treated and imputed as the Liege faithful People of Us Our Heirs and Successors born within this Our Kingdom or any other of Our Dominions and may inhabit or otherwise purchase and receive take have hold buy and possess any Lands Tenements or Hereditaments within the said places and then may Occupy and Enjoy Give Sell Alien and Bequeath as likewise Liberties Franchises Priviledges of this Our Kingdom of England and of other Our Dominions aforesaid may freely and quietly Have Possess and Enjoy as our Liege People born within the same without the least molestation vexation trouble or grievance of Us Our Heirs and Successors any Statute Act Ordinance or Provision to the contrary notwithstanding And farthermore That Our Subjects of this Our Kingdom of England and other Our Dominions may be rather encoured to undertake this Expedition with ready and chearful minds Know ye that We of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion do Give and Grant by vertue of these Presents as well to the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. and their Heirs as unto all others as shall from time to time repair unto the said Province or Territory with a purpose to Inhabit there and to Trade with the Natives thereof full Liberty and Licence to Lade and Freight in any Ports whatsoever of Us Our Heirs and Successors and into the said Province of Carolina by them their Servants and Assigns to Transport all and singular their Goods Wares and Merchandizes as likewise all sorts of Grain whatsoever and any other things whatsoever necessary for their Food and Cloathing not Prohibited by the Laws and Statutes of Our Kingdoms and Dominions to be carried out of the same without any Lett or Molestation of Us Our Heirs and Successors or of any other Our Officers and Ministers whatsoever Saving also to Us Our Heirs and Successors the Customs and other Duties and Payments due for the said Wares and Merchandizes according to the several Rates of the Places from whence the same shall be Transported We will also and by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Give and Grant Licence by this Our Charter unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns and to all the Inhabitants or Dwellers in the Province or Territory aforesaid both present and to come full Power and absolute Authority to Import or Unlade by themselves or their Servants Factors or Assigns all Merchandize and Goods whatsoever that shall arise of the Fruits and Commodities of the said Province or Territory either by Land or by Sea into any the Ports of Us Our Heirs and Successors in the Kingdoms of England Scotland and Ireland or otherwise to dispose of the said Goods in the said Ports And if need be within one year after the Unlading to Lade the same Merchandize or Goods again into the same or other Ships and to Export the same into any other Countries either of Our Dominions or Foreign being in Amity with Us Our Heirs and Successors so as they pay such Customs Subsidies and other Duties for the same to Us Our Heirs and Successors as the rest of Our Subjects of this Our Kingdom for the time being shall be bound to pay beyond which We will not that the Inhabitants of the said Province or Territory shall be any way charged provided nevertheless And Our Will and Pleasure is and We have farther for the Considerations aforesaid of Our special Grace certain Knowledg meer Motion Given and Granted and by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Give and Grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full and free Licence and Liberty and Power and Authority at any time or times from and after the Feast of St. Michael the Arch-Angel which shall be in the Year of our Lord Christ 1667. as well to Import and bring into any of Our Dominions from the said Province of Carolina or any parts thereof of the several Goods and Commodities herein after mentioned that is to say Silks Currans Raisons Capers Wax Almonds Oyl and Olives without paying or answering to Us Our Heirs or Successors any Customs Imposts or other Duty for on in respect thereof for or during the term or space of seven years to come and be accounted or from and after the first Importation of four Tuns of any the said Goods in any one Bottom Ship or Vessel from the said Province or Territory unto any of Our Dominions As also to Export and carry out of any of Our Dominions into the said Province or Territory Custom-free all sorts of Tools which shall be useful and necessary for the Planters there in the accommodation and improvement of the Premises any thing before in these Presents contained or any Law Act Statute Prohibition or other matter or thing heretofore Had Made Enacted or Provided or hereafter to be Had Made Enacted or Provided to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And furthermore of our more ample and especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion We do for Us Our Heirs and Successors Grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full and absolute Power and Authority to Make Erect and Constitute within the said Province or Territory and Islet or Islets aforesaid such and so many Sea-Ports Harbours Creeks and other places for Discharge and Unlading of Goods and Merchandizes out of Ships Boats and other Vessels and for Lading of them in such and so many places as with such Jurisdictions Priviledges and Franchises unto the said Ports belonging as to them shall seem most expedient and that all and singular the Ships Boats and other Vessels which shall come for Merchardize and Trade into the same Province or Territory or shall depart out of the same shall be laden and unladen at such Ports only as shall be erected and Constituted by the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns and not elsewhere any Use Custom or any thing to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And We do furthermore Will Appoint and Ordain and by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns that they the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. and their Heirs and Assigns may from time to time for ever have and enjoy the Customs and Subsidies in the Ports Harbours Creeks and other places within the Province aforesaid payable for Goods Merchandizes and Wares there Laden or Unladen the said Customs to be reasonably Assessed upon any occasion by themselves and by and with the consent of the free People there or the greater part of them as aforesaid to whom we give Power by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors for just Cause and in due Proportion to Assess and Impose the same And furthermore of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion We have Given Granted and Confirmed and by
