e council had been the true governing body, though
subject to a right of election and displacement by the adventurers in
general assembly. Now the general court of the adventurers was to
govern, with the council as its executive agency. Since voting in the
Virginia courts, as in those of other companies at the time, was by
head rather than by share, this provision of the charter can be
interpreted only as an attempt by the great men of the company to
encourage a renewed interest on the part of the general body of
adventurers by enlarging their influence on the conduct of the
company's affairs. It was the third charter which also authorized the
establishment of the Virginia lottery--the first of many attempts in
American history to exploit the gambler's instinct for the support of a
worthy cause. In the charter the king also gave assurance that his
courts would view favorably the company's suits against delinquent
subscribers.

[Illustration: Merchants of Virginia.

The Company of Merchants, called _Merchants of Virginia_, _Bermudas_,
or _Summer-Ilands_, for (as I heare) all these additions are given
them. I know not the time of their incorporating neither by whom their
Armes, Supporters, and Crest were granted, and therefore am compelled
to leaue them abruptly.

From John Stow, _Survey of London_, 1632

Photo by Virginia State Library.]

[Illustration: Virginia Seal

Courtesy Mrs. L. T. Jester and Mrs. P. W. Hiden]

[Illustration: A Declaration for the certaine time of dravving the
great standing Lottery

Heading for the Broadside issued by _The Virginia Company_, London,
1615

Photo by Virginia State Library. From photograph in Virginia Historical
Society.]

[Illustration: Royal Exchange, London. As it was in the time of the
Virginia Company.

Photo by New York Public Library]

[Illustration: Captain John Smith

From _The London Company of Virginia_ (New York and London, 1908)

Photo by Virginia State Library.]

[Illustration: THOMAS WEST, _Third Lord de la Warr_

From Alexander W. Weddell, _Virginia Historical Portraiture_

Photo by Virginia State Library.]

[Illustration: SIR THOMAS SMITH (or SMYTHE)

"The Right Worshipful Sir Thomas Smith, of London, Knight, one of his
Maiesties Councell for Virginia, and Treasurer for the Colonie, and
Gouernour of the Companies of the Moscovia and East India Merchants"

From the Original Portrait by an Unknown Artist, now in the possession
of The Skinner