African Compa[ny] |
| The Royal African Compa[ny]
of England their CHARTER |
Charles the Second by
the Grace of God King of England, Scotland, France,
and Ireland Defender of ye Faithe. To all to whom these
presents shall come Greeting. Whereas all and singular
ye Regions, Countries, Dominions and Territories, Continents,
Coasts and places, now or at any time heretofore, called
or knowne by the name or names Guiny, Buiny, Angola,
or South Barbary, or by any of them, or which are or
have been reputed, esteemed or taken to bee parcel or
member of any Region, Country, Dominion, Territory,
or Continent called Guiny, Buiny, Angola, or South Barbary,
And all and singular Ports and Havens, Rivers, Creeks,
Islands, and places in the parts of Africa to them or
any of them belonging, and the sole and only Trade and
Trafique thereof are the undoubted Right of Us, Our
Heires and Successors, and are, and have been enjoyed
by us, and by our Predecessors, for many yeares past,
as in Right of this Our Crown of England. And whereas
the Trade of the said Regions, Countries, and places
is of great advantage to Our subjects of this kingdome,
and, for the improvement thereof, divers attempts have
been made, and several Charters granted, by Our Royal
Progenitors, to several persons, with such Powers and
Authorities as were then conceived proper for the carrying
on of the said Trade. But all the said endeavors have
proved ineffectual until Wee by Letters ....... |
The New Grant.
Bounds.
Habendum.
The Estate.
The Rent. |
And of Our more especial
Grace certain knowledge, and meer motion Wee
have given and granted, and for Us, Our Heires and Successors
doe hereby owe and grant unto Our Dearest Brother James
Duke of Yorke & Anthony Earle of Shaftesbury, Mr.
John Buckworth, S[i]r. John Banks, John Bence esq. William
Earl of Craven, Mr. James Cartwright, Mr. Samuel Dashwood,
S[i]r. Richard Ford, Mr. Thomas Farrington, Capt Ferdinando
Gorges, Mr. Edward Hopegood, Mr. John Jefferys, S[i]r.
Andrew King, Charles Modyford esquire, Mr. Samuel Moyer,
Mr. Peter Proby, Mr. Gabriel Roberts, S[i]r. John Shaw,
Mr. Benjamin Skut, S[i]r. Robert Viner, Mr. Thomas Vernon,
Mr. Nicholas Warren, and Mr. Richard Young, their Executors
and Assignes. All and singular the Regions, Countrys,
Dominions, Territories, Continents, Coasts, and Places,
lying and being within the limits and bounds hereafter
menc[i]oned (that is to say) Beginning at ye Port of
Seilley in South Barbary inclusive, and extending, from
thence, to Cape De bona Esperanza inclusive, with all
the Islands neer adjoyning to those Coasts, and comprehended
within the Limits aforesaid. Which Regions, Countrys,
Dominions, Territories, Continents, Coasts, places and
Islands have been heretofore called or known by the
name of South Barbary, Guinny, Binny, or Angola, or
by some or any other name or names which are or have
been reputed esteemed or taken to bee part, parcell
or Member of any Country, Region, Dominion, Territory
or Continent within the limits aforesaid. And all and
singular Ports, Harbors, Creeks, Islands, Lakes, and
places in the parts of Africa to them or any of them
belonging or being under the the obedience of any King,
State; or Potentate of any Region, Dominion or Country
within the limits aforesaid. To have & to
hold all and singular the said Regions, Countrys,
Dominions Territories, Continents, Islands, Coasts,
and places aforesaid. And all and singular other the
premisses within ye limits aforesaid to the said James
Duke of York, Anthony Earle of Shaftesbury, Mr. John
Buckworth, S[i]r John Banks, John Bence esq. William
Earl of Craven, Mr. Jarvis Cartwright, Mr. Samuel Dashwood,
S[i]r. Richard Ford, Mr. Thomas Farrington, Capt Ferdinando
Gorges, Mr. Edward Hopegood, Mr. John Jefferies, S[i]r.
Andrew King, Charles Modyford esq, Mr. Samuel Moyer,
Mr. Peter Proby, Mr. Gabriel Roberts, S[i]r. John Shaw,
Mr. Benjamin Skut, S[i]r. Robert Viner, Mr. Thomas Vernon,
Mr. Nicholas Warren, and Mr. Richard Young, their Executors
and assignes, from the making of these Our Letters Patents,
for and during the terme, and unto the full end and
terme of One thousand yeares. Yeilding
and paying Rendering therefore unto us, Our Heirs, and
Successors Two Elephants whenever Wee, Our Heires, or
Successors, or any of them, shall arrive, land or come
into the Dominions, Regions, Countries, Territories,
Plantations, and places before menc[i]oned or any of
them. |
Perse. ????
New Title. |
Nevertheless
Our will and pleasure is, and wee doe hereby declare
the true intent and meaning of these presents to bee,
That this Our present Grant and Demise of ye Regions
Countrys, Dominions, Territorys, Continents, Islands
Coasts, and places aforesaid. And all the benefit,
commodity, profit, and advantage made, and to bee
made and gotten out of ye same, or by reason of the
terme aforesaid shall bee, and shall bee interpreted
to bee, in Trust, and for ye sole use, benefit, and
behoofe of the Royal African Company of England hereafter
mentioned and their successors and after in any by
these presents incorporated or mentioned to bee incorporated
And.... |
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