Carts they are very delicate Fruit and hang almost like our Onions tied upon Ropes They receive forty Bushels of good English Wheat for one Bushel sown Cherries they have in abundance and Fowl and Fish great plenty with several that are unknown in England There are likewise Bears Wolves Foxes Rattle-Snakes and several other Creatures as I imagin saith my Author because the Indians bring such Skins to sell but I have travelled several hundred of Miles to and fro yet never to my knowledge saw one of them except two Rattle-Snakes and killed them both so that the fear of them is more than the hurt neither are we troubled with the Muskâ—to-fly in this place our Land lying generally high and healthy and they being commonly in boggy ground With common and reasonable care there may in a few years be Horses Beef Pork Flour Bisket and Pease to spare yea this Country will produce Honey Wax Silk Hemp Flax Hops Woad Rapeseed Madder Pota-shes Anniseed and Salt Hides raw or tann'd and there is a very large vast Creature called a Moose of whose Skins are made excellent Buff besides the natural product of Pitch Tar Rozin Turpentine c. As for Furs they are Beaver black Fox and Otter with divers other sorts The Tobacco is excellent upon the River Delaware There may be very good fishing for Cod and Cush as several have found by experience who have caught great plenty of well-grown Fish Upon the whole matter this Province affords all that is either for the Necessity Conveniency Profit or Pleasure of Humane Life and it may therefore be reasonably expected that this Country with the rest of America may in a few Ages be throughly peopled with Christianity And this shall suffice for New Jersey A DESCRIPTION OF PENSYLVANIA IT is the Jus Gentium or Law of Nations that whatever waste or uncultivated Country is the discovery of any Prince it is the Right of that Prince who was at the charge of that discovery Now this Province is a Member of that part of America which the King of England's Ancestors have been at the charge of discovering and which they and he have taken care to preserve and improve and his late Majesty of happy Memory upon the Petition of William Penn Esq wherein he set forth his Father's Service his own Sufferings and his Losses in relation to his Father's Estate and lastly his long and costly attendance without success was pleased in right and consideration thereof to make a grant to the said William Pen of all that Tract of Land in America which is expressed in the following Declaration to the Inhabitants and Planters of the Province of Pensylvania CHARLES R. WHereas His Majesty in Consideration of the Great Merit and Faithful Services of Sir William Penn deceased and for divers other good Causes Him thereunto moving hath been graciously pleased by Letters Patents bearing Date the Fourth Day of March last past To give and grant unto William Penn Esq Son and Heir of the said Sir William Penn all that Tract of Land called by the Name of Pensylvania as the same is bounded on the East by Delaware River from Twelve Miles distance Northward of New-Castle Town unto the three and fortieth Degree of Northern Latitude if the said River doth extend so far Northward then by the said River so far as it doth extend And from the Head of the said River the Eastern bounds to be determined by a Meridian-Line to be drawn from the head of the said River unto the said three and fortieth Degree the said Province to extend Westward five Degrees in Longitude to be computed from the said Eastern bounds and to be bounded on the North by the beginning of the three and fortieth Degree of Northern Latitude and on the South by a Circle drawn at Twelve Miles distance from New-Castle Northwards and Westwards unto the beginning of the fortieth Degree of Northern Latitude and then by a strait Line Westward to the Limit of Longitude above-mentioned together with all Powers Preheminences Iurisdictions necessary for the Government of the said Province as by the said Letters Patents reference being thereunto had doth more at large appear His Majesty doth therefore hereby publish and declare His Royal Will and Pleasure That all Persons settled or inhabited within the Limits of the said Province do yield all due Obedience to the said William Penn his Heirs and Assigns as Absolute Proprietors and Governors thereof As also to the Deputy or Deputies Agents or Lieutenants lawfully Commissioned by him or them according to the Powers and Authorities granted by the said Letters Patents Wherewith His Majesty Expects and Requires a ready Compliance from all Persons whom it may concern as they tender His Majesties Displeasure Given at our Court at White-hall the Second Day of April 1681. in the Three and thirtieth Year of Our Reign By His Majesties Command CONWAY The Description of the Province cannot better be given by any than by William Penn himself who sent the following Account from off the place in a Letter dated from Philadelphia Aug. 16. 