On the Method of Plants

Whereas it has seemed good to his Gracious Majesty King James of Blessed memory King James I, who reigned from 1603 to 1625 and granted the original colonial charters, to signify his especial care, and Royal will and pleasure, that the People and Inhabitants of this Island (the Royal Subjects of him and his Successors) should inviolably enjoy those liberties and privileges, by his Majesty granted in his gracious Letters Patents A public decree or charter from the monarch granting specific rights or monopolies, which are the Forts and Bull-works to repel the Invasion of all unjust Impositions Taxes or duties placed on goods without the consent of the governed and Oppressions, as in his said Letters Patents, reference thereunto being had, may more evidently appear; That one part of this Land, not exceeding the fourth part, shall be allotted, and reserved to the Company in common, for the maintenance and defraying of the Public Charges The administrative and military costs of running the colony of these Islands; and the remainder of the Profits, after the said Public Charges are defrayed, to be divided amongst the several Members of the said Company, according to the proportion of each man's several shares and parts, etc. which with our humble and thankful acknowledgment of his Majesty's Grace we duly respect; although some not weighing their duty and obedience to his Majesty's Royal will and pleasure, have illegally exacted one penny per pound upon all the Tobacco The primary cash crop and currency of the early Atlantic colonies of the growth of these Islands, coming to his Majesty's Realm and Dominions (which is to be feared, has been a great means to hinder his Majesty's Customs Official government import taxes) contrary to his Majesty's gracious Laws and Intentions; and also disposing of the aforesaid Lands and Hereditaments, by his Majesty appropriated to Public uses, according to their own wills and interest; which said penny per pound has amounted to near four times the value of the Public Charges of this Island, the Island yielding some years 300,000 pounds of Tobacco and upwards; which said Imposition, being the third part of our Commodity, sometimes more, even when it has not yielded our Charges i.e., even when the sale price did not cover the cost of production, we have been forced to pay the said exaction to our woeful damage.

And it being an unjust Imposition upon our Estates, directly contrary to the King's Letters Patents, the Honourable Company's Printed Book of Laws, and directly against, and repugnant to the Grand Charter of England The Magna Carta, the foundational document of English liberties; which provides that no man shall be amerced Fined or deprived of property in his Estate, without his consent by due course of Law.

And although we the Inhabitants of this Island, are Members of the said Company, yet never have received any account, according to his Majesty's gracious intent and order in the Printed Book of Laws; it being a very great oppression, especially to the poor Planters The settlers who actually farmed the land, often in debt to the Company, who have it taken out of their own hard Labor: And further, notwith-