OUR SOVERAIGN LORD Taking into His Conside­ration, That by an Act past in this present Parliament, Intituled Act for encouraging of Forraign Trade; His Majesty for the Improvement thereof, Did with Ad­vice and Consent of the Estates of Parliament Statute and Declare, That Merchants more or fewer may contract and enter into such Societies and Companies, for carrying on of Trade, as to any sub­ject of Goods or Merchandise to whatsomever Kingdoms, Coun­tries, or parts of the World, not being in War with His Majesty, where Trade is in (use to be) or may be followed, and particularly, beside the Kingdoms and Countreys of Europe, to the East and West- Indies, the Streights, and to Trade in the Mediterranean, or upon the Coast of Affrica, or in the Northern Parts, or else­where as above: Which Societies and Companies being contracted and entred into, upon the Terms, and in the usual manner, as such Companies are Set up, and in use in other Parts, consistent al­ways [Page 2]with the Laws of this Kingdom: His Majesty with Consent aforesaid, did Allow and Approve giving and granting to them and each of them all Powers, Rights and Priviledges, as to their Per­sons, Rules and Orders, That by the Laws are given to Compa­nies allowed to be erected for Manufactories; And His Majesty for their greater Encouragement, did promise to give to these Companies, and each of them his Letters Patent under the great Seal, confirming to them the whole foresaid Powers and Priviledg­es, with what other Encouragement His Majesty should judge needful, as the foresaid Act of Parliament at more length bears. And His Majesty understanding that several Persons as well For­reigners as Natives of this Kingdom, are willing to engage themselves with great Summs of Money in an American, Affrican and Indian Trade, to be exercised in and from this Kingdom, if inabled and incouraged thereunto by the Concessions, Powers and Priviledges needful and usual in such Cases. Therefore, and in pursuance of the foresaid Act of Parliament, His Majesty with Advice and Consent of the said Estates of Parliament, Doth hereby make and constitute John Lord Belhaven, Adam Cockburn of Ormistoun, Lord Justice Clerk, Mr. Francis Montgomery of Giffin, Sir John Maxwell of Pollock, Sir Robet Chiesly present Provest of Edinburgh, John Swin­toun of that Ilk, George Clarke late Baillie of Edinburgh, Mr. Robert Blakewood, and James Balfour Merchants in Edinburgh, and John Corss Merchant in Glasgow, William Paterson, James Foulis, David Nai [...]n, Thomas Deans Esquires, James Cheisly, James Smith, Thomas Coutts, Hugh Frazer, Joseph Cohen D' Azevedo, and Walter Stewart Merchants in London, with such others as shall joyn with them within the space of twelve Months after the first day of August next, and all others, whom the fore­said Persons and these joyned with them or the major part of them being assembled, shall admit and joyn into their Joint-Stock and Trade, who shall all be Repute, as if herein originally insert to be one Body Incorporate, and a free Incorporation, with perpetual Succession, by the Name of The Company of Scotland Trading to Affrica, and the Indies: Providing always, Likeas, it is hereby in the first place provided, that of the Fond or Capital Stock that shall be agreed to be advanced and imployed by the foresaid Un­dertakers and their Co-partners; the half at least shall be appoint­ed and allotted for Scotish men within this Kingdom, who shall enter and subscribe to the said Company, before the first day of August, One Thosand Six Hundred and Ninety Six Years: And if it shall happen, that Scots Men living within this Kngdom, shall not betwixt and the foresaid Term, subscribe for, and make up the equal half of the said Fond or Capital Stock, then and in that case allannerly, It shall be, and is hereby allowed to Scots Men re­siding [Page 3]Abroad, or to Forraigners to come in, Subscribe and be as­sumed for the Superplus of the said half, and no otherwise: Likeas, the Quota of every man's part of the said Stock whereupon he shall be capable to enter into the said Company, whether he be Native or Forraigner; shall be for the least one hundred lib. Sterl. And for the highest or greatest, three thousand lib. Sterl. and no more directly nor indirectly in any sort; with Power to the said Compa­ny to have a common Seal, and to alter and renew the same at their pleasure, with advice always of the Lyon King at Arms; as also to Plead and Sue, and be Sued; and to purchass, acquire, possess, and enjoy Lordships, Lands, Tenements, or other Estate real or personal, of whatsoever nature or quality, and to dispose upon and alienate the same, or any part thereof at their pleasure, and that by Transferrs and Assignment, made and entered in their Books and Records