DIEV ET MON DROIT.   
❧ By the King.  
❧ A Proclamation for settling the Plantation of Virginia.  
WHereas the Colony of Virginia, Planted by the hands of Our most dear Father of blessed memory, for the propagation of Christian Religion the increase of Trade, and the enlarging of his Royal Empire, hath not hitherto prospered so happily, as was hoped and desired, A great occasion whereof his late Majesty conceived to be, for that the government of that Colony was committed to the Company of Virginia, encorporated of a multitude of persons of several dispositions, amongst whom the affairs of greatest moment were, and must be ruled by the greater number of Uotes and voices; And therefore his late Majesty, out of His great Wisdom, and depth of judgement, did desire to resume that popular government, and accordingly the Letters Patents of that Incorporation, were by his Highness' direction in a Legal course questioned, and thereupon judicially repealed, and adjudged to be void; wherein his Majesty's aim was only, to reduce that government into such a right course, as might best agree with that form which was held in the rest of his Royal Monarchy, and was not intended by him, to take away, or impeach the particular Interest of any private Plantor, or Adventurer, nor to alter the same, otherwise then should be of necessity for the good of the public: And whereas We continue the like care of those Colonies and Plantations, as Our late dear Father did, and upon deliberate advice and consideration, are of the same judgement that Our said Father was of, for the government of that Colony of Virginia; Now lest the apprehension of former personal differences, which have heretofore happened (the reviving and continuing whereof We utterly disallow, and strictly forbid) might distract the minds of the Plantors and Adventurers, or the opinion, that We would neglect those Plantations, might discourage men to go or send thither, & so hinder the perfecting of that work, wherein We hold the honour of Our dear Father deceased, and Our own honour to be deeply engaged; We have thought fit to declare, and by Our Royal Proclamation to publish Our own judgement, and resolution in these things, which by God's assistance We purpose constantly to pursue. And therefore We do by these presents publish and declare to all Our loving Subjects, and to the whole world, that We hold those Territories of Virginia and the Sommer-Ilands, as also that of New England, where Our Colonies are already planted, & within the limits & bounds whereof, Our late dear Father, by His Letters Patents, under His great Seal of England, remaining of Record, hath given leave and liberty to His Subjects to plant and inhabit, to be a part of Our Royal Empire, descended, upon Us and undoubtedly belonging and appertaining unto Us; And that We hold Ourself, aswell bound by Our Regal office, to protect, maintain, and support the same, and are so resolved to do, as any other part of Our Dominions:  
And that Our full resolution is, to the end that there may be one uniform course of Government, in, and through all Our whole Monarchy, That the Government of the Colony of Virginia shall immediately depend upon 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 or safe to communicate the ordering of State-affairs, be they of never so mean consequence: And that therefore We have determined, That Our Commissioners for those Affairs, shall proceed according to the tenor of Our Commission directed unto them, until We shall declare Our further pleasure therein. Nevertheless We do hereby declare, That We are resolved, with as much convenient expedition, as Our Affairs of greater importance will give leave, to establish a Council, consisting of a few persons of understanding and quality, to whom We will give trust for the immediate care of the Affairs of that Colony, and who shall be answerable to Us for their proceedings, and in matters of greater moment, shall be subordinate and attendant unto Our Privy Council here; And that We will also establish another Council to be resident in Virginia, who shall be subordinate to Our Council here for that Colony; and that at Our own charge We will maintain those public Officers and Ministers, and that strength of Men, Munition, and Fortification, as shall be fit and necessary for the defence of that Plantation, and will by any course that shall be desired of Us, settle and assure the particular rights and interests of every Planter and Adventurer, in any of those Territories, which shall desire the same, to give them full satisfaction for their quiet and assured enjoying thereof.  
And lastly, whereas it is agreed on all sides, that the Tobacco of those plantations of Virginia and the Summer Islands (which is the only present means for their subsisting) cannot be managed for the good of the Plantations, unless it be brought into one hand, whereby the foreign Tobacco may be carefully kept out, and the Tobacco of those Plantations may yield a certain and ready price to the owners thereof; We do hereby declare, That to avoid all differences and contrariety of opinions, which will hardly be reconciled amongst the Planters and Adventurers themselves, We are resolved to take the same into Our own hands, and by Our servants or Agents for Us, to give such prices to the Planters and Adventurers for the same, as may give them reasonable satisfaction and encouragement; but of the manner thereof, We will determine hereafter at better leisure: And when We shall have concluded the same, We shall expect, that all Our loving Subjects will readily conform themselves thereunto.  
And in the mean time, because the importation and use of foreign Tobacco, which is not of the growth of those Plantations, or one of them, will visibly & assuredly undermine and destroy those Plantations, by taking away the means of their subsistence, We do hereby strictly charge and command, That Our late Proclamation, bearing date the ninth day of April last, entitled, (A Proclamation touching Tobacco) shall in all points and parts thereof, be duly and strictly observed, upon pain of Our high displeasure, and such further penalties and punishments, as by the said Proclamation are to be inflicted upon the offenders. And We do hereby advise all Our loving Subjects, and all others whom it may concern, not to adventure the breach of our Royal Commandment in any of the premises, We being fully resolved, upon no importunity or intercession whatsoever, to release or remit the deserved punishment of such, as shall dare to offend against the same, seeing We hold not Ourself only, but Our people interessed therein.  
Given at Our Court at White-Hall, the thirteenth day of May, in the first year of Our Reign of Great Britain, France, and Ireland.  
God save the King.   

¶ Printed at London by Bonham Norton and john Bill, Printers to the Kings most Excellent Majesty. M.DC.XXV.