lawes as we must be enforced to make in the General Assembly. That clause is as followeth : Item. That it shall and may be lawfull to and for the said Captain John Martin, his heyers, executours, and assignes to governe and comaunde all such person or persons as at this time [1616] he shall carry over with him, or that shalbe sente him hereafter, free from any comaunde of the Colony, excepte it be in ayding and assisting the same against any forren or domestical enemy." After discussion it was ordered that the two Burgesses for Martin-Brandon should "with-drawe themselves out of the Assembly till such time as Captaine Martin should make his personal appearance before them," and "be contente to quitte and give over that parte of his Patente. . . . Upon this a letter or warrant was drawen in the name of the whole Assembly to sumon Captaine Martin to appeare before them in forme following :
dition reduced all matters to be treatted of into a ready method." He divided the busi ness to be considered by the Assembly into "fower severall Objects, namely: — "First, The Create Charter of .orders, lawes, and priviledges; "Secondly, which of the instructions given by the Counsel in England to my lo : la: Warre, Captain Argall, and Sir George Yeardley, might become lawes; "Thirdly, what lawes might issue out of the private conceipte of any of the Burgesses, or any other of the Colony; and "Lastly, what petitions were fitt to be sente to England." The Great Charter was divided into four books, or divisions, and each part referred to a separate committee, •— "Captain William Powell, Ensigne Rosingham, Captaine Warde, Captaine Tucker, Mr. Shelley, Thomas Douse, Samuel Jordan, and Mr. Boys " composed the committee " for peru sing the first booke of the fower." "Captaine Lawne, Captaine Graves, En By the Governor and General Assembly of signe Spense, Samuel Sharpe, William Virginia. Capps, Mr. Pawlett, Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Captaine Martine, we are to request you upon Jackson," the committee for the second sight hereof, with all convenient speed to repaire hitherto James Citty to treatt and conferre with us book. "The names of the Comitties for perus about some matters of especial importance, which ing "the third and fourth books have not concerns both us and the whole Colony and your been preserved. self. And of this we praye you not to faile. " It pleased the Governour for expedition • JAMES CITTY, July 30 [O. S.]. 1619. sake to have the second object of the fower Addressed: To our very loving Friend, Captain ["what Instructions should become Laws "] John Martin, Esquire, Master of the Ordinance." to be examined and prepared by himselfe" and the Burgesses who were not on the Martin appeared on Monday, August 12; aforesaid two committees. and after his case was stated to him, " His The Assembly went systematically to work answere was negative, that he would not in on " the fower severall objects," and seem to fringe any parte of his Patente. Where have accomplished their task reasonably upon it was resolved by the Assembly that well, very nearly on the same lines which his Burgesses should have no admittance." have been followed by many subsequent This was the earliest contest in the Colony on Charter Rights. Martin was " educated General Assemblies. "The committees " reported on the Great to the law; " he knew his rights, and know Charter on August 10, and presented to ing dared maintain them. The Speaker, John Pory, who had been the General Assembly six petitions for sun a member of Parliament, first formed the dry alterations thereof, to be sent to the Assembly, and " to their great ease and expe Treasurer, Counsell, and Company in Eng