1683. For this Province the general Condition of it take as followeth THE Country itself in its Soil Air Water Seasons and Product both Natural and Artificial is not to be despised The Land contains divers sorts of Earth as Sand yellow and black It s Soil poor and rich Also Gravel both loomy and dusty and in some places a fast fat Earth like to our best Vales in England especially by Inland-Brooks and Rivers God in his wisdom hath ordered it so that the Advantages of the Country are divided the Back-Lands being generally three to one richer than those that lye by Navigable Waters we have much of another Soil and that is a black Hasle-Mould upon a stony or rocky bottom The Air It s Air. is sweet and cleer the Heavens serene like the South-Parts of France rarely over-cast and as the Woods come by numbers of people to be more cleared that itself will refine The Waters Its Waters are generally good for the Rivers and Brooks have mostly gravel and stony bottoms and in number hardly credible We have also Mineral Waters that operate in the same manner with Barnet and North-hall not two Miles from Philadelphia For the Seasons of the Year having It s Climate by God's goodness now lived over the coldest and hottest that the oldest liver in the Province can remember I can say something to an English understanding First Of the Fall for then I came in I found it from the 24th of October to the beginning of December as we have it usually in September or rather like an English mild Spring From December to the beginning of the Month called March we had sharp frosty weather not foul thick black weather as our North-East Winds bring with them in England but a Sky as clear as in Summer and the Air dry cold piercing and hungry yet I remember not that I wore
is entertained amongst them that from four Women only all Mankind sprang They divide themselves into the like number of Tribes and have four Burying-places believing it to be a wicked and ominous thing to mingle their Bodies even when dead The Lords Proprietors do immediately grant to all persons that come thither to inhabit the following terms for each Master or Mistress of a Family fifty Acres of Land and for every able Son or Man-servant that they carry or cause to be carried thither fifty Acres more and the like for each Daughter and Woman-Servant that is marriageable and for every Child or Man or Woman-Servant under the Age of Sixteen forty Acres and fifty to each Servant so soon as their Time with their Master is expired which Land is to be enjoyed by them and their heirs for ever upon paying only one penny an Acre as a Quit-Rent to the Lords Proprietors which is not to commence neither till two years after their first taking up their Land And in regard some who have already setled themselves at Carolina and others that intend to go thither are desirous to secure to themselves large convenient Tracts of Land without being compelled to carry over a great number of Servants at one time or being cumbred with the payment of a yearly Rent the Lords Proprietors have been prevailed upon to enter into an agreement to sell Land outright to such who have a mind to buy it at the rate of fifty pounds for a thousand Acres reserving to themselves only a Pepper-corn when demanded The way of a man's taking up Land there Their way of taking up Land due to him either by carrying himself or Servants into the Countrey or by Purchase from the Lords Proprietors is after this manner Having found a place to his Liking which is not already possessed by another he applies himself to the Governor and the Proprietors Deputies to shew what Right he hath to it by Purchase or otherwise who thereupon immediately issue out their Warrant to the General Surveyor to measure them out a Plantation containing such a number of Acres as he hath proved to be his Right which being presently done the Surveyor makes a Certificate that he hath measured out the Land and determined the Bounds of it Whereupon a Deed is prepared and signed by the Governour and the Deputies which being sealed with the Proprietor's Seal and registred is there accounted a good Conveyance in Law the Estate being thereby assured and confirmed to him and his Heirs for ever For the improving whereof he ought to carry with him from England as many Axes Bills broad Hoes and grubbing-Hoes as he designs to have men in his Plantation together with a Saw or two a Set of Wedges Frames and Beetle-rings some reaping-hooks Scythes Hooks Hinges Bolts Locks and Nails of all sorts and if his Stock will reach it such Commodities as are the best Merchandize and will yield him ready Money there which are Linnen and Woollen Cloth and all other Stuffs to make Cloaths with together with Thred Silk Buttons Ribonds Hats Stockings Shoes and the like which go off there at very good rates and for which a man may purchase whatsoever Provision he hath need of Ships are generally going thither at all times of the Year and the Passage of a Man or Woman is generally five pounds The Commodities Commodities which this Countrey produceth for the Profit as well as the subsistence of the Inhabitants are several sorts of Wines five several sorts of Grapes growing naturally there and there is care taken to plant the Rhenish Canary Claret Muscat Madera and Spanish Grapes of all which are already Vineyards compleated and Wine made which proves very good both in colour and taste the Countrey having gentle rising Hills of a fertil sandy Earth proper for the production of Vines and further from the Sea several Gravel-Rocks whereon they naturally grow being indifferent large and luscious in taste so that several French Protestants that inhabit there doubt not but in a little time to produce great quantities of good Wine Oyl Olive which being carried thither from Portugal and Bermudas flourish and increase exceedingly and will in all probability produce as large quantities of Oyl that it will very much conduce to the enriching of the Inhabitants Cotton Indigo Silk Ginger Tobacco Flax Hemp Pitch Tar Jallop Sassaparilla Turmerick Sassafras Snake-root and