62 KING CHARLES ON TOBACCO. 
ordering all patents and processes to issue in his own name, 
reserving to himself a quit-rent of two shillings for every 
hundred acres of land.” 
The first act was by proclamation as follows :— 
“That whereas, in his royal father’s time, the charter of 
the Virginia Company was by a quo warranto annulled ; and 
whereas his said father was, and he himself also is, of opinion, 
that the government of that Colony by a company incorpo- 
rated, consisting of a multitude of persons of various dispo- 
sitions, amongst whom affairs of the greatest moment are 
ruled by a majority of votes, was not so proper, for carrying 
on, prosperously, the affairs of the colony; wherefore, to 
reduce the government thereof to such a course as might 
best agree with that form which was held in his royal mon- 
archy ; and considering also, that we hold those territories of 
Virginia and Somer isles, as also that of New England, lately 
planted, with the limits thereof, to be a part of our royal 
empire; we ordain that the government of Virginia shall 
immediately depend on ourself, and not be committed to any 
company or corporation, to whom it may be proper to trust 
matters of trade and commerce, but cannot be fit to commit 
the ordering of state affairs. 
“‘ Wherefore our commissioners for those affairs shall pro- 
ceed as directed, till we establish a council here for that 
colony; to be subordinate to out council here for that colony. 
And at our charge we will maintain those public officers and 
ministers and that strength of men, munition, and fortifica- 
tion, which shall be necessary for the defence of that planta- 
tion. And we will also settle and assure the particular rights 
and interests of every planter and adventurer. Lastly, 
whereas the tobacco of those plantations (the only present 
means of their subsisting) cannot be managed for the good 
of the plantations, unless it be brought into one hand, whereby 
the foreign tobacco of those plantations may yield a certain 
and ready price to the owners thereof : to avoid all differences 
between the planters and adventurers themselves, we resolve 
to take the same into our own hands, and to give such prices 
for the same as may give reasonable satisfaction, whereof we 
will determine at better leisure.” 
From this time forward the Plantation seemed to prosper, 
Charles granted lands to all the planters and adventurers 
who would till them, upon paying the annual sum of two 
shillings payable to the crown for each hundred acres. 
