Charter and Supplemental Charter of the Hudsons Bay Company | Page 5

often as the Case shall require. And to the End the said Governor and
Company of Adventurers of England trading into Hudson's Bay, may
be encouraged to undertake, and effectually to prosecute the said design,
of Our more especial Grace, certain Knowledge, the mere Motion, WE
HAVE given, granted and confirmed, and by these Presents, for Us,
Our Heirs and Successors, DO give, grant, and confirm, unto the said
Governor and Company, and their Successors, the sole Trade and
Commerce of all those Seas, Streights, Bays, Rivers, Lakes, Creeks,
and Sounds, in whatsoever Latitude they shall be, that lie within the
Entrance of the Streights commonly called Hudson's Streights, together
with all the Lands and Territories upon the Countries, Coasts and
Confines of the Seas, Bays, Lakes, Kivers, Creeks, and Sounds
aforesaid, that are not already actually possessed by or granted to any
of our Subjects or possessed by the Subjects of any other Christian
Prince or State, with the Fishing of all Sorts of Fish, Whales, Sturgeons,
and all other Royal Fishes, in the Seas, Bays, Inlets, and Rivers within
the Premisses, and the Fish therein taken, together with the Royalty of
the Sea upon the Coasts within the Limits aforesaid, and all Mines
Royal, as well discovered as not discovered, of Gold, Silver, Gems, and
precious Stones, to be found or discovered within the Territories,
Limits, and Places aforesaid, and that the said Land be from henceforth
reckoned and reputed as one of our Plantations or Colonies in America,
called Ruperts Land. AND FURTHER, WE DO by these Presents, for
Us, Our Heirs and Successors, make, create and constitute, the said
Governor and Company for the Time being, and their Successors, the
true and absolute Lords and Proprietors, of the same Territory, Limits

and Places aforesaid, and of all other the Premisses, SAVING
ALWAYS, the Faith, Allegiance and Sovereign Dominion due to Us,
our Heirs and Successors, for the same TO HAVE, HOLD, possess and
enjoy the said Territory, Limits, and Places, and all and singular other
the Premisses, hereby granted as aforesaid, with their, and every of
their Rights, Members, Jurisdictions, Prerogatives, Royalties, and
Appurtenances whatsoever, to them the said Governor and Company,
and their Successors for ever, TO BE HOLDEN of Us, Our Heirs and
Successors, as of Our Manor of East Greenwich in our County of Kent,
in free and common Soccage, and not in Capite or by Knight's Service;
YEILDING AND PAYING yearly to Us, Our Heirs and Successors,
for the same, two Elks and two black Beavers, whensoever, and as
often as We, Our Heirs and Successors, shall happen to enter into the
said Countries, Territories and Regions hereby granted. AND
FURTHER, Our Will and Pleasure is, and by these Presents, for Us,
Our Heirs and Successors, WE DO grant unto the said Governor and
Company, _and to their Successors, that it shall and may be_ lawful, to
and for the said Governor and Company, and their Successors, from
time to time, to assemble themselves, for or about any the Matters,
Causes, Affairs, or Businesses of the said Trade, in any Place or Places
for the same convenient, within our Dominions or elsewhere, and there
to hold Court for the said Company, and the Affairs thereof; and that
also, it shall and may be lawful to and for them, and the greater Part of
them, being so assembled, and that shall then and there be present, in
any such Place or Places whereof the Governor or his Deputy for the
Time being to be one, to make, ordain, and constitute, such, and so
many reasonable Laws, Constitutions, Orders and Ordinances, as to
them, or the greater part of them being then and there present, shall
seem necessary and convenient for the good Government of the said
Company, and of all Governors of Colonies, Forts and Plantations,
Factors, Masters, Mariners, and other Officers employed or to be
employed, in any of the Territories and Lands aforesaid, and in any of
their Voyages; and for the better Advancement and Continuance of the
said Trade, or Traffic and Plantations, and the same Laws,
Constitutions, Orders and Ordinances so made, to put in Use and
execute accordingly, and at their Pleasure to revoke and alter the same,
or any of them, as the occasion shall require: And that the said

Governor and Company, so often as they shall make, ordain, or
establish, any such Laws, Constitutions, Orders, and Ordinances, in
such Form as aforesaid, shall and may lawfully impose, ordain, limit
and provide, such Pains, Penalties and Punishments upon all Offenders,
contrary to such Laws, Constitutions, Orders and Ordinances, or any of
them, as to the said Governor and Company for the Time being, or the
greater Part of them, then and there being present, the said Governor or