n adventurers was granted exclusive right to all the
territory lying between the thirty-fourth and thirty-eighth parallels and
running from the ocean to an indefinite extent westward into the wilds of
America, even to the waters of the Pacific. They were also allowed all
the islands, fisheries, and other marine treasures within one hundred
miles directly eastward from their shores and within fifty miles from
their most northern and most southern settlements, following the coast to
the northeast or southwest, as might be necessary. Within these limits
ample jurisdiction was conferred upon them. To the Plymouth Company were
granted in like manner the land and appurtenances between the forty-first
and forty-fifth parallels. Thus the whole region between thirty-eight and
forty-one was left open to the enterprise of both companies; but to
render angry collision impossible, the charter contained the judicious
clause above noted, by which each colony might claim exclusive right
fifty miles north or south of its extreme settlements, and thus neither
could approach within one hundred miles of the other.

The hope of gold and silver from America was yet clinging with tenacity
to the English mind. James grants to the companies unlimited right to dig
and obtain the precious and other metals, but reserves to himself
one-fifth of all the gold and silver and one-fifteenth of all the copper
that might be discovered. Immediately after this clause we find a section
granting to the councils for the colonies authority to coin money and use
it among the settlers and natives. This permission may excite some
surprise when we remember that the right to coin has been always guarded
with peculiar jealousy by English monarchs, and that this constituted one
serious charge against the Massachusetts colony in the unjust proceedings
by which her charter was wrested from her in subsequent years.

To the companies was given power to carry settlers to Virginia and plant
them upon her soil, and no restriction was annexed to this authority
except that none should be taken from the realm upon whom the King should
lay his injunction to remain. The colonists were permitted to have arms
and to resist and repel all intruders from foreign states; and it was
provided that none should trade and traffic within the colonies unless
they should pay or agree to pay to the treasurers of the companies 21/2 per
cent, on their stock in trade if they were English subjects,