Second Charter of Virginia (May 23, 1609) granted by King James I, stated:
<James, by the Grace of God, King of England…Defender of the Faith…Greeting.
Whereas, at the humble…Request of sundry our loving and well disposed Subjects, intending to deduce a Colony, and to make Habitation and Plantation of sundry our People in that Part of America, commonly called VIRGINIA, and other Parts…not actually possessed of any Christian Prince or People…
Now, forasmuch as divers and sundry of our loving Subjects…which have already engaged themselves in furthering the Business of the said Colony…intend, by the Assistance of Almighty God, to prosecute the same to a happy End…in the said Discovery and Plantation of the said Country…
We greatly affecting the effectual Prosecution and happy success of the said Plantation, and commending their good desires therein, for their further Encouragement in accomplishing so excellent a Work, much pleasing to God, and profitable to our Kingdom…
And forasmuch as it shall be necessary for all such our loving Subject as shall inhabit within the said Precincts of Virginia aforesaid, to determine to live together in the Fear and true Worship of Almighty God, Christian Peace and Civil Quietness each with other… And lastly, because the principal Effect which ever 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 should be loath that any Person should be permitted to pass that we suspected to affect the Superstitions 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 first shall have taken the Oath of Supremacy.> 1609VC001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1609VC001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Virginia, Second Charter, May 23, 1609, granted by King James I. Ebenezer Hazard, editor, Historical Collections: Consisting of State Papers and other Authentic Documents; Intended as Materials for an History of the United States of America (Philadelphia: T. Dobson, 1792), Vol. I, p. 72. William McDonald, ed., Documentary Source Book of American History, 1606-1889 (NY: The Macmillan Company, 1909), pp. 1-2. “Our Christian Heritage,” Letter From Plymouth Rock (Marlborough, NH: The Plymouth Rock Foundation), p. 1. Perley Poore, ed., The Federal and State Constitutions, Colonial Charters, and Other Organic Laws of the United States (Washington, 1877), Vol. II, p. 1893 ff. Henry Steele Commager, ed., Documents of American History, 2 vols. (NY: F.S. Crofts and Company, 1934; Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1948, 6th edition, 1958; Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, Inc., 9th edition, 1973), Vol. I, pp. 10-11.
This post originally appeared at https://americanminute.com/blogs/todays-american-minute/second-charter-of-virginia-may-23-1609