XXXXXXX.MXX
The Terran High Lords of the Imperium of Mankind and Governing Lord Sector, to all who shall see these Presents, or hear them read,
Greeting.
Be it known, that we, recognizing the prosperity of the systems of Segmentum XXX, and the welfare of their inhabitants, do affirm that their success dependeth principally upon protection, navigation, and the sacred continuance of trade. In former times, these systems did flourish greatly, bringing wealth and blessings unto all worlds and sectors encompassed within the light of the God-Emperor. And we, desiring that the aforementioned inhabitants shall not only be preserved in their established navigation, traffic, and commerce, but also that their trade may flourish and be increased as much as may be permissible under the divine laws of the Imperium, do herein confirm all treaties, alliances, leagues, and covenants for traffic and navigation formerly made with other worlds, noble houses, and the sacred Ordos. These covenants, we declare, must be in all parts punctually observed and adhered to without fail.
Furthermore, by experience and wisdom wrought of many ages, it is evident that without the Imperium’s intercession, protection, and sanction of a Man of Action, the people designed for the distant and perilous regions beyond the Imperium cannot be preserved from the great risks of piracy, heretical extortion, and other grievous perils that assail such long voyages. Thus, for several significant reasons and weighty considerations, with the benefit of mature counsel and for causes deemed highly necessary, we do find it good and just that navigation, commerce, and industry within the vast expanses of the Koronus Expanse, the Halo Stars, and the dark voids beyond shall henceforth not be carried on otherwise than by the united strength and righteous authority of the Rogue Traders, those loyal servants of the Imperium, and the honourable Men of their Worlds.
Warrant of Authority and Trade
To this end, we do hereby ordain the election and sanctioning of divers Rogue Traders, and in especial the noble Lineage of, whom we, out of special regard for the sanctity and well-being of the Imperium, and to ensure the prosperity and orthodoxy of its citizens, shall sustain and strengthen with our Help, Favour, and Assistance, insofar as the current state and strength of this most holy Imperium shall permit. Moreover, we shall grant unto them a proper Warrant of Trade, blessed under the seal of the High Lords of Terra, and invest them with the following Privileges and Exemptions, to wit:
I. On the Exclusive Privilege of Navigation and Trade
That until the extinction of this noble bloodline from the stars, no Native or Inhabitant of these worlds shall be permitted to voyage to or from the said systems, nor to traffic within the bounds of the Koronus Expanse, from the Rifts of Hecaton to the warp storm known as The Cauldron; nor within the worlds of the Halo Stars or the Heathen Stars, beginning at the fourth world of Phainal, by the streights of Benetek, Nostromo, or any other streights and passages situated thereabouts, to the streights of Anais, both on the northern and southern borders; nor upon any worlds situated on the one side or the other, or between both; nor in the western or southern sectors reaching and lying between the meridians, from the God-Emperor’s Scourge in the South to the Galactic Rim in the West, inclusive, save only in the Name and under the auspices of the Rogue Trader duly ordained within the Imperium of Mankind.
And whosoever shall presume, without the consent of these Peers, to voyage, sail, or traffic within any of the places included within the aforesaid bounds, granted to said Trader or Trader Dynasty, shall forfeit the vessels and goods thus employed. Such vessels and goods, once seized by the said Trader, shall be retained by them for their own Benefit and Behoof, as decreed by this sacred writ.
Furthermore, should such vessels or goods be sold in other systems or star fortresses beyond the bounds herein described, the owners and their partners shall be fined an amount equivalent to the value of said vessels and goods, as assessed by the administrating agents of this decree.
Exceptions and Provisions
Excepting only, those who, before the date of this charter, have voyaged or dispatched goods from these or any other worlds, to the sub-sectors or places enumerated herein. Such individuals or entities shall be allowed to conclude their trade, deliver their goods, and return with their rightful compensation, or otherwise, until the expiration of their prior charter, provided such agreements were validly held before the enactment of this writ.
