| CHAPTER I. |
| Control of Trade and Plantations under James I and Charles I. |
| Before 1622, Privy Council the sole authority | 10 |
| Commission of Trade, 1622–1623 | 11 |
| Commission of Trade, 1625–1626 | 12 |
| Privy Council Committee of Trade, 1630–1640 | 13 |
| Temporary Plantation Commissions, 1630–1633 | 14 |
| Laud Commission for Plantations, 1634–1641 | 14 |
| Subcommittees for Plantations, 1632–1639 | 17 |
| Privy Council in control, 1640–1642 | 21 |
| Parliamentary Commission for Plantations, 1643–1648 | 21 |
| CHAPTER II. |
| Control of Trade and Plantations during the Interregnum. |
| The Council of Trade, 1650–1653 | 24 |
| Plantation Affairs controlled by the Council of State, 1649–1651 | 30 |
| Standing Committee of the Council for Plantations, 1651–April, 1653 | 33 |
| Plantation Affairs controlled by the Council of State, April–Dec., 1653 | 35 |
| Trade controlled by Council of State and Parliamentary Committees, Dec., 1653–June, 1655 | 36 |
| Importance of the years 1654–1655 | 36 |
| The great Trade Committee, 1655–1657 | 38 |
| Parliamentary Committees of Trade, 1656–1658 | 43 |
| Plantation Affairs controlled by Protector's Council and Council of the State, 1653–1660 | 43 |
| Special Council Committees for Plantations, 1653–1659 | 44 |
| Council Committee for Jamaica and Foreign Plantations, 1655–1660 | 44 |
| Select Committee for Jamaica, known later as Committee for America, 1655–1660 | 45 |
| Inadequacy of Control during the Interregnum | 47 |
| CHAPTER III. |
| The Proposals of the Merchants: Noell and Povey. |
| Career of Martin Noell | 49 |
| Career of Thomas Povey | 51 |
| Enterprises of the Merchants, 1657–1659 | 53 |
| Proposals of Noell and Povey | 55 |
| "Overtures" of 1654 | 55 |
| "Queries" of 1656 | 58 |
| Additional Proposals, 1656, 1657 | 58 |
| CHAPTER IV. |
| Committees and Councils under the Restoration. |
| Plantation Committee of Privy Council, June 4, 1660 | 61 |
| Work of Privy Council Committee | 63 |
| Appointment of Select Councils of Trade and Plantations, 1660 | 64 |
| Membership of these Councils | 67 |
| Comparison of Povey's "Overtures" with the Instructions for Council for Foreign Plantations | 68 |
| Comparison of Povey's "First Draft" with Instructions for Council of Trade | 71 |
| Work of Council for Foreign Plantations, 1660–1665 | 74 |
| Control of Plantation Affairs, 1665–1670 | 79 |
| Work of Council of Trade, 1660–1664 | 80 |
| Parliamentary Committee of Trade, 1664 | 85 |
| Commission for English-Scottish Trade, 1667–1668 | 86 |
| Reorganization of Committees of the Privy Council, 1668 | 87 |
| Work of Privy Council Committee for Foreign Plantations, 1668–1670 | 90 |
| New Select Council of Trade, 1668–1672 | 91 |
| CHAPTER V. |
| The Plantation Councils of 1670 and 1672. |
| Influence of Ashley and Locke | 96 |
| Revival of Council for Foreign Plantations, 1670–1672 | 97 |
| Membership | 97 |
| Commission and Instructions | 99 |
| Meetings and Work | 101 |
| Select Council of Trade and Foreign Plantations, 1672–1674 | 106 |
| Membership | 106 |
| Commission and Instructions | 107 |
| Meetings and Work | 109 |
| Causes of the Revocation of the Commission of Select Council, 1674 | 111 |
| Later History of Plantation Control, 1675–1782 | 112 |
| APPENDICES. |
| I. Instructions, Board of Trade, 1650 | 115 |
| II. Instructions, Council for Foreign Plantations, 1670–1672 | 117 |
| Additional Instructions for the Same | 124 |
| III. Draft of Instructions, Council of Trade and Foreign Plantations, 1672–1674 | 127 |
| IV. Heads of Business; Councils of 1670 and 1672 | 133 |
