Virginia Royal Commission (April 28, 1634) for Regulating Plantations:
<Charles, by the Grace of God, of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, etc...To the right reverend father in God, our right trusty and well beloved counselor, William, by the Providence of God, Archbishop of Canterbury...
Whereas diverse of the subjects of us and of our late dear father, King James, of famous memory, late, of England, King, by virtue of our royal authority, granted not only to enlarge the territories of our empire, but more especially to propagate the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, having, with their exceeding industry and charge, deduced great numbers of the people of England into several colonies in several places of the world, either altogether desert and unpeopled, or enjoyed by savage and barbarous nations, void of all manner of knowledge of Almighty God...
And for relief and support of the clergy, and the rule and cure of the souls of our people living in those parts, and for consigning of convenient maintenance to them by tithes, oblations, and other profits accruing, according to your good discretion, with the advice of two or three of our bishops, whom you shall think fit to call to your consultations, touching the distribution of such maintenance to the clergy, and all other matters ecclesiastical, and to inflict punishment on all offenders or violators of constitutions and ordinances, either by imprisonments or other restraints, or by loss of life or members, according as the quality of the offense shall require with power also, our royal assent being first...obtained, to remove all governors and presidents of the said colonies, upon just cause appearing, from their several places, and to appoint others in their stead.> 1634VA001
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American Quotations by William J. Federer, 2024, All Rights Reserved, Permission granted to use with acknowledgement.
Endnotes:
1634VA001. William J. Federer, American Quotations (2014). Virginia, April 28, 1634, Royal Commission of King Charles I of England for Regulating Plantations.