From henceforth, beginning upon the date of XXXXXXX.M41, marking the commencement of this charter, no individual or party shall dispatch vessels or goods to the places herein prescribed, notwithstanding that, prior to this date, the Rogue Trader might not have been fully incorporated. Yet, all such endeavors shall be prohibited, save those adhering strictly to the will and intent of this charter, as determined for the good of the Imperium and the faithful service of the God-Emperor.
Special Provision: The ore trade at Iniquity may continue in accordance with the conditions and instructions previously established, or that may be given hereafter, without contradiction of this decree. Any articles within this charter deemed contrary to this provision shall not apply to the lawful conduct of trade upon Iniquity, under the strict oversight of the Adeptus Mechanicus and the Administratum.
II. That, moreover, the aforesaid Trader may, in the Emperor’s most Holy Name and Warranted Authority, within the bounds herein prescribed, forge contracts, engagements, and alliances with the princes, lords, and native rulers of the worlds encompassed therein. Furthermore, they may found colonies, construct bastions, fortresses, and void-stations to fortify those holdings; appoint and dismiss Governors, Lords Militant, adjudicators of law, and other officers of administration, war, and trade on those holdings, as the preservation of those realms, the establishment of order, and the propagation of justice shall require. Likewise, they may install others in their stead, as their affairs and discretion shall dictate.
Moreover, it is required of them to promote the settlement and habitation of these fertile yet unsettled domains, fostering the growth of loyal populations therein, and to accomplish all that the service of those systems, and the increase of trade and prosperity, doth demand. The Trader is further bound to communicate and transmit unto us all contracts, alliances, and agreements thus established with the aforementioned rulers and systems, along with the disposition of fortresses, citadels, and colonies erected in those regions.**
III. Provided always, that they having chosen a Paterfamilias of their Lineage, and furnished unto him instructions and directives, the same shall be presented for our approbation, and commission granted by us. Moreover, such Paterfamilias, together with any deputies, commanders, and officers under their banner, shall solemnly swear an oath of unwavering allegiance to us, to the Imperium of Man, and to the duly empowered Rogue Trader.
IV. And if the aforesaid Trader Lineage, within or beyond the bounds of the domains entrusted to them, shall suffer treachery masked as friendship, or endure grievous wrong, or sustain loss in the trust of their throne gelts or goods without restitution or just recompense being rendered unto them, they are hereby empowered, in accordance with the necessities and exigencies of their station, to employ all prudent and decisive methods within their power to obtain satisfaction and redress, as the Emperor’s justice doth demand.
V. And if it be deemed necessary for the establishment, security, and defence of the trade and chartered rights herein described, the provision of troops shall be granted according to the sacred dictates of the Ministorum of this Imperium, and as the situation of affairs may warrant. Such troops, however, shall be furnished only under the condition that they be maintained, victualed, and recompensed by the said Trader, at their own expense and charge.
VI. These troops, having already sworn allegiance to the Imperium and the Holy God-Emperor of Mankind, shall likewise swear a solemn oath to heed the commands of the said Trader, and to labor with diligence and devotion to promote the Trader’s lawful interests and preserve the Emperor’s will in all endeavors to the utmost of their strength and ability.
VII. Be it further ordained, that the provosts of the Trader, when operating within the bounds of a planetary gravity well or upon stations of the void, may apprehend any of the military forces who have enlisted under the Trader’s service. Such apprehended individuals may be confined aboard the Trader’s vessels, regardless of the planetary jurisdiction, orbital station, or sector where they may be found. Nevertheless, it is required that the said provosts first give notice and due explanation of their actions to the officers and magistrates of the affected worlds or stations, lest there arise unnecessary disputes or affronts to local governance.
Thus, it is decreed that where restitution is denied, or losses sustained in the execution of their duties, the said Trader is empowered to seek satisfaction by all lawful means within their strength and resources, as the exigencies of their affairs may dictate, always in keeping with the service and honor of the Imperium.
VIII. That the Imperium shall not, save in times of direst Need, requisition any vessels, ordnance, or ammunition belonging unto the Trader, for the use and service of this Imperium. Such possessions shall remain the rightful property of the Trader, inviolate and unmolested.
