In purfuance of the authorities given to the company by thefe charters, and more efpecially of that part in the charter of 1609, which authorifed them to eftablilh a form of government, they on the 24th of July, 1 6 2 1 , by charter under their common feal, declared that from thence-for- ward there fhould be two fupreme councils in Virginia, the one to be called the coun- cil of ftate, to be placed and difplaced by the treafurer, council in England, and company, from time to time, whofe of- fice was to be that of affifting and advifing the governor; the other to be called the general aflembly to be convened by the governor once yearly or oftener, which was to confift of the council of ftate, and two burgefles out of every town, hundred, or plantation, to be refpedlively chofen by the inhabitants. In this all matters were to be decided by the greater part of the votes prefent; referving to the governor a negative voice; and they were to have power to treat, confult, and conclude all emergent occafions concerning the public weal, and to make laws for the behoof and government of the colony, imitating and following the laws and policy of England as nearly as might be: providing that thefe laws fhould have no force till ratified in a general quarter court of the company in England and returned under their common feal, and declaring that, after the government of the colony fhould be w^ell framed and fettled, no orders of the council in England fhould bind the colony unlefs ratified in the faid general aflembly. The king and company quar- relled, and by a mixture of law and force, the latter were oufted of all their rights, without retribution, after having expended Ioo,oool. in eftablifhing the colony, with- out the fmalleft aid from government.
King James fufpended their powers by pro- clamation of July 15, 1624, and Charles I.
took the government into his own hands.
Both fides had their partifans in the colony;