1663 Royal Adventurers from England into Africa Charter
Introduction
The Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading into Africa (CRA), was an English corporation empowered to conduct overseas trade with West Africa which existed from 1660 to 1672. It was one of many such corporations chartered by early modern states for overseas trade. In England, similar ventures existed for trade with Russia, the Levant, and India. The CRA differed from these early precedents in its level of support at court. Chartered in 1660 with a focus on discovering gold mines in West Africa, the CRA’s founding shareholders and directors were largely members of the royal family or prominent royalists during the English Civil Wars (1642-1649). The Company’s Governor was the King’s brother, James, Duke of York. These strong familial and ideological bonds insured that the Company would receive the full backing of the Stuart monarchs. By 1663 the failure of the mines to materialize and persistent competition with the Dutch led the Company to petition Charles II for a new charter with more expansive privileges. Charles granted their proposal, confirming the Royal Adventurers’ monopoly privileges over the region’s trade, and expanding their list of commodities to include “Negro slaves.”
Competition with the Dutch continued to be a major element of the newly reconstituted CRA. This competition was exacerbated by Charles’s marriage to the Portuguese infanta Catherine de Braganza. The marriage came with a substantial dowry, including castles on the west African coast which the Dutch “illegally” occupied.1Holly Brewer, “Slavery, Sovereignty, and Inheritable Blood: Reconsidering John Locke and the Origins of American Slavery” American Historical Review (Oct 2017) vol 122, Issue IV: 1047-1048. Efforts to take these castles and to gain entry to the west African slave trade fueled conflicts between the CRA and the Dutch West India Company which ultimately incited the Second Anglo-Dutch War (1665-1667). England’s disastrous defeat in this war, and particularly the CRA’s failure to repel Admiral Michiel de Ruyter’s raids on the African coast, brought the Company to the brink of ruin, from which it escaped through its reconstitution in 1672 as the Royal African Company.2For the deteriorating relationship between the CRA and the Dutch Republic, and the eventual outbreak of war, see George Frederick Zook, The Company of Royal Adventurers Trading into Africa (Lancaster, PA: The New Era Publishing Company, 1919), ch 3, esp 53-54.
Although the CRA lasted only 12 years, the 1663 charter cast a long shadow. England’s involvement in the transatlantic slave trade was modest prior to 1660. No slavers embarked from England for 75 years after the initial voyages of Captain John Hawkins in the 1560s. In the 20 years prior to the Restoration (1640-1659) an average of 4.8 voyages left England for Africa each year. During the life of the CRA that number increased to 8.9 voyages per year.3 Slave Voyages Database Much of this increase was conducted by the CRA, which by the 1663 charter was made the de jure sole purveyor of enslaved African labor within the English empire. The CRA thus participated in the expansion of the English slave trade and the broader development of slave-based agriculture in the English Atlantic which took place over the latter half of the 17th century. While not all of these voyages can be credited to the Company given the existence of English interloping (trade conducted illegally by people outside of the company) the majority of the slave trade’s growth from 1660-1689 was managed by monopolistic joint stock trading companies, specifically the CRA and its successor, the Royal African Company. Indeed, the Royal African Company would use this monopoly to go on to become the single largest trader in enslaved Africans in the early modern period. In addition to expanding the slave trade, the 1663 charter also defined the relationship between the Company and Englishmen overseas by granting it broad political privileges. The CRA could establish and govern plantations, declare martial law, and punish offenses against its authority, including interloping, by imprisonment and fines. The charter likewise underscored the important connections between the King and the Company – the King was permitted to come in as a shareholder at whim and was promised 2/3 of any gold mines discovered in Africa. The connections between later-Stuart absolutism, empire, and the slave trade are on full display here.
Some questions to consider as you read the charter: why is King Charles willing to grant such expansive powers to this group? Why might he have been willing to restrict trade by establishing a monopoly company? What does the relationship between the CRA, the Stuarts, and the Anglo-Dutch War tell us about early modern statecraft and the boundaries between public and private in this period? What does the inclusion of enslaved Africans in the list of trading goods in this charter indicate about the changing priorities of England’s Atlantic Empire and the place of slavery within it?
– Boone J. Ayala
Further Reading
- George Frederick Zook, The Company of Royal Adventurers Trading into Africa (Lancaster, PA: The New Era Publishing Company, 1919).
- KG Davies, The Royal African Company (London: Longmans, Green and Co., 1957).
