162 Claiborne's Petition and

P. R. O.
Colonial
Papers.

in these partes and because wee doe very much approve of all
such worthie intensions and are desirous to give good incour-
agement to their proceedings therein beeing for the releeife and
comfort of those our subjects and enlargement of our dominions
These are to licence and authorize the said William Clayborne
his assosiates and Company freely without interruption from
time to time to trade and traffique for corne furres or any other
comodities whatsoever with their shipps men boates and mer-
chaundize in all seas, coasts, rivers, creekes, harbours lands
and territories in neere or about these partes of America for
which there is not allready a patent graunted to others for sole
trade and to that effect wee require and command you and
every one of you and particularly our trusty and welbeloved
Sir Iohn Harvey Knight Governor and the rest of our councell
of and for our Colonie of Virginia to permitt and suffer him
and them with their said shipps boates merchaundizes catttell
marriners serveaunts and such as shall willinglie accompany
or bee imployed by them from time to time freely to repaire
and trade to and agen in all the aforesaid partes and places as
they shall thinke fitt and their occasions shall require, without
any stopp, arrest, search hindrance or molestation whatsoever
as you and every of you will answer the contrary at your
perrills giveing and by these presents graunting unto the said
William Claybourne full power to direct and governe correct
and punnish such of our subjects as shall be under his com-
mand in his voyages and discoveries and for his soe doing
these presents shall be a sufficient warrant. Given at our
Mannor of East Greenewich the 16^th day of May in the seaventh
yeare of our Raigne 1631.
To our trustie and welbeloved our
Governor and Councell of Virginia
and to all our Lieutenants of
Provinces and Countries in
America Governors and others
having any charge of Colonies
of any of our subjects and to all
Captaines and Masters of Shipps
and generally to all our subjects
whatsoever whome these presents
doe or may concerne.

William Claiborne enters upon the Isle of Kent unplanted
by any man. But possessed by the Natives of that Country
with about 100 men and there contracted with the natives and
bought their right to hould of the Crowne of England to him
and his Company and their heires and by force or virtue
thereof William Claiborne and his Company stood seized of
the said Island about 3 yeares after his Majesty's Graunts a