(Dated May 23d, 1609. 7 James 1st. -- Stith's App. No. 2)
I. JAMES, by the Grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France. and Ireland, Defender of the Faith, &c. To all, to whom these
presents shall come, greeting. Whereas, at the humble suit and 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 and territories in America, either appertaining unto us, or which are not actually possessed of any christian prince or
people, within certain bounds and regions. We have formerly, by our letters-patents, bearing date the tenth day of April, in the
fourth Year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the nine and thirtieth, granted to Sir Thomas Gates, Sir
George Somers, and others, for the more speedy accomplishment of the said plantation and habitation that they should divide themselves
into two Colonies (the one consisting of divers knights, gentlemen, merchants, and others, of our city of London, called the first