- Abigail Swingen, Competing Visions of Empire: Labor, Slavery, and the Origins of the British Atlantic Empire (New Haven: Yale University Press, 2015).
- Richard S. Dunn, Sugar and Slaves: The Rise of the Planter Class in the English West Indies, 1624-1713 (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1972).
- William A. Pettigrew, Freedom’s Debt: The Royal African Company and the Politics of the Atlantic Slave Trade, 1672-1752 (Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 2013).
Sources
- 1663 Charter of the Company of Royal Adventurers of England Trading into Africa. Sloane MS 205. British Library.
- Transcription by Boone Ayala, Michael Becker, and Dylan Bails.
Cite this page
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This No. 205 is the original number 992 in the
Manuscript Sloane Catalogue.
The original No. 205 in the said[?] Catalogue is
entitled “Lecture of Sir Chas. Scarburgh on the head &
nerves,” and was missing when Ayscough made
his Catalogue. F. M.
Charles the Second
By the Grace of God King of England Scotland
France and Ireland Defender of the faith &c To all
to whome these presents shall come Greeting
{Recitall of former patent.} Whereas all and singular the Regions Dominions
Countryes and Territories Continents Coasts and
Places now or at any tyme heretofore called or knowen
by the name or names of Guynny Bynny Angola and
South Barbary or by any of them or which are or have
byn reputed esteemed or taken to be parcell or member
of any Region Country Dominion Territory or Continent
called Guynny Bynny Angola or South Barbary and
all and Singular Ports and havens Rivers Creekes
Islands and Places in the parts of Africa to them or
any of them belonging and the sole and onely Trade
and Trafique thereof are the undoubted right of us
our heires and Successors and are and have byn enjoyed
by us and by our Predecessors for many yeares past as
in right of this our Crowne of England And
Whereas we have by our Letters Patents under our
great Seale of England bereing*bearing date the Eighteenth day of
December in the Twelfth yeare of our Reigne
Incorporated the Trade and given and Graunted all
and singular the Regions Countryes Dominions and
Territories Continents Coasts and Places lyeing and
being within the lymitts and Bounds hereafter mentoned
(that is to say) begining at Cape Blanch lyeing in twenty
Degrees of Northerly latitude and extending from thence
to Cape de bona Esperanza lyeing in thirty fower degrees
And a halfe of Sutherly latitude or thereabouts with
all the Islands there adjoyning to the Coasts and
comprehended within the Degrees aforesaid Which
Regions Countryes Dominions Territories Continents
Coasts and Islands have byn heretofore called or knowne
by the name or names of Guynny Binny and Angola
and or by some or any other name or names or which are or
have byn reputed esteemed or taken to be parcell or
member of any Region Country Dominion Territory or
Continent called Guynny Binny and Angola 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 obedience of any King State or Potentate
of any Region Dominion or Country in Guynny Binny and
Angola aforesaid To have and to hold all and
singular the said Regions Countries Dominions and
Territories Continents Coasts and places aforesaid and
all other the premises in Guynny Binny and Angola
aforesaid and the sole Trade therof To our dearest Brother
James Duke of York & Albany and others in the said Letters
Patents mentioned for the tearme of one thousands yeares.