the like There are in this Countrey several sorts of strange and monstrous Creatures Creatures for an English Gentleman travelling with some Indians they met with a Rattle-Snake two yards and a half long and as big as a mans Arm which by the greatness of its Belly they imagined to be big with young but having killed and opened her they found there only a small Squirrel which she had swallowed whole the Indians affirming that those Serpents use to lie under Trees upon which they see any Squirrels and fixing their Eyes stedfastly upon them the little Creature is so frighted thereby that he falls down and tumbles into the Jaws of his Enemy Travelling through a Wood a Deer seized by a wild Cat crossed their way almost spent with the Burden and Cruelty of his Rider who having fastned upon his Shoulder continued sucking his Blood till the poor Beast fell down under her which one of the Indians perceiving shot an Arrow at the wild Cat which wounding her under the Belly made her leave her Prey which was already slain and run towards them with a fierce and dreadful Look but her wound being mortal her strength and spirits failed before she reached them whereby they escaped her revenge which peradventure otherwise some of them might have felt This Creature is somewhat larger than a Fox of a kind of a reddish gray Colour and in figure every way like an ordinary Cat but exceeding fierce ravenous and so cunning that knowing the Deer upon which they chiefly prey to be two swift for them they lurk upon Branches of Trees and as the Deer walk and feed under them suddenly jump down upon their backs Their Fur is greatly esteemed and their Flesh though as rank as that of a Dog is eaten by the Indians They saw daily great Herds of Red and Fallow Deer Bears Leopards and Wolves but no Lions The Wolves were to exceeding ravenons that they were in great fear lest their Horses should have been devoured for in the night-time they got together in clusters and howled so near them that it was impossible to have saved them had not the Fires which they kept continually burning in the night-time terrified them and frighted them away The Woods were likewise full of Bears Otters and gray Foxes And arriving at length to the Appalatean Mountains which were so high and steep that they were a whole day before they could gain the Top from whence the next Morning they had a beautiful prospect of the Atlantick Ocean which washes the Virginian Shores but to the North and
West other Mountains prevented their sight and the exceeding Coldness prevented further Discovery and compelled them to a speedy return The same Gentleman at another time when he went to make what Discovery he could of the Countrey met with another sort of Indians who were Enemies to the Christians yet venturing amongst them and presenting them with some small Trifles of Glass and Metals found them very kind to him and would fain have obliged him to have setled amongst them by proposing a Match between him and their King's or some other Great Man's Daughter whom he should best fancy nor could he wave their Courtesie nor obtain leave to depart without a Promise of returning again within six Months And South-west from them he found a Nation differing in Government from all the other Indians that inhabit those Parts being rather Slaves than Subjects to their King who was a very grave Man and courteous to Strangers yet horrid barbarous in his Superstition that whilst this Gentleman was there he sent three Youths to kill as many young Women of their Enemies as they could meet withal to serve his Son who was then newly dead in the other World They were not long before they returned with Skins torn off the Head and Faces of several young Girls which they laid at the Feet of their King who received them as the most acceptable Presents CHARLES the Second by the Grace of God King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith c. Whereas by Our Letters Patents bearing date the Twenty Fourth Day of March in the Five and Twentieth Year of Our Reign We were graciously pleased to give unto our right Trusty and right Well-beloved Couzen and Counsellor Edward Earl of Clarendon Our High Chancellour of England Our right Trusty right entirely Beloved Couzen Counsellour George Duke of Albemarl Master of Our Horse Our right Trusty and Well-beloved William now Earl of Craven Our right Trusty and Well-beloved Councellour Anthony Lord Chancellour of our Exchequer Our right Trusty and Well-beloved Counsellour Sir George Carteret Knight and Baronet Vice-Chamberlain of Our Houshold Our right Trusty and Well-beloved Sir John Colleton Knight and Barronet and Sir William Berkley Knight all that Territory Province or Tract of Ground called Carolina situate lying and being within our Dominions of America extending from the North end of that Island called Luke-Island which lyeth in the Southern Virginia Seas within six and thirty deg of Northern Latitude and to the West as far as the River of St. Matthias which Bordereth upon the Coast of Florida and within one and thirty deg of Southern Latitude and so West in a direct Line as far as the South Seas aforesaid Now know ye that We at the humble Request of the said Grantees in the aforesaid Letters Patents named and as a farther mark of Our particular Favour towards them We are graciously pleased to enlarge Our said Grant unto them according to the Bounds and Limits hereafter specified and in Favour to the Pious and Noble purpose of the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. of Our especial Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion have Given Granted and Confirmed and by this Our present Charter for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Give Grant and Confirm unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns at that Province Territories or Tract of Land situate lying and being within Our Dominions of America aforesaid extending