without any other formality of Law, Providing always, that such Shares as are first subscribed for, by Scots Men within this Kingdom, shall not be alienable to any other than Scots Men living within this Kingdom; That the foresaid Transfers and Con­voyances as to Lands and other real Estate (when made of these on­ly and a part) be perfected according to the Laws of this Kingdom anent the Convoyance of Lands and real Rights, With Power like­wayes to the foresaid Company, by Subscriptions or otherways, as they shall think fit to raise a joint Stock or capital Fond of such a Sum or Sums of Money, and under and subject unto such Rules, Conditions and Qualifications, as by the foresaid Company, or ma­jor part of them, when assembled shall be limited and appointed to begin, carry on and support their intended Trade of Navigation, and whatever may contribute to the advancement thereof. And it is hereby declared, that the said joint Stock or capital Fond, or any part thereof, or any Estate, real or personal, Ships, Goods, or other Effects of and belonging to the said Company, shall not be lyable unto any manner of Confiscation, Seisure, Forfaulture, Attachment, Arrest or Restraint, for and by reason of any Embargo, breach of Peace, Letters of mark or reprisal, Declaration of War with any forraign Prince, Potentate, or State, or upon any other ac­count or pretence whatsomever; but shall only be transferable, as­signable, or alienable in such way and manner, and in such parts and portions, and under such restriction, rules and conditions, as the said Company shall by Writing, in and upon their Books, Re­cords and Registers direct and appoint, and these Transfers and As­signments only, and no other shall convoy the Right and Property, in and to the said joint Stock, and capital Fund and Effects thereof above mentioned, or any part of the samen; Excepting always, as is above excepted, and that the Creditors of any particular Mem­ber of the Company may by their real Diligence affect the share of [Page 4]the Profit falling, and pertaining to the Debitor, without having any further Right or Power of the Debitors Part and Interest in the Stock or capital Fond, otherwise than is above appointed, and with this express provision, that whatever charges the Company may be put to, by the contending of any of their Members Deceased, or of their Assigneys, Creditors, or any other persons in their Rights: The Company shall have retention of their Charges and Expenses in the first place, And the Books, Records, and Registers of the said Com­pany, or authentick Abstracts, or Extracts out of the same are here­by Declared to be good and sufficient for evidents in all Courts of Judicator, and elsewhere. And His Majesty with advice foresaid, farder Statutes and Declares, that the said John Lord Belhaven, A­dam Cockburn of Ormistoun, Lord Justice Clerk, Mr. Francis Montgo­mery of Giffen, Sir John Maxwell, of Pollock, Sir Robert Chiesly pre­sent Provest of Edinburgh, John Swintoun of that Ilk, George Clarke late Baillie of Edinburgh, Mr. Robert Blakewood, and James Balfour Merchants in Edinburgh, and John Corss Merchant in Glasgow, William Paterson, James Foulis, David Nairn, Thomas Deans Esquires, James Chiesly, James Smith, Thomas Coutts, Hugh Frazer, Jo­seph Cohen D' Azevedo, and Walter Stewart Merchants in London, and others to be joined with, or assumed by them in manner above-mentioned, and their Successors, or major part of them assembled in the said Company, shall and may in all time coming by the plurality of Votes agree, make, constitute, and ordain all such other Rules, Ordinances, and Constitutions, as may be needful for the better government and improvement of their joint Stock, or capital Fond in all matters and things relating thereunto: To which Rules Or­dinances and Constitutions, all Persons belonging to the said Company as well Directors as Members thereof, Governours, or other Officers, civil or military, or others whatsoever shall be subject, and hereby concluded; as also to administrate and take Oaths de fi­deli, and others requisite to the management of the foresaid Stock and Company. And the said Company is hereby impowered to Equip, Fit, set out Fraught and Navigate their own, or hired Ships, in such manner as they shall think fit, and that for the space of ten years from the date hereof, notwithstanding of the Act of Parlia­ment one thousand six hundred and sixty one Years, Intituled Act for encouraging of Shipping and Navigation, wherewith His Maje­sty with Consent foresaid dispenses for the said time allanerly, in fa­vours of the said Company, and that from any of the Ports or Places of this Kingdom [or, from any other parts or places in amity, or not in Hostility with His Majesty in Warlike or