dispute and disagreeing one with
another, Charles thought best to establish a royal government.

Accordingly he dissolved the Company in 1626,
"reducing the Country
and Government into his own immediate ordering all patents
and processes to issue in his own name, reserving to himself
a quit-rent of two shillings for every hundred acres of
land."

The first act was by proclamation as follows:--

"That whereas, in his royal father's time, the charter of
the Virginia Company was by a quo warranto annulled; and
whereas his said father was, and he himself also is, of
opinion, that the government of that Colony by a company
incorporated, consisting of a multitude of persons of
various dispositions, amongst whom affairs of the greatest
moment are ruled by a majority of votes, was not so proper,
for carrying on, prosperously, the affairs of the colony;
wherefore, to reduce the government thereof to such a course
as might best agree with that form which was held in his
royal monarchy; and considering also, that we hold those
territories of Virginia and Somer isles, as also that of New
England, lately planted, with the limits thereof, to be a
part of our royal empire; we ordain that the government of
Virginia shall immediately depend on 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 to commit the ordering of state affairs.

"Wherefore our commissioners for those affairs shall proceed
as directed, till we establish a council here for that
colony; to be subordinate to our council here for that
colony. And at our charge we will maintain those public
officers and ministers and that strength of men, munition,
and fortification, which shall be necessary for the defence
of that plantation. And we will also settle and assure the
particular rights and interests of every planter and
adventurer. Lastly, whereas the tobacco of those plantations
(the only present means of their subsisting) cannot be
managed for the good of the plantations, unless it be
brought into one hand, whereby the foreign tobacco of those
plantations may yield a certain and ready price to the
owners thereof: to avoid all differences between the