North and Eastward as far as the North end of Carah-Tuck River or Inlett upon a straight Westerly Line to Wianoacke Creek which lyeth within or about thirty six deg thirty min. of Northern Latitude and so West in a direct Line as far as the South-Seas and South and Westward as far as thirty nine deg inclusive Northern Latitude and so West in a direct Line as far as the South Seas together with all and singular Ports Harbours Bays Rivers and Islets belonging unto the Province and Territory aforesaid and also all the Soil Lands Fields Woods Mountains Fenns Lakes Rivers Bays Islets situated or being within the Bounds or Limits last before mentioned with the Fishing of all sorts of Fish Whales Sturgeons and all the Royal Fishes in the Seas Bays Islets and Rivers within the Premises and the Fish therein taken together the Royalty of the Sea upon the Coast within the Limits aforesaid And moreover all Veins Mines and Quarries as well discovered as not discovered of Gold Silver Gems and Precious Stones and all other whatsoever be it of Stones Marble or any other thing whatsoever found or to be found within the Province Territory Isles and Limits aforesaid And furthermore the Patronage and Advowsons of all the Churches and Chappels which as Christian Religion shall encrease within the Province Territory Isles Islets and Limits aforesaid shall happen hereaf-to be Erected together with Licence and Power to Build and Found Churches and Chappels and Oratories in convenient and fit places within the said Bounds and Limits and to cause them to be dedicated and consecrated according to the Ecclesiastical Laws of our Kingdom of England together with all and singular the like and as ample right Jurisdictions Priviledges Prerogatives Royalties Liberties Immunities and Franchises of what kind soever within the Territories Isles Islets and Limits aforesaid to have Use Exercise and enjoy the same as amply and fully and in as ample manner as any Bishop of Durham in our Kingdom of England ever heretofore had held used or enjoyed or of right ought or could have use or enjoy and them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns we do by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors make create and constitute the true and absolute Lords and Proprietors of the said Province or Territory and of all other the Premisses saving always the Faith Allegiance and Sovereign Dominions due to Us Our Heirs and Successors for the same to have hold possess and enjoy the said Province Territories Isles Islets and all and singular of them the Premisses unto them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns for ever to be holden of Us Our Heirs and Successors as of our Manor of Eastgreen within Our County of Kent in free and common Soccage and not in Capite nor by by Knight-Service yielding and paying a parly to Us Our Heirs and Successors for the same a fourth part of all Gold and Silver Oâ—r which within the Limits hereby granted shall from time to time happen to be found over and beside the yearly Rent of twenty Marks and the fourth part of the Gold and Silver Oar in and by the said recited Letter Patents reserved and payable And that the Province or Territory hereby granted and described may be dignified with as large Titles and Priviledges as any other Part of our Dominions and Territories in that Region Know ye that We of our further Grace certain Knowledge and meer
Motion have thought fit to annex the same Tract Ground and Territory unto the said Province of Carolina and out of the fulness of our Royal Power and Prerogative so do for Us Our Heirs and Successors annex and unite the same to the said Province of Carolina And for as much as we have made and ordained the aforesaid Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns the ame Lords Proprietors of all the Province or Territory aforesaid Know ye therefore moreover that We reposing especial Trust and Confidence in their Fidelity Wisdom Justice Prudence and Circumspection for Us Our Heirs and Successors Do Grant full and absolute Power by virtue of these Presents to them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon and their Heirs and Assigns for the good and happy Government of the said whole Province or Territory full Power and Authority to Erect and make several Counties Baronies and Colonies of and within the said Province Territories Lands and Hereditaments in and by the said Rented Letters Patents and these Presents Granted or mentioned to be Granted as aforesaid with several and distinct Jurisdictions Powers Liberties and Priviledges and also to make ordain and enact and under their Seals to publish any Laws and Constitutions whatsoever either appertaining to the Publick State of the said whole Province or Territory or of any distinct or particular County Barony or Colony of or within the same or to the private Utility of particular Persons according to their best direction by and with the Advice Assent and Approbation of the Free-men of the said Province or Territory or of the Free-men of the County Barony or Colony for which such Laws or Constitutions shall be made or of the greater part of them or of their Diligates or Deputies whom for enacting of the said Laws when and as often as need shall require We will that the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. and their Heirs or Assigns shall from time to time Assemble in such manner and form as to them shall seem best and the same Laws duly to execute upon all Persons within the said Province Territory County Barony or Colony or the Limits thereof for the time being or which shall be constituted under the Power and Government of them or any of them either sayling towards the said Province or Territory of Carolina or returning from thence towards England or any other of our Foreign Dominions by Imposition of Penalty Imprisonment or any other Punishment yet if it shall be needful and the