other manner to any Lands, Islands, Countries, or Places in Asia, Affrica, or America, and there to plant Collonies, build Cities, Towns or Forts in or upon the places not Inhabited, or in or upon any other place, by consent [Page 5]of the Natives and Inhabitants thereof, and not possest by any Eu­ropean Soveraign, Potentate, Prince, or State; and to provide and furnish the foresaid Places, Cities, Towns; or Forts with Magazins, Ordnance, Arms, Weapons, Amunition, and stores of War, and by force of Arms to defend their Trade and Navigation, Collonies, Cities, Towns, Forts, and Plantations, and other their effects what­soever; as also to make Reprisals, and to seek and take reparati­on of Damage done by Sea, or by Land, and to make and con­clude Treaties of Peace and Commerce with the Soveraigns, Princes, Estates, Rulers, Governours, or Proprietors of the foresaid Lands, Islands, Countries, or Places in Asia, Affrica, or America, Provi­ding always, Likeas, It is hereby specially provided, That all Ships imployed by them shall return to this Kingdom with their effects, under the pain of Confiscation, Forfaulture, and Seizure of the Ship and Goods, in case of breaking of Bulk before their Return, excepting the case of Necessity, for preserving the Ship, Compa­ny and Loading allanerly. And His Majesty with Consent foresaid, doth farder Statute and Ordain, that none of the Leidges of this Kingdom shall, or may Trade or Navigat to any Lands, Islands, Countries, or Places in Asia, or Affrica, in any time hereafter, or in America, for, and during the space of thirty one Years, to be counted from the passing of this present Act without Licence and Permission in writing from the said Company; certifying all such as shall do in the contrair hereof, that they shall Forfault and Amit the third part of the Ship or Ships, and of the Cargo or Cargoes therein Imployed, or the value thereof, the one half to His Majesty as Escheat, and the other half to the use and benefit of the said Company: For the effectual execution whereof, it shall be lawful to the said Com­pany, or any Imployed by them, to sieze the said Ships and Goods in any place of Asia, or Affrica, or at Sea, upon the Coasts of Asia or Affrica, upon the transgression foresaid, by force of Arms and at their own hand, and that without the hazard of incurring any Crime or Delinquencie whatsomever on account of the said Sei­zure, or any thing necessarly done in prosecution thereof, Except­ing always, and without prejudice to any of the Subjects of this Kingdom to Trade and Navigat, during the said space to any part of America, where the Collonies, Plantations, or Possessions of the said Company shall not be settled. And it is further hereby ena­cted, That the said Company shall have the free and absolute Right and Property, only relieving and holding of his Majesty, and his Successors in Soveraignty for the only acknowledgment of their al­ledgeance, and paying yearly a Hogshead of Tobacco, in name [Page 6]of Blench-duty, if required allanerly, in, and to all such Lands, Islands, Collonies, Cities, Towns, Forts, and Plantations, that they shall come to Establish or Possess in manner aforesaid; As also to all manner of Treasures, Wealth, Riches, Profits, Mines, Mi­nerals, Fishings, with the whole product and benefit thereof, as well under as above the Ground, and as well in Rivers and Seas, as in the Lands thereto belonging, or from or by reason of the same in any sort, together with the Right of Government, and Admirality thereof; And that the said Company may by vertue hereof, grant and delegat such Rights, Properties, Powers and Immunities, and permit and allow such sort of Trade, Com­merce and Navigation into their Plantations, Collonies, Ci­ties, Towns, or Places of their Possession, as the said Company from time to time shall judge fit and convenient, with power to them to impose and exact such Customs, and other Duties upon and from themselves, and others Trading with, and coming to the said Plantations, Cities, Towns, Places, and Forts, and Harbours thereof, as the Company shall think needful for the main­tainance and other publick uses of the same, Holding always, and to hold the whole Premisses of his Majesty, and his Successors Kings of Scotland, as Soveraigns thereof, and paying only for the same their acknowledgment and allegiance with a Hogshead of Tobacco yearly, in name of Blench-Duty if required, for all other Duty, Service, Claim or Demand whatsoever. With power and liberty to the said Company, to Treat for, and to procure and purchase such Rights, Liberties, Privileges, Exemptions and other grants as may be convenient for supporting, promoting and enlarging their Trade and Navigation from any foraign Potentate or Prince whatsoever, in