and under the rent therein expressed and reserved for the
Sole use benefitt and behoofe of the Company of Royall
Adventurers of England Trading into Africa by the said
Letters Patents Incorporated and mentioned to bee
Incorporated and that the said Company should have parpetuall
succession And have further Granted to the said
Company by the said Letters Patents divers and sundry
Graunts Priviledges liberties freedoms Jurisdictions and
Immunities as by the said Letters Patents may appeare
And whereas all former Patents Graunted by
our Royal Predecessors to any of our loveing Subjects
whatsoever of in or to any of the Places aforesaid or
The Trade thereof are now determined and expired And
considering how necessary it is to the honor and profitt of
this our Realme of England that the said Trade and alsoe
such others as are thereby intended to bee graunted should
bee vigorously prosecuted and all the Forts Buildings and
Factories formerly directed and setled by this Nation within
the lymitts aforesaid mainteyned and inlarged And
{The ground and reasons of the Present Patent} Whereas since the graunting of our said Letters
Patents severall other Persons have com in and subscribed
several great summes of money to bee imployed in the said
Trade and Company And by the general Consent and
advice as well of the said first Patentees as alsoe of those
others whoe have since joyned with them Itt is conceived
that there are not such necessary Rules Authorities powers
and Jurisdictions for the Governing and mannageing of
the said Trade and Company in our said recited Letters
Patents as are needful for the effectuall execution of our
Royal intentions to make the said Trade of the best and
Most improved benefitt to our said Subjects and kingdomes
And thereof by like unanimous Consent have Surrendered
into our hands our said former Letters patents which said
Surrender wee have axcepted and by these presents doe
accept Now know yee That wee in consideration
of the said Surrender and graciously tendering the
encouragement and advancement of the said Royall
Company And to the end they may bee the better enabled
to mainteine and enlarge the Trade and Trafique into
the parts and places in the said receited Letters
Patents or hereafter in these presents expressed
have of our especiall grace certeyne knowledge and
and meere motion given and Graunted and by these
presents for us our heirs and successors Doe give
{Names of the Grantees}And Graunt unto our Royall Consort Queen Katherin
Mary the Queen our Mother our dearest brother
James Duke of Yorke our dearest sister Henrietta
Maria Duchess of Orleans Prince Rupert George
Duke of Buckingham Mary Duchess of Richmond
Edward Earle of Manchester Phillip Earle of Pembroke
Henry Earle of Saint Albans John Earle of Bath
Edward Earle of Sandwich Charles Earle of Carlisle
[…] Earle of Lauderdale George Lord Berkley
William Lord Craven […] Lord Lucas Charles
Lord Gerard William Lord Crofts John Lord Berkley
Thomas Grey Esquire Sir George Carterett Knight
Sir Charles Sidley Knight Sir Ellis Leighton Knight
Edward Gregory Gentleman Sir Edward Turner Knight
Sir Anthony de Marces William Legg Esquire
Richard Nichols Esquire Sir William Davison
Knight William Cutler Sir James Modiford knight
Thomas Cullen Gentleman George Cock Gentleman
Charles Porter Gentleman Sir John Colliton Knight
John Buckworth Gentleman Sir John Robinson Knight
Sir Nicholas Crispe Knight Sir Richard Ford Knight
Sir William Rider Knight John Bence Sir George
Smith Knight Sir John Shaw Knight Sir Martin
Noell Knight Abraham Biggs Gentleman Thomas
Povey Esquire Edward Backwell Esquire Mathew Wren
Gentleman Tobias Rustat Gentleman Martin Noell
Junior Gentleman Henry Johnson Gentleman James
Congett Gentleman John Ashburnham Gentleman
Edward Noell Esquire James Noell Gentleman
Francis Mynell Gentleman John Cooper Gentleman
Sir Andrew Rickard William Herbert Esquire Sir
John Jacob Sir John Harrison Sir John Wolstenholme
Sir William Wake Sylus Tytus and Peter
Proby their Executors and Assignes all and singuler the
Regions countries Dominions Continents Coasts and places
lying and being within the limitts and bounds hereafter
{Limits of the present patent in which South Barbary is added} mentioned (that is to say) begining att the Port of Sally
in South Barbary inclusive and extending from thence to
Cape de bona Esperenza with all the Islands neere
adjoyning to those Coasts and comprehended within the
lymitts aforesaid which Regions Countries Dominions
Territories Continents Coasts and Islands have byn
heretofore called or knowne by the name of South Barbary
Guynny Binny or Angola or by some or any other name
or names which are or have byn reputed esteemed or taken
to bee parcell or member of any Country Region Dominion
Territory or Continent called South Barbary Guynny
Binny or Angola And all and Singuler Ports Harbours
Creeks Islands Lakes and Places in the parts of Africa to
them or any of them belonging or being under the obedience
Of any King State or Potentate of any Region Dominion or
Country in South Barbary Guynny Binny or Angola ~~
{The Habendum} aforesaid To have and to hold all and singuler