quality of the offence require it by taking away Member and Life either by them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. and theirs by them or their Deputies Lieutenants Judges Justices Magistrates Officers and Ministers to be ordained and appointed according to the Tenor and true Intention of them Presents and likewise to Erect or make any Court or Courts whatsoever of Judicature or otherwise as shall be requisite and to appoint or establish any Judges Justices Magistrates or Officers whatsoever as well within the said Province as at Sea in such manner and form as unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendom c. or their Heirs shall seem most convenient also to remit release pardon and abolish whether before Judgement and after all crimes and offences whatsoever against the said Laws and to do all and every other thing things which unto the compleat establisment of Justice unto Courts Sessions and forms of Judication and manner of proceedings therein do belong although in these Presents express mention is not made thereof and by Judges by him or them deligated to award press hold please and determine in all the said Courts Places of Judicature all Actions Suits and Causes whatsoever as well Criminal as Civil Real Mixt Personal or any other kind or nature whatsoever which Laws so as aforesaid to be published Our Pleasure is and we do enjoyn require and Command shall be absolute firm and available in Law and that all the liege People of Us Our Heirs or Successors within the said Province or Territory do observe and keep the same inviolably in those Parts so far as they concern them under the Patents or Penalties therein expressed or to be expressed provided nevertheless that the said Laws be consonant to Reason and as near as may be conveniently agreeable to the Laws and Customs of this our Kingdom of England and because such Assemblies of Freeholders cannot be so suddenly called as there may be occasion to require the same We do therefore by these Presents Give and Grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns by themselves and their Magistrates in that behalf lawfully authorized full power and authority from time to time to make and ordain fit and wholsom Orders and Ordinances within the Province or Territory aforesaid or any County Barony or Province of or within the same to be kept and observed as well for the keeping of the Peace as for the better Government of the People there abiding and to publish the same to all whom it may concern which Ordinances we do by these Presents streightly Charge and Command to be inviolably observed within the same Province Territory Counties Baronies and Provinces under the Penalty therein expressed so as such Ordinances reasonable and not repugnant and contrary but as near as may be agreeable to the Laws and Statutes of this our Kingdom of England and so as the same Ordinances do not extend to the bringing charging or the taking away of the Right of any Person or Persons in their Free-hold Goods or Chattels whatsoever and to the end the said Provinces or Territories may be the more happily encreased by the multude of People resorting thither and likewise be the more strongly defended from the Incursion of Savages and other Enemies Pirates and Robbers therefore We for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Give and Grant by these Presents Power Licence and Liberty to all the Leige People for Us Our Heirs and Successors in Our Kingdom of England or elsewhere within any other Our Dominions Islands Colonies or Plantations excepting those who shall be expresly forbidden to Transport themselves and Families into the said Province or Territory with convenient Shipping and fitting Provision and there to settle themselves to dwell and inhabit any Law Act Statute Ordinance or any thing to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And We do also of Our more special Grace for Us Our Heirs and Successors streightly Enjoyn Ordain Constitute and Command that the said Province or Territory shall be of our Allegiance and that all and singular the Subjects and Liege People of Us Our Heirs or Successors Transported or to be Transportcd into the said Province and the Children of them or such as shall descend from them there born or hereafter to be born be and shall be Denizens and Lieges of Us Our Heirs and Successors of this Our Kingdom of England and be in all things held
these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors do Grant and Confirm unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full and absolute Licence Power and Authority that they the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns from time to time hereafter for ever at his and their Will and Pleasure may Alien Grant Demise or Enfeoff the Premises or any part or parcel thereof to him or them that shall be willing to Purchase the same and to such Person or Persons as they shall think fit To have and to hold to them the said Person or Persons their Heirs of Assigns in the Fee-simple or Fee-tail or for term of Life or Lives or Years to be held of them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns and not immediately of Us Our Heirs and Successors And to the same Person or Persons and to all and every of them We do Give and Grant by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors Licence and Authority and Power that such Person or Persons may have and take the Premises or any parcel thereof of the said Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns and the same to hold to themselves their Heirs or Assigns in what estate of Inheritance soever in Fee-simple or in Fee-tail or otherwise as to them and the said Earl of Clarendon their Heirs and Assigns shall seem expedient The Statute of the Parliament of Edward Son of King Henry heretofore King of England Our Predecessor commonly called the Statute of Quia Emptores Terrarum or any other