amity with His Majesty; for which the general Treaties of Peace and Commerce betwixt His Majesty and such Potentates, Princes, or States shall serve for sufficient Security, Warrand and Authority, and if contrair to the said Rights, Liberties, Priviledges, Exempti­ons, Grants or Agreements, any of the Ships, Goods, Merchan­dise, Persons or other Effects whatsoever, belonging to the said Company, shall be stopt, detained, embezled, or away taken, or in any sort prejudged or damnified; His Majesty promises to inter­pose his Authority to have restitution, reparation and satisfaction made for the Damage done, and that upon the publick Charge, which His Majesty shall cause depurse, and lay out for that Effect. And farder, it is hereby Statute, that all Ships, Vessels, Merchan­dise, Goods and other Effects whatsoever, belonging to the said Company, shall be free of all manner of Restraints or Prohibiti­ons, [Page 7]and of all Customs, Taxes, Cesses, Supplies, or other Du­ties Imposed, or to be Imposed by Act of Parliament, or other­wise, for, and during the space of twenty one Years, excepting al­wise the whole Duties of Tobacco and Sugar, that are not of the growth of the Plantations of the said Company. And farder it is Enacted, that the said Company by Commission under their com­mon Seal, or otherwise as they shall appoint, may make and con­stitute all and every their Directors, Governours, and Command­ers in chief, and other Officers civil or military by Sea, or by Land; as likewise that the said Company may Inlist, Inroll, Agree and Retain all such Persons Subjects of this Kingdom, or others what­soever, as shall be willing and consent to enter into their Service or Pay, providing always that they Uplift or Levy none within this Kingdom to be Soldiers, without Leave or Warrand first obtained from His Majesty, or the Lords of His Privy Council, over which Directors, Governours, Commanders in chief, or other Officers civil or military, and others whatsoever in their Service and Pay, the Company shall have the power, command and disposition both by Sea and Land. And it is farder Statute, that no Officer civil or milita­ry, or other Person whatsoever within this Kingdom, shall Impress, Entertain, Stop or Detain any of the Members, Officers, Servants, or others whatsoever, off, or belonging, to the said Company; and in case the said Company, their Officers or Agents shall find or understand any of their Members, Officers, Servants, or others aforesaid to be Impressed, Stopped or Detained, they are hereby authorized and allowed to take hold of, and release the foresaid Person Impressed or Stopped in any part of this Kingdom, either by Land or Water; and all Magistrates and others, His Majesty's Officers civil or military, and all others are hereby required in their respective Stations, to be aiding and assisting to the said Company under the pain of being lyable to all the Loss, Damage, and detriment of the said Company, by reason of the foresaid Persons their neglect. And farder that the said Company, whole Members, Officers, Servants, or others belonging thereto, shall be free, both in their Persons, Estates, and Goods employed in the said Stock and Trade, from all manner of Taxes, Cesses, Sup­plies, Excises, Quartering of Souldiers Transient or Local, or Le­vying of Souldiers, or other Impositions whatsoever, and that for and during the space of twenty one Years. And lastly, all Per­sons concerned or to be concerned in this Company, are hereby declared to be free Denizons of this Kingdom, and that they with all that shall settle to inhabit, or be born in any of the foresaid [Page 8]Plantations, Collonies, Cities, Towns, Factories, and other Pla­ces that shall be purchast and possest by the said Company, shall be repute as natives of this Kingdom, and have the Priviledges there­of. And generally without Prejudice of the Specialities foresaid, His Majesty with consent foresaid, gives and grants to the said Company, all Power Rights and Priviledges, as to their Persons, Rules, Orders, Estates, Goods and Effects whatsoever, that by the Laws are given to Companies allowed to be erected for ma­nufactories, or that are usually given in any other civil Kingdom, or Common-wealth, to any Company there erected for Trade and Commerce. And for the better Establishment and greater Solem­nity of this Act and Gift in favours of the said Company, His Ma­jesty doth farder Ordain, Letters Patent to be expede hereupon, containing the whole Premises under the Great Seal of this King­dom, for doing whereof Per Saltum: Thir Presents shall be suffi­cient Warrand both to the Director and Chancellor, or Keeper of the Great Seal, as use is in like Cases.

Extracted furth of the Records of Parliament, by TARBAT, Cls. Registri.