the said Regions Countries Dominions Territories Continents
Coasts and places aforesaid and all and singuler other the
premises in South Barbary Guynny Binny or Angola
aforesaid and within the limitts aforesaid to our said
Royal Consort Queene Katherin Mary the Queene our
Mother our dearest Brother James Duke of Yorke our
dearest Sister Henrietta Maria, Duchess of Orleans
Prince Rupert George Duke of Buckingham Mary Duchess
of Richmond Edward Earle of Manchester Phillip Earle
of Pembroke Henry Earle of Saint Albans John Earle
of Bath Edward Earl of Sandwich Charles Earl of Carlisle
[…] Earl of Lauderdale George Lord Berkeley
William Lord Craven […] Lord Lucas Charles Lord
Gerrard William Lord Crofts John Lord Berkley Thomas
Grey Esquire Sir George Carterett Sir Charles Sidley
Sir Ellis Leighton Edward Gregory Sir Edward Turner Sir
Anthony de Marces William Legg Richard Nichols Sir
William Davison William Cutler Sir James Modiford
Thomas Cullen George Cock Charles Porter Sir John Colliton
John Buckworth Sir John Robinson Sir Nicholas Crispe Sir
Richard Ford Sir William Rider John Bence Sir George
Smith Sir John Shew Sir Martin Noell Abraham Biggs
Thomas Povey Edward Backwell Matthew Wren Tobias
Rustat Martin Noell Junior Sonne to Sir Martin Noell
Henry Johnson James Congett John Ashburnham Edward
Noell James Noell Francis Meynell John Cowper Sir Andrew Rickard
William Herbert Esquire Sir John Jacob Sir John Harrison
Sir John Wolstonholme Sir William Wales Sylas Tytus
and Peter Proby their Executors and Assignes from the makeing
of these our Letters Pattents for and dureing the Terme and
unto the full end and Terme of one Thousand yeares yeilding
{The Rent} and rendring therefore unto us our heires and successors
two Ellephants whensoever we our heires or successors or any
of them shall arrive land or come into the Dominions Regions
Countries Territories Plantations and places before mentioned
or any of them Neverthelese our will and pleasure is and wee
do hereby declare the true intent and meaning of these presents
to bee that this our present graunt and Demise of the Regions
Countries Dominions Territories Continents and places aforesaid
and all the benefitt Comoditie profitt and advantage made
and to bee made and gotten out of the same or by reason of the
Terme aforesaid shall bee and shall bee interpreted to bee
in trust and for the sole use benefitt and behoofe of the Company
of Royal Adventurers of England trading into Africa hereafter
Mentioned and their Successors And after in and
by these presents Incorporated or mentioned to be
Incorporated And Therefore for the setting
forward and furtherance of the Trade intended in
the Parts aforesaid and the encuragement of the
undertakers in the discovering the Golden Mines
and setleing of Plantations being an enterprise soe
laudable and conducing to soe worthy an end as the
increase of Trafique and Merchandize wherein
this Nation hath byn famous of our further and
more ample grace and favoure certaine knowledg
and meere motion Doe Will ordeyne Constitute
appoint Give and Graunt unto our said Royal Consort Queen
Katherin Mary the Queen our Mother, our dearest
Brother James, Duke of Yorke, our dearest Sister
Henrietta Maria Duchess of Orleans Prince Rupert
George Duke of Buckingham Mary Duchess of Richmond
Edward Earle of Manchester Phillip Earle of Pembrock
Henry Earle of Saint Albans John Earle of Bath Edward
Earle of Sandwich Charles Earle of Carlisle […]
Earle of Lauderdayle George Lord Berkeley William
Lord Craven […] Lord Lucas Charles Lord Gerard
William Lord Crofts John Lord Berkley Thomas
Grey Sir George Carterett Sir Charles Sidley Sir Ellis
Leighton Edward Gregory Sir Edward Turner Sir
Anthony de Marces William Legg Richard Nichols
Sir William Davison William Cutler Sir James Modiford
Thomas Cullum George Cock Charles Porter Sir John
Colliton John Buckworth Sir John Robynson Sir Nicholas
Crispe Sir Richard Ford Sir William Rider John
Bence Sir George Smith Sir John Shaw Sir Martin
Noell Abraham Biggs Thomas Povey Edward Backwell
Matthew Wren Tobias Rustatt Martin Noell Junior
Henry Johnson James Conyett John Ashburnham Edward
Noell James Noell Francis Mynell John Cooper Sir Andrew
Rickard William Herbert Sir John Jacob Sir John Harryson
Sir John Wolstenholme Sir William Wales Sillas Titus and
Peter Proby and their Successors that they and all such
others as they shall thinke fitt and convenient to receive
into their Company and Society to be traders and Adventurers
with them into the said Countries shall bee one body
politique and Corporate in deede and in name by the
{the Name of the Company} name of the Company of Royal Adventures of England
Trading into Africa and then by that name and body
politique and Corporate in deede and in name
Wee doe for us our heires and successors make create
Ordeyne Constitute appoint and confirme by these presents
and that by the same name they shall have perpetuall
Succession and that they and their Successors by the
name of the Company of Royall Adventurers of England
Trading into Africa bee and at all tymes hereafter