Statutes Act Ordinance Use Law Customs or any other Matter Cause or Thing heretofore Published or Provided to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding and because many Persons born or Inhabiting in the said Province for their Deserts and Services may expect to be capable of marks of Honour and Favour which in respect of the great distance cannot be conferred by Us Our Will and Pleasure therefore is and We do by these Presents Give and Grant unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full Power and Authority to give and confer unto and upon such of the Inhabitants of the said Province or Territory as they shall think do or shall merit the same such Marks of Favour and Titles of Honour as they shall think fit so as those Titles of Honour be not the same as are enjoyed by and conferred upon any of the Subjects of this Our Kingdom of England And further also We do by these Presents for Us Our Heirs and Successors Give and Grant by these to them the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full Power Liberty and Licence to Erect Raise and Build within the said Province and Places aforesaid or any other part or parts thereof such and so many Forts Fortresses Castles Cities Boroughs Towns Villages and other Fortifications whatsoever and the same or any of them to fortifie and furnish with Ordnance Powder Shot and Arms and all other Weapons Ammunition and Habiliments of War offensive and defensive as shall be thought fit and convenient for the welfare and safety of the said Province or places of any parts thereof and the same or any of them from time to time as occasion shall require dismantle disfurnish demolish and put down and also to place constitute and appoint in or over all or any of the said Castles Forts Fortifications Cities Towns or Places aforesaid Governours Deputy-Governours Magistrates Sheriffs and other Officers Civil and Military as to them shall seem meet and to the said Cities Towns Boroughs Villages or any other place or places within the said Province or Territory to grant Letters or Charters of Incorporation with all Liberties Franchises and Priviledges requisite and usual or to be within any Corporation within this Our King of England granted or belonging And in the same Cities Boroughs Towns and other places to constitute erect and appoint such and so many Markets Marts and Fairs as shall in that behalf be thought fit and necessary And further also to make and erect in the Province or Territory aforesaid or any parts thereof so many Mannors with such Seignories as to them shall seem meet and convenient and every of the said Mannors to hold and to have a Court-Baron with all things whatsoever which to a Court-Baron doth belong and to have and to hold Views of Frank-pledge and Courts-Leet for the conservation of the peace and better government of those Parts with such Limits Jurisdictions Precincts as by the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c or their Heirs shall be appointed for that purpose with all things whatsoever which to a Court-Leet or a View of Frank-pledge belong the same Courts to be holden by Stewards to be deputed and authorized by the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. or their Heirs or by the Lords other Mannors and Leets for the time being when the same shall be erected and because that in so remote a Country and situate among so many Barbarous Nations the Invasion as well of Savages as other Enemies Pirates and Robbers may probably be seared Therefore we have as for Us our Heirs and Successours given power by these presents unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns by themselves or their Captains or other Officers to Levy Muster and Train all sorts of Men of what condition soever born whether in the said Province or elsewhere for the time being and to make War and to pursue the Enemies aforesaid as well by Sea as by Land yea even without the Limits of the said Province and by God's assistance to vanquish and take them and being taken to put them to death by the Laws of War and to save them at their pleasure and to do all and every thing which to the Charge and Office of a Captain-General of any Army belongs or hath accustomed to belong as fully and freely as any Captain-General of an Army hath ever had the same Also Our Will and Pleasure is and by this Our Charter We do give unto the said Edward Earl of Clarendon c. their Heirs and Assigns full Power and Authority in cause of Rebellion Tumults or Sedition if any should happen which God forbid either upon the Land within in the Province aforesaid or upon the main Sea in making a Voyage thither or returning from thence by him and themselves their Captains Deputies or Officers to be authorized under his or their Seals for that purpose to whom also for Us Our Heirs and Successours We do give and grant by these presents full power and authority to exercise Martial Laws against mutinous and seditious persons of these parts such as shall refuse to submit themselves to their Government or shall refuse to serve in the Wars or shall flie to the Enemy or shall forsake their Colours or Ensigns to be loyterers or straglers otherwise howsoever offending