IX. Furthermore, we have invested this Trader with favours and privileges, and have granted unto them this sacred Charter of Trade, that they may pass freely with all their vessels and goods beyond the reach and jurisdiction of the Lords of this Imperium. Beyond the pacified borders of the Emperor’s dominion, they shall hold liberty and authority equal to that which the Great Lords of Terra themselves enjoy.
X. That all goods and wares of this Trader, for the years encompassed by this Charter, shall be carried forth from the Imperium unto the regions of the Koronus Expanse, the Halo Stars, and other places specified within the limits herein described. Likewise, the goods which they shall return with unto the demesne of this Imperium shall be carried upon outward and homebound convoys under their auspices. Provided always that, should the expiration of this Trader’s lineage or this Charter occur, and the state of the worlds encompassed therein be such as to forbid the continuation of this Freedom, the goods and merchandises originating from said worlds, and exported henceforth, shall not be rated higher than they have previously been valued. Should, however, the Imperium be engaged in a Holy Crusade, all such goods and merchandises shall not be rated higher than they were listed during the last campaign of war.
XI. And for the strengthening of this Lineage by good governance, to the greatest profit and satisfaction of all concerned, it is ordained by this Body that said governance shall be audited every twenty Terran years by the Adeptus Administratum. All records and returns are to be made available for their perusal, ensuring a just and complete accounting of the Trader’s dealings and the furtherance of the Emperor’s will.
XII. That the accounts of the furniture and outfit of the void-faring vessels, along with their dependencies and cargo manifests, shall be duly compiled and reconciled within three Terran months of the vessels’ departure. Furthermore, one decade hence, duplicate records thereof shall be transmitted unto us, the High Lords and Governing Chambers, and unto the respective regional chambers: and the state of the returns, together with all records of sales and exchanges, shall the chambers (as often as we deem fit or upon our express request) transmit to us and to one another for scrutiny and record.
XIII. That every thirty Terran years the Trader, duly appointed under this charter, shall render a general account of all outfits and returns, as well as the cumulative gains and losses of their enterprise. These accounts shall be divided into two distinct categories: one detailing the business of commerce, and the other the business of war, both to be kept separate. Such records shall be withheld from the wider throng of Humanity, save for those entrusted by this Body to examine them.
Should the fortieth Terran year elapse without the accounts being presented in the manner herein prescribed, the Trader shall forfeit their commissions, which shall be appropriated for any use deemed necessary by this Body. Furthermore, the Trader shall be held to submit their accounts as before, under such penalties as shall be fixed by us, the Guardians of this Charter. Nevertheless, so long as a gain of ten per centum shall be shown in the business ledgers, dividends may be rendered unto the Trader’s company or benefactors.
XIV. The vessels returning from their voyages shall dock at the port from whence they departed; and if, by the stress of warp weather or celestial misfortune, those vessels which set sail from one port shall arrive at another—be it from Port Wander, Scintilla in Koronus, or the Halo Stars; or from Malfi in Calixis, or from Footfall, with its void station in another segment—each chamber shall retain the oversight and management of the vessels and goods it sent forth. Said chambers shall ensure the goods are transported to the original port of departure, either aboard the same vessel or another.
Provision is hereby made that the managers of the originating chamber shall, in person, ascertain the location and state of the vessels and goods, and shall not delegate this duty to subordinates or factors. However, if the managers themselves are incapacitated or otherwise unable to travel, they may commit this business to the chamber at the location where the vessels have arrived. Such arrangements must be recorded and reported to the Administratum for formal review.
XVI. And if it shall come to pass that any of the Sector Governors, in their wisdom and authority, see fit to appoint an agent to gather the Emperor’s holy tithe from the inhabitants of those worlds brought into the Imperium’s blessed embrace by the labours of said Trader, the Trader shall be duty-bound to grant such agent access and aid. The agent shall have full right to obtain information concerning the state of disbursements, receipts, and debts, so that the sacred obligations to the Throne may be accounted without hindrance.