shall bee persons able and capable in Lawe to have
take purchase receive possesse and enjoye Mannors
Messuages Lands Tenements Rents Liberties
Priviledges and Hereditaments of whatsoever kinde
nature or quallitty to them and their successors by the
name of the Company of Royall Adventurers of England
Trading into Africa shall and may bee persons able and
capable in Lawe to plead and bee Impleaded Answer
and bee Answered unto Defend and bee Defended in whatsoever
Courts & places and before whatsoever Judges Justices Officers
and Ministers of us our heirs and successors and in all
and singuler pleas Accompts suits Causes and demands
whatsoever of what kind nature or sort soever and in such
manner and forme as any other of our Leige people of
This our kingdom of England or other Dominions being
persons able and Capable in lawe to plead and bee
Impleaded answer and be answered unto Denfend and bee
Defended have purchase receive take possese give and
graunt Lett or dispose by any lawfull wayes and meanes
{The Seale of The Company} whatsoever And that it shall and may bee lawfull
for the said Company and their successors to have and use
a Common Seale for all the Causes and businesses of them and
their Successors Which seale our will and pleasure
is shall bee Ingraven and sett forth in manner and forme
following (That is to say) on one side an Ellephant
Supported by two Blackmoores and on the other side
the Image of our Royall Person without any further
warrant to bee had or obteyned from us our heires and
Successors in that behalfe And for the better ordering
{The Constitution & powers of the Court of Assistants} and Governing of the said Company Wee have
given and Granted and by these presents for us our
heires and Successors Doe give and grannt unto
the said Royall Company of Adventurers of England
Trading into Africa that the said Company for the tyme
being shall and may upon summons thereunto given by
our dearest Brother James Duke of York &c or any
three of the other Granties nominated in these our
Letters Patens assemble and meete together on or before
the five and twentieth day of March next ensuing in
such place as to our said Brother or any three of the
said Grantees shall seeme meete and the said Company
or the Major part of them soe Assembled shall and
may then and there make Choyce of a Governor
Sub-Governor and Deputy Governor and twenty fower
or thirty six Assistants as the Company shall thinke
fitt which said Governor Sub-Governor and Deputy
Governor and Assistants or any seaven when twenty foure
Or Thirteene when Thirty six or the major part of them of
which the Governor Sub-Governor or Deputy Governor to be one and
their Successors shall bee and are hereby authorised and
Impowered from tyme to tyme to have the whole management
and direction of all the affayres of the said Company of ~
Royall Adventurers of England Trading into Africa
as well in buying and selling of all goods & marchandizes
as in providing shipps Creating Factories and Choyce of
Factors and all other servants and ministers whatsoever
Necessary to the well ordering and Government of the ~
said Company and the Trade thereof To doe enjoye performe
and execute all the powers authorities priviledges acts ~
{N.B.} and things to all intents and purposes as if the same
were don by the Generality of the Company And that
the said Governor Sub-Governor and Deputy Governor
{The Constitution & powers of a generall Court, for removing members of the Court of Assistants} and Assistants shall continue in the said Office
Government and management for and dureing the space
of one yeare then next following from the day of their
Ellection unlesse they or either of them respectively
shall dye or bee removed before the expiracion of the
said tyme And the Governor Sub-Governor Deputie-
Governor and Assistants respectively shall bee removed
within the tyme aforesaid for any misdemeanor of which
hee or they shall bee convicted by the Judgment of the
Generality of the said Company of Royall Adventurers
of England Trading into Africa or the major part of
them duely Assembled upon summons issued by the
Governor Sub-Governor or Deputy Governor or any
three of the Assistants which summons […]the said
Governor Sub-Governor or Deputy Governor or any three
of the Assistants are hereby required to issue forth when
and as often as they shall bee thereunto required by any
twelve of the Generallity of the Adventurers
And further wee doe for us our heires and
Successors give and graunt to the said Company of
Royall Adventurers of England Trading into Africa
and their Successors that it shall and may bee lawfull
to and for the said Company at the end of the said
first yeare after such their first ellection of their said
Governor Sub-Governor Deputy Governor and Assistants
and soe from tyme to tyme after the expiration of every
yeare successively to assemble a Generall Court of
the Adventurers and by the major part of the
Generality there present to ellect and Chouse a
Governor Sub-Governor and Deputy Governor
and Assistants for the purposes aforsaid
{The oath of fidelity} Provided alwayes that all and every Governor
