116 



James suspended their powers by proclamation of July 

 15, 1624, and Charles I. took the government into his 

 own hands. IJoth sides had their partisans in the colo- 

 ny ; but in truth the people of the colony in genera! 

 thought themselves little concerned in the dispute. 

 There being three parties interested in these several 

 charters; wliat passed between the_ first and second it 

 was thought could not affect the third. If the king 

 seized on the j)owers of the comj)any, they only pass- 

 ed into otlier hands, without increase or diminution, 

 while the rights of the people remained as they were. 

 But they did not remain so long. The northern parts 

 of their country were granted away to the lords Balti- 

 more and Fairfax ; the first of these obtaining also the 

 rights of separate jurisdiction and government. And 

 in 1G50 the parliament, considering itself as standing in 

 the place of their deposed king, and as having succeed- 

 ed to all his powers, without as well as within the 

 realm, began to assume a right over the colonies, pass- 

 ing an act for inhibiting their trade with foreign na- 

 tions. This succession to the exercise of kingly autho- 

 rity gave the first colour for parliamentary interference 

 with the colonies, and produced that fatal precedent 

 whicii the}' continued to follow after they had retired, 

 in other respects, within their proper functions. When 

 this colony, therefore, which still maintained its o})po- 

 sition to Cromwell and the parliament, was induced in 

 1651 to lay down their arms, they previously secured 

 their most essential rights, by a solenui convention, 

 which having never seen in print, I will here insert lit- 

 erally from the records. 



"ARTICLES agreed on and concluded at James 

 Cittie in Virginia tor the surrendering and settling of 

 that plantation under the obedience and government of 

 the Comon wealth of England by the commissioners 

 of the Councill of state by authoritie of the yjarliamt. of 

 England and by the Grand assembly of the Governour, 

 Councill and Burgesses of that countrey. 



" First it is agreed and consted that the plantation 

 of Virginia, and all the inhabitants thereof shall be and 



