ST. HELENA 17 



Governour for the said Company alwaies being one from time to 

 time, elect, nominate and appoint one of the said Company to be 

 the Deputy to the said Governour, who from time to time, in the 

 absence of the said Governour shall exercise and execute the office 

 of Governour of the said Company, in such sort as the said Govern- 

 our ought to do, as by our said Charter letters patent, reference 

 thereunto being had amongst divers others, grants liberties immu- 

 nities, priveleges and pre-eminences, may more fully appear ; and 

 whereas in pursuance of our said Royal Charter, the said Governour 

 and Company did, at their own cost and charge erect severall forts 

 and fortifications as aforesaid being an island situate in or near 

 Africa, beyond the line and on this side the Cape of Bona-Esperanza, 

 and placed a garrison there and were proceeding to plant and people 

 on the same, and for that purpose had transferred divers of our 

 subjects who were willing thereunto to inhabit there ; but our said 

 subjects inhabiting the said island were lately, in the time of war 

 between us and the states of the United Provinces, by force of arms 

 dispossessed thereof by the subjects and forces of the said States, 

 and the said States and their subjects had and kept the quiet posetion 

 thereof for severall months together ; and whereas 

 Referred to the by the grace of God on our royall ships and 

 capture of forces under the command of Sir Richard Munden, 

 St. Helena by the the said island, and all and singular the forts, 

 Dutch. fortifications and other the appurtenances there- 



unto belonging were retaken from the said states 

 and their subjects, and a garrison of our subjects placed there, by 

 virtue or reason whereof the said island, and all and singular the 

 forts and fortifications, erections and buildings thereon, with the 

 appurtenances vested in us, our heirs and successors in the write 

 of our crowne, all artillery, arms, armour, weapons, ordinance, 

 munition, magazins, stores, goods, chatties and moveables what- 

 soever which were there found at the time our said forces retook 

 the same as aforesaid, do of right belong unto us, and no other ; 

 and whereas the said island hath been found by experience to be 

 very necessary and commodious for our loving subjects, the said 

 Governour and Company of Merchants trading into the East Indies 

 for refreshing of their servants and people in their returns home- 

 wards, being often then weak and decayed in their health by reason 

 of their long voyages under their hot clymes, whereupon our sub- 

 jects, the said Governour and Company, have besought us to re- 

 grant and confirme the same unto them : Now know yee, that 

 forasmuch as we have found by much experience that the said 

 trade into the East Indies hath bin managed by the said Governour 

 and Company to the honour and profitt of this our realme, and to 

 that end, and out of the earnest desires that the said Governour and 

 Company may, by all good and lawfull means and waies, be en- 

 couraged in their difficult and hazardous trade and traffique in 

 these remote parts of the world, Wee, therefore, of our especial 

 grace, certain knowledge and meer motion have given, granted and 

 confirmed, and by these presents for us, our heirs, and successors, 



B 