Sub-Governor and Deputy Governor and Assistants
shall before hee or they enter upon the Execution of
their said places respectively take their Corporall
oaths for their true and faithfull execution of their respective
Trusts and places before the Lord Chancellor Lord
Keeper or High Treasurer for the tyme being who are
hereby authorised to Administer the same accordingly
unless it shall hapen such Governors shall bee of the
Royall Blood and Family and in such cases it is
hereby declared such Governor shall bee exempted
From takeing the oath afforesaid And further
Wee doe hereby Authorize the said first Governor
Sub-Governor and Deputy Governor and Assistants
and their Successors from tyme to tyme to Assemble
together at such tymes and places as they shall
thinke fitt for the direction management and
Government of the said Companies Affayres and
to Administer an oath of fidelity to all inferior
Officers and Ministers that shall bee choosen and
Imployed under them in the service of the Company And
in the choyce of the succeding Governors Sub-Governors
Deputy Governors and Assistants Wee doe give and
Graunt power unto the preceding Governor Sub-Governor
and Deputy Governor or any three of the Assistants to
Administer the oath of fidelity to those that shall succeed
them And for the better ordering and manageing the Affaires of the
said Company Wee doe by these presents for us our
heires and successors Graunt unto the said Governor
Sub Governor and Deputy Governor and their Successors
of which the Governor Sub-Governor or Deputy
Governor to bee one full power and authority att all
tymes convenient to assemble themselves together in any
{The Constitution & powers of a generall Court} places or places convenient for and about the affayres
and busines of the said Company and to hold Courts
and to make ordeyne Constitute and establish such and
soe many good and necessary and reasonable Lawes
ordinances Orders and Constitutions as to the greater part
of them soe assembled shall seeme necessary and
convenient for the good Government of the said
Company and them or any of them to alter change or
make voyd and if need bee to make a newe as they
shall thinke fitt and convenient and to Impose
and inflict punishment uppon the offendors and
breakers of the said Lawes orders and ordinances
either by Imprisonment or fine as in their or the
greater part of their discretions shall bee thought
resonable Which fine our will and pleasure
is shall bee levied and received to the use of
the Company and their successors and by them
to bee enjoyed without any accompt to be made
To us our heires or Successors for the same All
which Lawes Ordinances and Constitutions soe to bee
made as aforesaid Wee will and Command to
bee observed and kept soe as the said Lawes ordinances
Orders Constitutions Imprisonments fines and
Amercements bee resonable and not repugnant to
the Lawes of this our Realme of England And
Wee doe moreover for us our heires and successors
give and graunt unto the said Company and their
successors that it shall and may bee lawfull to and
for any person or persons of the said Company or
their or any or either of their Executors Administrators
{[Assignans]} and Assignes and every of them to graunt and assigne
over to any person or persons whatsoever any of their
stocke or stocks and the proceed and profitt thereof
provided alwayes that for the preventing of all
mistakes the said Assignements bee made in open
Court before the Governor Sub-Governor or Deputy
Governor and assistants and there registered and
not otherwise and so as the said party makeing such
assignement bee not indebted to the Company or being
or being indebted to the said Company doe give them
satisfaction for the same before any such assignement
bee allowed and that all and every such Assignee or
Assignees shall and may from and after the makeing
of Any such Assignement or Assignments have and
enjoye the same rights and benefitts as the Assignor
or Assigneors had or might have enjoyed And
further of our Especiall grace certaine knowledg
and meere motion Wee doe hereby for us our
heirs and successors graunt unto the said Company
and their successors that it shall and may bee lawfull
To and for the said Company and their successors and
{Sole Trade} none others from tyme to tyme to sett to sea such and
soe many shipps Pinnaces and Barkes as shall bee
thought fitting by the said Governor Sub-Governor
and Deputy Governor and Assistants for the tyme being
of which the Governor or his Deputy to bee one prepared
and furnished with Ordinance Artillery and Ammunition
or any other habiliments in Warlike manner fitt and
necessary for their defence And shall for ever hereafter
have use and enjoy all Mynes of Gold and Silver
which are or shall bee found in all or any the places
above mentioned and the whole intire and onely Trade
liberty use and priviledge of Trade and Trafique in
and from the said Parts of Africa above mentoned
(that is to say) into and from all and singular Regions
Countries Dominions Territories Continents Coasts and
places now or at any tyme heretofore called or knowen
by the name or names of South Barbary Guyny Bynny