XVII. Those who stand in vassalage to the Trader shall be prohibited from delivering or selling to the Trader’s Company, in whole or in part, any vessels, goods, or merchandise of their own, nor shall they buy or cause to be bought, directly or indirectly, any goods from the said Trader. To violate this decree shall result in the forfeiture of one full year’s commissions for the benefit of the Lords of Terra and the loss of their Office, for such acts are deemed treachery against the divine order of the Imperium.
XVIII. The managers of the Trader’s affairs shall make it their solemn duty to give notice, by proclamation or advertisement, whenever a new importation of goods or merchandise is made, that all may receive timely knowledge thereof before such goods are offered for final sale. However, such notice shall not proceed in defiance of the representatives of the High Lords of Terra or the Holy Inquisition, who, in their righteousness, may deny such advertisement if it be deemed contrary to the interests of the Imperium or the sanctity of the Emperor’s will.
XIX. The planetary governors of all worlds claimed and held by the Trader, under the auspices of this holy Charter, shall bear full responsibility for ensuring that the Imperial tithe is rendered in due time and measure. They shall be answerable to the Administratum for any shortfall or failure in the execution of this sacred duty.
XX. And it is further decreed that when any vessel or fleet in the service of the Trader returns from a voyage, the generals or commanders thereof shall be bound by honour and duty to report, via Astropathic transmission, the success of their venture within ten days of their arrival at port. Furthermore, they shall deliver to the Administratum, in writing if the case demands it, a full account of their voyage, its endeavours, and its outcomes, so that the wisdom of the Imperium may be informed and the record made whole for the Emperor’s eternal glory.
XXI. And if it cometh to pass, as we by all means anticipate, that any person or persons shall, in any manner, harm, hinder, or obstruct the holy navigation, business, trade, or traffic of the duly sanctioned Rogue Trader, contrary to the contents of the sacred treaties, leagues, and covenants aforewritten, then shall it be the duty of the Trader to defend against such malefactors and regulate their conduct by the instructions herein bestowed, and by such further wisdom as we may ordain.
XXII. And should a violent and sustained interruption of the aforementioned navigation and commerce arise, thereby jeopardizing the sanctity of the business within the bounds of this Warrant, such that open war be made necessary, we shall, so far as the situation of the Imperium doth permit, provide unto the Trader’s aid up to sixteen ships of war, together with four fine patrol yachts of stalwart design, all properly armed and provisioned with lance batteries, macrocannon, and other necessary munitions; furnished also with double suits of cables, fields, anchors, and drives befitting their purpose in great expeditions.
Provided, however, that these vessels shall be manned, victualled, and maintained at the sole expense of the Trader, who shall likewise be obliged to furnish ships of war and matching yachts of equal potency and provision, to be employed in the defence of holy trade and all exploits of sanctioned war.
Furthermore, all vessels of war, merchantmen, and their auxiliaries thus provided and manned, shall be placed under the command of an admiral appointed by us, following the advisement of the said Rogue Trader. Such admiral shall receive our solemn orders and shall also act in concert with the resolutions of the Trader when the necessity of war doth demand it, no less than if it were in time of declared Crusade. Nevertheless, the merchant vessels and their goods shall not, save for dire circumstance, be exposed to hazard beyond reasonable measure for their lading.
XXIII.
We have further ordained, that in the instance of war or open conflict, all spoils and prizes seized from the enemies of the Emperor, heretical pirates, or xenos marauders within the boundaries herein prescribed, by the Trader or their duly appointed agents and assistants, together with all goods confiscated under the authority of our proclamation, shall be accounted for and administered according to the following provisions:
First, all expenses incurred in the taking of said prizes, including damages suffered by the Trader and their vessels, shall be deducted. Following this, the rightful portion of His Excellency, the Admiral, shall be distributed in accordance with our resolution of the XXXXXXX.MXX. Additionally, a tenth part shall be reserved for the officers, voidsmen, and armsmen who participated in the seizure.
