Produced by Sean Barrett, Charles Franks
CHARLES THE SECOND, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland,France, and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To ALL to whom thesePresents shall come, greeting: WHEREAS Our dear and entirely belovedCousin, Prince Rupert, Count Palatine of the Rhine, Duke of Bavaria andCumberland, &c. Christopher, Duke of Albemarle, William, Earl of Craven,Henry, Lord Arlington, Anthony, Lord Ashley, Sir John Robinson, andSir Robert Vyner, Knights and Baronets, Sir Peter Colleton, Baronet,Sir Edward Hungerford, Knight of the Bath, Sir Paul Neele, Knight,Sir John Griffith and Sir Philip Carteret, Knights, James Hayes, JohnKirke, Francis Millington, William Prettyman, John Fenn, Esquires,and John Portman, Citizen and Goldsmith of London, have, at theirown great Cost and Charges, undertaken an Expedition for Hudson's Bayin the North-west Part of America, for the Discovery of a new Passageinto the South Sea, and for the finding some Trade for Furs, Minerals,and other considerable Commodities, and by such their Undertaking, havealready made such Discoveries as do encourage them to proceed furtherin Pursuance of their said Design, by means whereof there may probablyarise very great Advantage to Us and Our Kingdom. AND WHEREAS the saidUndertakers, for their further Encouragement in the said Design, havehumbly besought Us to incorporate them, and grant unto them, and theirSuccessors, the sole Trade and Commerce of all those Seas, Streights,Bays, Rivers, Lakes, Creeks, and Sounds, in whatsoever Latitude theyshall be, that lie within the entrance of the Streights commonlycalled Hudson's Streights, together with all the Lands, Countriesand Territories, upon the Coasts and Confines of the Seas, Streights,Bays, Lakes, Rivers, Creeks and Sounds, aforesaid, which are not nowactually possessed by any of our Subjects, or by the Subjects of anyother Christian Prince or State. Now KNOW YE, that We being desirous topromote all Endeavours tending to the publick Good of our People, andto encourage the said Undertaking, HAVE of Our especial Grace, certainKnowledge, and mere Motion, given, granted, ratified, and confirmed,and by these Presents for Us, Our Heirs and Successors, DO give, grant,ratify and confirm, unto Our said Cousin Prince Rupert, Christopher, Dukeof Albemarle, William, Earl of Craven, Henry, Lord Arlington, Anthony,Lord Ashley, Sir John Robinson, Sir Robert Vyner, Sir Peter Colleton,Sir Edward Hungerford, Sir Paul Neele, Sir John Griffith, and SirPhilip Carteret, James Hayes, John Kirke, Francis Millington, WilliamPrettyman, John Fenn, and John Portman, that they, and such othersas shall be admitted into the said Society as is hereafter expressed,shall be one Body Corporate and Politique, in Deed and in Name, by theName of The Governor and Company of Adventurers of England, tradinginto Hudson's Bay, and them by the Name of the Governor and Company ofAdventurers of England, trading into Hudson's Bay, one Body Corporate andPolitique, in Deed and in Name, really and fully for ever, for Us, OurHeirs and Successors, WE DO make ordain, constitute, establish, confirm,and declare, by these Presents, and that by the same Name of Governorand Company of Adventurers of England, trading into Hudson's Bay, theyshall have perpetual Succession, and that they and their Successors,by the name of the Governor and Company of Adventurers of England,trading into Hudson's Bay, be, and at all Times hereafter shall be,personable and capable in Law to have, purchase, receive, possess,e