or Angola or any of them or which are or have been
reputed esteemed or taken as part parcell or member of
any Region Country Dominion Territory or Continent called
South Barbary Guinny Bynny or Angola and into and
from all and singular Ports Havens Rivers Creeks Islands
and places in the Parts of Africa to them or any of them
belonging or being under the obedience of any King
State or Potentate of any Region Dominion or Country in
South Barbary Guynny Bynny or Angola aforesaid
for the buying and selling Bartering and Exchanging
of for and with any Negroes Slaves Goods wares
and Merchandizes whatsoever to be vended or
found at or within any of the Citties Townes
Places or Rivers scituate or being in the Countryes places
Ports and Coasts before mentioned any Statute Lawe
Graunt matter Custome or priviledge to the Contrary
in any wise notwithstanding And likewise that it
shall and may bee Lawfull to and for the said Company
and their Successors and none other from hence forth at
any tyme or tymes from tyme to tyme after the date of
these presents to use prepare and sett to sea such and so many Shipps
Barkes and pinnaces and such number of men to
sayle therein for the further discovery of the said Rivers
and Places before mentioned And all Lands Dominions
and Territories within the Compas of the same paying
alwayes unto us our heires and Successors such Customs
Subsidies Imposts and other duties as shall bee due
and payable for and in respect of the Exportation
and Importation of any goods wares and Merchandizes by them or any
of them to be Exported or Imported by vertue of
these presents And of our further Royall
favoure Wee have Graunted and by these
presents for us our heires and successors Wee doe
Graunt unto the said Company and their Successors
That the said Rivers Places and Passages in the
Tract aforesaid or any of them or the Lands Signiories
or Dominions thereunto adjoyning shall not bee visitted
frequented or Traded unto by any other of our Subjects
or by the Subjects of us our heires or Successors either
from any the Ports or havens belonging or appertain-
-ing or which shall belonge or appertaine to us our
heires and Successors or to any forraigne Prince
State or Potentate whatsoever And therefore
Wee doe hereby for us our heirs and Successors
Command Prohibite and forbidd all the Subjects of
us our heirs and Successors of what degree or quallity
soever they bee that none of them directly or indirectly
presume to visitt frequent Trade or Adventure to
Traffique into or from the said Rivers Lands
Dominions and places aforesaid or any of them
or to Import any Reddwood Ellephants Teeth Negro-
slaves hides Wax Gumms Graynes or any other
the Comodities of that Country from any Port or Places
whatsoever into any of our kingdoms or Dominions
other then the said Company their Successors Factors
Deputies and Assignes unless it bee with Lycence
and Concent of the said Company first had and
obtained in writing under their Common seale upon
payne of our Indignation and Imprisonment of
their Bodies dureing the pleasure of us our heires
and Successors And the forfiture and losse both
of their shipps and Goods wheresoever they shall bee
found either within any of our kingdoms or Dominions
or any other Place or Places out of our Dominions
{The prohibition of private trade to the Members & Mariners} And our further will and pleasure is And
Wee doe alsoe hereby further Charge prohibitt
and forbidd all and every the factors and Masters of
shipps Marriners and members of the said Company
and their Successors that they or any of them doe not
directly or indirectly presume to Trade Adventure or
Trafique for themselves or any of them in or from the said
Rivers and Dominions and places aforesaid or any of
them And for the further effecting of our pleasure herein
Wee doe hereby for us our heires and Successors
Give and Graunt full power and authority unto
the said Company and their Successors for the tyme
being that they by themselves their Factors Deputies
and Assignes shall and may from tyme to tyme and at
all tymes hereafter Attach arrest take and seize all and
all manner of Shipp and Shipps Negro Slaves Goods
wares and Merchandizes whatsoever which shall bee
brought from or carried to the places before mentioned
or any of them contrary to our will and pleassure before
these presents expressed the moytie or one halfe of
all such forfeitures Wee doe hereby for us our
heires and Successors give and Graunt unto the said
Company and their Successors to their owne proper
use and behoofe without Accompt and the other moytie
or halfe part thereof wee will shall bee and remaine
to the use of us our heires and Successors Neverthe-
lesse it is our will and pleasure And Wee doe
{power referred to his Majesty &c. to come in as a sharer} hereby declare for us our heires and Successors our intent
and meaneing to bee that whensoever wee our heires
or Successors shall thinke fitt att any tyme or tymes
to come in as a sharer in the Adventure and to Joyne a
stock with the said Company in the Trade aforesaid That
then wee our heirs and Successors shall bee accordingly
