WHereas , at the humble suit and request of sundry Our louing and well disposed Subiects , intending to deduce a Colony , and to make a plantation in Virginia Wee , for the inlarging of Our Gouernment , increase of Nauigation and Trade , and especially for the reducing of the sauage and barbarous people of those parts to the Christian faith , did incorporate diuers Noblemen , Gentlemen and others , aduenturers in the sayd Plantation , and granted vnto them sundry Priuiledges and Liberties ; amongst which , for their better helpe and assistance to raise some competent summes of money to prosecute the same Plantation to a happy end , Wee did grant them licence to set foorth , erect , and publish Lotteries , to continue for one yeere after the opening of the same , and further , during Our pleasure ; which liberty hath been by the same Company put in vse diuers yeeres past . Now forasmuch as We are giuen to vnderstand , that although Wee in granting the sayd Licence , had Our eye fixed vpon a religious and Princely end and designe , yet the sayd Lotteries , hauing now for a long time been put in vse , doe dayly decline to more and more inconuenience , to the hinderance of multitudes of Our Subiects .

Wee whose care continually waiteth vpon the generall welfare of Our people , haue thought it expedient , for the generall good of Our Subiects , to suspend the further execution of the saide Lotteries , vntill vpon further deliberation and aduisement , We shall be more fully informed of the inconueniences and euils thereby arising , and may ordaine due remedy for the same , without any conceit of withdrawing Our fauour in any degree from the said Company or plantation , and good worke by them intended .

And therefore We doe heereby expresly charge and command the sayd Company and their successors , and all their Officers , Ministers , and Seruants , and all others , That from hencefoorth they desist and forbeare , to vse or execute any manner of grant or Licence from Vs for the keeping and continuing of any Lotterie , or to keepe or continue any Lotterie , within this Our Realme of England or the Dominions thereof , vntill such time as Wee shall declare Our further pleasure therein . And Wee likewise require all Iustices , Officers , and Ministers whatsoeuer , from hencefoorth , diligently and carefully to see this Our pleasure executed , and to punish the infringers thereof , as contemners of Our Royall command .