
Letter from Charles II, Dated 27 March 1668, Granting Ports and Islands of Bombay to EIC.
"The document of which we here reproduce the first sheet recites the cession of the island by “Our good brother the King of Portugall” and after noting the fact that it lies within the sphere of the Company’s operations, as defined in their recent charter, goes on to declare that, out of his earnest desire to encourage the said Company in their difficult and hazardous trade and traffic in those remote parts of the world, His Majesty grants them the whole of his rights in the said port and island of Bombay, and constitutes them “the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors” thereof, “to be holden of Us, our heires and Successors, as of the mannor of East Greenwich in our County of Kent, in free and common Soccage, and not in Capite nor by Knights service, yeilding and paying therefore to Us, our heires and Successors, at the Custome House, London, the rent or summe of tenn pounds of lawfull money of England, in gold, on the thirtyeth day of September yearely for ever.”
Provision is made that the rights of the existing inhabitants shall be respected and that they shall be allowed (as required by the Anglo-Portuguese treaty) the free exercise of the Roman Catholic religion; also that the Company shall not sell or part with any portion of the island to a foreign state or individual. All warlike stores, ships, merchandise, cattle, etc., now on the island are freely bestowed on the Company, who are charged to fit out one or more vessels as soon as possible to take possession.
The salaries and wages of the garrison, as well as all charges of government, are to be paid by the Crown up to the time of the actual transfer; but should the Company fail to take possession before Michaelmas, 1668, the cost from that date is to fall upon them. Permission is given to enlist as many of the officers and men of the present garrison as may be willing to remain, the rest to be brought home at the expense of the Company. The latter may, at any of their General Courts, enact laws for the good government of the island and impose penalties for their infraction.
The Governors or other officers appointed by them are authorized to repel by force any attack upon the island, and to exercise martial law in cases of necessity. By another clause it is declared that all British subjects dwelling at Bombay, and all their children and posterity, shall enjoy as full privileges and liberties as if they had been abiding or born in England. And finally the powers hereby conferred on the Company are extended to any other settlements or possessions which they shall thereafter acquire.
Under the terms of this grant Bombay was taken over by the Company’s representative on September 23, 1668."
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Excerpt taken from Relics of the hon. East India Company by William Griggs.