith…Greeting,
Whereas, upon the humble Petition of divers of our well disposed Subjects, that intended to make several Plantations in the Parts of America…
We according to our princely Inclination, favoring much their worthy Disposition, in Hope thereby to advance the enlargement of Christian Religion, to the Glory of God Almighty, as also by that Means to stretch out the Bounds of our Dominions…granted unto Sir Thomas Gates, Sir George Somers, Knights, Thomas Hanson, and Raleigh Gilbert…free Liberty to divide themselves into two several Colonies…
And forasmuch as We have been certainly given to understand by divers of our good Subjects, that have for these many Years past frequented those Coasts and Territories…that there is no other the Subjects of any Christian King or State, by any Authority from their Sovereigns…actually in Possession of any of the said Lands…
And also for that We have been further given certainly to know, that within these late Years there hath by God’s Visitation reigned a wonderful Plague, together with many horrible Slaughters, and Murders, committed amongst the Savages and brutish People there, heretofore inhabiting, in a Manner to the utter Destruction, Devastation, and Depopulation of that whole Territory, so that there is not left for many Leagues together in a Manner, any that do claim or challenge any Kind of Interests therein…
Whereby We in our Judgment are persuaded and satisfied that the appointed Time is come in which Almighty God in His great Goodness and Bounty towards Us and our People, hath thought fit and determined, that those large and goodly Territories, deserted as it were by their natural Inhabitants, should be possessed and enjoyed by such of our Subjects and People as heretofore have and hereafter shall by his Mercy and Favor, and by his Powerful Army, be directed and conducted thither.
In Contemplation and serious Consideration whereof, We have thought it fit according to our Kingly Duty, so much as in Us lie, to second and follow God’s sacred Will, rendering reverend Thanks to his Divine Majesty for his gracious favor in laying open and revealing the same unto us, before any other Christian Prince or State, by which Means without Offense, and as We trust to his Glory, We may with Boldness go on to the settling of so hopeful a Work, which tends to the reducing and Conversion of such Savages as remain wandering in Desolation and Distress, to Civil Society and Christian Religion, to the enlargement of our own Dominions…
And for as much as it shall be necessary for all our loving Subjects as shall inhabit within the said Precincts of New-England aforesaid, to determine to live together in the Fear and true Worship of Almighty God, Christian Peace, and civil Quietness…
We…grant unto the said Council…that they shall…have full and absolute Power and Authority to correct, punish, pardon, govern, and rule… Of the Premises herein before mentioned, and by these Presents intended and meant to be granted, be not actually possessed or inhabited by any other Christian Prince or Estate, nor he within the Bounds, Limits, or Territories, of that Southern Colony Heretofore by us granted to be planted by diverse of our loving Subjects…
And that no Persons which shall be sent and employed in the said Plantation…misbehave themselves by mutinous Seditions, or other notorious Misdemeanors…to bring the said Voyages and Plantation into Disgrace and Contempt…and a great number of our loving and well-disposed Subjects, other ways well affected and inclined to join and adventure in so noble a Christian and worthy Action may be discouraged from the same, but also the Enterprise itself may be overthrown, which cannot miscarry without some Dishonor to Us and our Kingdom:
We, therefore, for preventing so great and enormous Abuses and Misdemeanors, Do…grant unto the said President or his Deputy…cause to-be apprehended, all and every such Person and Persons, who shall be noted, or accused, or found at any time or times hereafter to offend or misbehave themselves…
We do hereby declare to all Christian Kings, Princes, and States, that if any Person…of the said Colony…shall…rob or spoil, by Sea or by Land, or do any Hurt, Violence, or unlawful Hostility to any of the Subjects of Us…
We…shall make open Proclamation…that the Person…having committed any such Robbery or Spoil, shall…make full Restitution…
And lastly, because the principal Effect which we can desire or expect of this Action, is the Conversion and Reduction of the People in those Parts unto the true Worship of God and Christian Religion, in which Respect, We would be loath that any Person should be permitted to pass that We suspected to affect the Superstition of the Church of Rome, We do hereby declare that it is our Will and Pleasure that none be permitted to pass, in any Voyage from time to time to be made into the said Country, but such as shall first have taken the Oath of Supremacy.> 1620PC001
—
American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1620PC001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Plymouth Council Charter, November 3, 1620), granted by King James I of England.
This post originally appeared at https://americanminute.com/blogs/todays-american-minute/plymouth-council-charter-november-3-1620