admitted Partner and Sharer in the said Trade according
to such a proportion of money as wee our heires or
Successors shall putt into the said Stock the said Stock
being valued as itt shall bee then really worth And
Wee doe therefore of our more speciall grace and
favoure certeyne knowledge and meere motion for us our
heires and Successors Graunt unto the said Company
And their Successors That the said Company and their
{power to Govern plantations} Successors shall and may have the Ordering Ruleing and
Government of all such plantations as shall bee by them
att any tyme hereafter setled within the parts of Africa
aforementioned And Wee doe by these presents
for us our heires and Successors Graunt unto them full
power Lycence and Authoritie to name and appointe
Governors from tyme to tyme in the said plantatons
which said Governors shall and by these presents
Wee doe for us our heires and Successors give to them
full power and Authority to rayse armes Traine and
Muster such Millitary forces as to them shall seeme
requisite and necessary and to Execute and use within
the said plantations the Lawe called the Martiall
Lawe for the defence of the said plantations against
any Forraigne Invasion or Domestique Insurrection or
Rebellion The Sovereaigne right power and Dominion
over all the said Plantations to bee att any tyme
Setled in the Parts aforesaid to us our heirs and
Successors alwayes reserved And further wee
will and itt is the true intent and meaning of these presents
That wee our heirs and Successors shall have take
{Gold Mines} and receive two third parts of all the Gold Mines
which shall bee found Sized possessed or wrought
in the parts and places aforesaid Wee our heires
and Successors paying and beareing two third parts
of all the Charges incident to the working and transportation
of the said Gold And that the said Company and
their Successors shall and may have take and enjoy
the other third part of all the said Gold Mines
Found or to bee found They the said Company and their
Successors from tyme to tyme bearing and paying the
other third part of all the Charges for working and
transporting the said Gold And further
Wee doe for us our heires and Successors give and
{priviledges of the City of London} Graunt unto the said Company that they shall enjoy
to all intents and purposes all priviledges in the Citty
of London as fully as any Company of Merchants
established by the kings Majesties Letters Patents
or from any of his predecessors at present doe or may
enjoye And further wee doe hereby for us our
heires and Successors Charge and Command all and
Singular Admiralls Vice Admiralls Generalls
{Admirall &c required to Assist} Comannders Captaines Justices of Peace Comptrolers
Collectors Wayters Searchers and all other Officers
and Ministers of us our heires and Successors whatsoever
to bee from tyme to tyme in all things Ayding healping
and Assisting unto the said Company and their
Successors or any Imployed by them upon request made
as they tender Our pleasure and will avoyd the contrary
att their perill And lastly our will and pleasure
is and by these presents Wee doe Graunt for us
{Conclusion} our heires and Successors unto the said Company of
Royall Adventurers of England Trading into Africa
and their Successors That these our Letters Patents
and all and singuler Grannts Clauses and things
therein mentoned under the limitations and Conditions
therein conteined and expressed shall bee and continue
firme valid good and Sufficient in the Lawe And
shall bee Conffirmed reputed and taken as well in the
meaning as to the words of the same most favourably
And to the benefitt of the said Company and their
Successors any omission uncertainetie or defect in these
presents or any other Clause matter or thing to the
Contrary in any wise notwithstanding Although
Expresse mention of the true yearely value
or certeynetie of the premisses or any of them or of any
other Guifts or Graunts by us or any of our progenitors
or Predecessors heretofore made to the said Company
of Royall Adventurers of England Trading into
Africa in these presents is not made or any Statute
Act Ordinance Provision Proclamation or Restriction
heretofore had made Enacted Ordeyned or Provided
or any other matter clause or thing whatsoever to the
contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding In
Witnes whereof wee have caused these our Letters ~
to bee made Patents Witnes our Selfe att
Westminster the Twentyth day of January in the fowerteenth
year of our Reigne./
By the Kinge
Howard
A charter graunted to the Company
of Royall Adventurers of England
Trading into Africa
Howard
Footnotes
- 1Holly Brewer, “Slavery, Sovereignty, and Inheritable Blood: Reconsidering John Locke and the Origins of American Slavery” American Historical Review (Oct 2017) vol 122, Issue IV: 1047-1048.
- 2For the deteriorating relationship between the CRA and the Dutch Republic, and the eventual outbreak of war, see George Frederick Zook, The Company of Royal Adventurers Trading into Africa (Lancaster, PA: The New Era Publishing Company, 1919), ch 3, esp 53-54.
- 3Slave Voyages Database
- *bearing