The remaining proceeds shall be entrusted to the managers of the said Trader, who shall keep these accounts distinct and apart from those of trade and commerce. The net proceeds of these prizes shall be employed exclusively in the arming and outfitting of ships, the payment and sustenance of troops, and the fortification of bastions, void garrisons, and other critical defences by both void and land.
However, no distribution of the net proceeds shall take place unless the sums amount to a notable figure, sufficient to allow for the defence of Imperial interests without weakening such preparations. Once all war expenses are satisfied, the distribution shall occur as follows: one-tenth part shall be reserved for the Imperium of Man, and the remainder shall be divided among the members of the Trader’s company in precise proportion to the capital each has advanced.
XXIV.
Provided, nevertheless, that all prizes and confiscated goods taken under the authority of our proclamation shall be presented without delay to the judicature of the Counsellors of Admiralty, within the precincts wherein they are brought. The Counsellors shall take cognizance of said prizes and determine their legality under Imperial law.
During this process, the administration of the goods by the Trader shall remain pending and under an accurate and proper inventory, subject to revision based upon the Counsellors’ ruling. Furthermore, no vendue-masters or officers of the Admiralty shall lay claim to or exercise authority over the prizes taken by the Trader, nor shall they engage in their handling, management, or sale.
XXV.
The Paterfamilias of this Trader Lineage, upon assumption of their office, shall solemnly swear and promise to act faithfully and with diligence in the administration of the Charter’s directives. They shall render fair and just accounts of all operations, finances, and dealings of the Lineage, consulting always for its greatest profit and the safeguarding of its ventures.
The Paterfamilias shall take all measures to prevent losses, and under no circumstance shall they show favoritism in the distribution of payments or monies owed, ensuring that all principal members of the Lineage receive equal treatment.
Moreover, the Paterfamilias shall collect outstanding debts without bias, favouring neither one creditor nor another. They shall accept for their personal account only such sums as are lawfully allotted to them by the Charter, and no more.
Finally, they shall commit themselves to the utmost of their ability to uphold, observe, and enforce every article and provision contained herein, for the glory of the Imperium and the enduring legacy of the Trader Lineage.
XXVI. All which privileges, freedoms, and exemptions, together with the assistance herein before mentioned, in all their particulars and articles, we have, with full knowledge and solemn deliberation, given, granted, promised, and agreed unto the aforesaid individual; giving, granting, agreeing, and promising moreover that they shall enjoy them peaceably and freely; ordaining that the same shall be observed and kept by all magistrates, officers, and subjects of the Imperium of Mankind, without doing aught contrary thereto, directly or indirectly, either within or beyond these realms, upon penalty of being punished both in life and goods, as obstacles to the common welfare of the Imperium and transgressors of our holy ordinance.
Promising further that we shall maintain and uphold the Warrant of Trade in all the articles and particulars contained within this charter, and in all treaties of peace, alliances, and agreements with the Imperial Ordos, planetary governors, and galactic sectors, without doing, or suffering aught to be done, which may weaken or diminish its establishment. Charging and expressly commanding all governors, justiciars, officers, magistrates, and inhabitants of the aforesaid Imperium of Mankind, that they permit the aforesaid Trader and their appointed managers to peaceably and freely enjoy the full effect of this charter, agreement, and privilege, without contradiction, hindrance, or impeachment to the contrary.
And that none may pretend ignorance hereof, we do command that the contents of this charter be duly filed with the Administratum, in accordance with proper protocol, for we have judged it necessary for the preservation and service of the Imperial Galaxy.
Given under the Great Seal of Terra, and the Signature and Seal of our Recorder, at the Imperial Palace, XXXXXXX.MXX.
Insert wax seal here
Given under his Signature, at his Sectorial Palace , XXXXXXX.MXX.
Given under His Signature, the Founding Rogue Trader, XXXXXXX.MXX.
Source: East India Trading Company charter converted to WH 40k, edited for Ultima Tectum campaign
Ignis Aeternus WH 40K campaign notes 