thousand and five hundred Pounds sterling for Ten Months Moreover this Ship of Three hundred Tun seldom carries less than Forty Pieces of Ordnance which with their Provisions c. by modest computation takes up no less room than One hundred and fifty Tun so that the Ship in all probability cannot bring home more than One hundred and fifty Tun of Merchants Goods and the Freight of these Goods comes to Forty Pounds sterling a Tun to pay Ware and Tare of the Ship and Mens Wages so that for the Ship 's Ware and Tare it comes barely but to One hundred and fifty Pounds sterling clear Now admit an English Ship of Three hundred Tun be bound for Jamaica and suppose the Freight of this Ship be at Six Pounds sterling per Tun this Ship shall make her Voyage better in Eight Months time than the Spaniard shall in Ten Months now the Freight of the English Ship comes to One thousand eight hundred Pounds sterling and the Wages and Victuals of the said Ship at Sixty Pounds per Month comes to Four hundred and eighty Pounds sterling so that you see the Ship clears for her Ware and Tare the sum of One thousand three hundred and twenty Pounds sterling See here therefore the great difference The fourth and last reason is this The King of Spain contracts with a body of Merchants to furnish the West-Indies with Four thousand Negroes every Year and the Nigrilloes or Merchants there engage to pay the King one hundred Pieces of Eight Custom for each Negro-slave brought unto them which comes to Four hundred thousand Pieces of Eight by the Year which is paid to the said King the King therefore prohibits all Merchants and others for bringing Negroes to the West-Indies and each Piece of Eight is valued at Five Shillings sterling in Barbadoes but in the Leeward Islands it goes for six The Proposals lately made by Captain John Poyntz for Himself and Company to all such People as are minded to Transport or Concern themselves in the Island of Tobago WHereas his late Majesty Charles the Second King of Great Britain hath given and granted unto James Duke of Courland his Heirs and Successours the said Island of Tobago on condition that none shall inhabit the said Island save only the Subject of the King of England and the Duke of Courland their Heirs and Successours on the said condition I have contracted with the said Duke that my self and Company settle One hundred and twenty thousand Acres of Land in the said Island and to have several great and large Priviledges some of which are here inserted viz. Imprimis That one hundred and twenty thousand Acres of Land in the said Island of Tobago is given and granted to my self and Company and our Heirs for ever and seven Years to be free from the payment of any Rent and after the expiration of seven Years each for himself is to pay Two-pence per Acre every Year to the Duke his lawful Heirs and Successours Secondly That my self and Company and all the Inhabitantâ— shall enjoy Liberty of Conscience without interruption Roman-Catholicks only excepted Thirdly That my self and Company c. are to be governed by a Governour Deputy-Governour and Assembly to be yearly chosen by the majority of Freeholders Votes of the People in the Island to make good and wholsom Laws for the good Government and Defence of the said Island and all Controversies in the Promises to be decided by the majority of Voices Note These are but Breviates and part of the Heads of the Grant from the Duke of Courland and ratified to my self and Company whereby we hold and enjoy our Land for that end I do refer all People to the Grant as more at large as also them that have been on the skirt or body of the said Island to confirm the truth of what is before spoken of the Products of the said Island Proposals for further Encouragement First THose that are desirous to concern themselves in the said Island shall and may have as much Land as they themselves please either by Lease or Purchase only they are to put upon every Fifteen Acres of Land one White Man and so in proportion to the rest and this to be done in three Years time Secondly All Persons that are desirous to transport themselves to the said Island in the quality of Servants shall have better Encouragement from my self and Company than has been yet propounded by any of his Majesties Subjects in any Settlement in the American Plantations Thirdly And for a further encouragement all those Persons and Planters that are any way concerned in the Premises shall have Credit given unto them from Crop to Crop as the Factory is stored for what they shll stand in need of for which the said Company will erect a Bank or Factory of Credit in the said Island the Debtor allowing only two and a half per Cent. Fourthly All Merchants and others that shall import any Negroes or other Merchandize into the said Island shall have their Goods and Debts insured and disposed of for two and a half per Cent. with Factoâ—age Storage Wharfage c. and exported again for two and a half per Cent. more And all Tradesmen and others that contract any Debts against themselves shall have Credit given them out of the Bank or Factory from Crop to Crop for two and a half per Cent. And the Proprietors to engage their whole Interest for the true performance of the foresaid Premises Fifthly All Merchants and others that have Goods fit to accommodate the said Island and have not ready Money to purchase Land nor to pay for their own or servants Passage such may Barter with Goods in lieu of Money Always this implies only such Persons as Contract with the Proprietors or some of them before the first Shipping departs out of the River of Thames to Ship off as above their proportion of Goods or People as is already sufficiently above expressed FINIS ASTRONOMICAL TABLES SHEWING The Rising and Setting of the Sun with the Length of the Days and Nights in all the Principal English Plantations in the West-Indies ALSO Tables of the New and Full Moons in every Month from the Year 1686 to 1700 in the Meridian of London and from thence referred to the Meridians of the Principal Plantations abovesaid The which Tables will serve as a constant Diary or Calendar for the Use of the English Inhabitants in those Ilands ALSO A Table by which at any Time of the Day or Night here in England you may know what Hoar it is in any of those Islands AND How to make Sun-Dials fitting for all those Remote Parts A Table shewing the Prime or Golden Number the Dominical or Sunday Letter and the Moveable Feasts from the Year 1686 to the Year 1700. Years of our Lord. Pr. or Go. Nu. Dom. or Sun Let. Shrove Sunday Easter Day Ascension Day Whit-Sunday Advent Sunday 1686 15 C Feb. 14 Apr. 4 May 13 May