Land lying between the said Territories of Nova Scotia and the said Province of Main be Erected united and Incorporated The Massachusetts Plymouth and the Province of Main Nova Scotia united and made one Province And we do by these presents unite Erect and Incorporate the same into one Real Province by the Name of Our Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England and of our Especial Grace certain knowledge and meer motion we have given and granted and by these presents for Us our Heirs and Successors do give and grant unto our good Subjects the Inhabitants of our said Province or Territory of the Massachusetts Bay and their Successors all that part of New England in America lying and extending from the great River commonly called Monomack alias Merimaok on the North part and from three miles Northward of the said River to the Atlantick or Western Sea or Ocean on the South part and all the Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the Limits aforesaid The Extent and Bounds of that Province and Extending as far as the outermost points or Promontories of Land called Cape-Cod and Cape Mallabar North and south and in Latitude breadth and in length and Longitude of and within all the breadth and Compass aforesaid throughout the main Land there from the said Atlantick or Western Sea and Ocean on the East part towards the South Sea or Westward as lar as our Colonies of Rhode Island Connecticot and the Narragansett Countrey And also all that part and portion of main Land beginning at the entrance of Pisteraway Harbour and so to pass up the same into the River of Newickwannock and through the same into the furthest head thereof and from thence Northwestward till one hundred and twenty miles be finished and from Piscataway Harbour mouth aforesaid Northeastward along the Sea Coast to Sagadahock and from the period of one hundred and twenty miles aforesaid to cross over land to the one hundred and twenty miles before reckoned up into the land from Piscataway Harbour through Newickwannock River and also the North-half of the Isles of Shoals together with the Isles of Capawock and Nantuckett near Cape Cod aforesaid and also the Lands and Hereditaments lying and being in the Countrey or Territory commonly called Accada or Nova Scotia and all those Lands and Hereditaments lying and extending between the said Countrey or Territory of Nova Scotia and the said River of Sagadabock or any part thereof and all Lands Grounds Places Soyls Woods and Wood-grounds Havens Ports Rivers Waters and other Hereditaments and Premises whatsoever lying within the said Bounds and Limits aforesaid and every part and parcel thereof And also all Islands and Islets lying within Ten Leagues directly opposite to the Main Land within the said Bounds All Mines Minerals granted to the Inhabitants their Successors And all Mines and Minerals as well Royal Mines of Gold and Silver as other Mines and Minerals whatsoever in the said Lands and Premises or any part thereof To have and to hold the said Territories Tracts Countreys Lands Hereditaments and all and singular other the Premises with their and every of their Appurtenances to our said Subjects the Inhabitants of our said Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England and their Successors to their only proper Use and Behoof for evermore To be bolden of Us our Heirs and Successors as of our Mannor of East-Greenwich in the County of Kent by Fealty only in free and common Sockage Yielding and paying therefore yearly to Us our Heirs and Successors the Fifth part of all Gold and Silver Oar and Precious Stones which shall from time to time and at all times hereafter happen to be found gotten had and obtained in any of the said Lands and Premises or within any part thereof Provided nevertheless and we do for Us our Heirs and Successors grant and ordain All Lands Hereditaments c. formerly granted to any Town Colledge or School of Learning confirm'd that all and every such Lands Tenements and Hereditaments and all other Estates which any Person or Persons or Bodies Politick or Corporate Towns Villages Colledges or Schools do hold and enjoy or ought to hold and enjoy within the Bounds aforesaid by or under any Grant or Estate duely made or granted by any General Court formerly held or by virtue of the Letters Patents herein before recited or by any other Lawful Right or Title whatsoever shall be by such Person and Persons Bodies Politick and Corporate Towns Villages Colledges or Schools their respective Heirs Successors and Assigns for ever hereafter held and enjoyed according to the purport and intent of such respective Grant under and subject nevertheless to the Rents and Services thereby reserved or made payable any matter or thing whatsoever to the contrary notwithstanding And provided also That nothing herein contained shall extend or be understood or taken to impeach or prejudice any Right Title Interest or Demand which Samuel Allen of London Merchant claiming from and under John Mason Esq deceased or any other Person or Persons hath or have or claimeth to have hold or enjoy of into or out of any part or parts of the Premises scituate within the Limits above mentioned But that the said Samuel Allen and all and every such person and persons may and shall have hold and enjoy the same in such manner and no other than as if these Presents had not been had or made It being our further Will and Pleasure That no Grants or Conveyances of any Lands Tenements or Hereditament to any Towns Colledges Schools of Learning or to any private Person or Persons shall be judged or taken to be avoided or prejudiced for or by reason of any want or defect of Form but that the same stand and remain in force and be maintained and adjudged and have effect in the same manner as the same should or ought before the time of the said recited Judgment according to the Laws and Rules then and there usually practised and allowed The Governours Council to Consist of 28 Assistants And we do further for Us our Heirs and Successors Will Establish and Ordain That from henceforth for ever there shall be One Governour One Lieutenant or Deputy Governour and one Secretary of our said Province or Territory to be from time to time appointed and commissionated by Us our Heirs and Successors and Eight and twenty Assistants or Councellors to be advising and assisting to the Governour of our said Province or Territory for the time being as by these Presents is hereafter directed and appointed Which said Councellors or Assistants are to be constituted elected and chosen in such form and manner as hereafter in these Presents is expressed The Names of the first Assistants And for the better Execution of our Royal Pleasure and Grant in this behalf We do by these Presents for Us our Heirs and Successors nominate ordain make and constitute our Trusty and Well-beloved Simon
THE CHARTER Granted by Their Majesties King WILLIAM AND Queen MARY To the INHABITANTS Of the PROVINCE OF THE Massachusetts-Bay IN New-England BOSTON in NEW-ENGLAND Printed by Bartholomew Green and John Allen Printers to His Excellency the GOVERNOUR COUNCIL for and Sold by Michael Perry and Benjamin Eliot 1699. The CHARTER granted by Their Majesties King William and Queen Mary c. WILLIAM and MARY by the Grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King and Queen Defenders of the Faith c. To all to whom these Presents shall come Greeting Whereas his late Majesty King James the First Our Royal Predecessor by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England bearing Date at Westminster the Third day of November in the Eighteenth Year of his Reign did give and grant unto the Council Established at Plymouth in the County of Devon for the Planting Ruling Ordering and Governing of New-England in America and to their Successors and Assigns all that part of America lying and being in breadth from forty Degrees of Northerly Latitude from the Equinoctial Line to the forty eighth Degree of the said Northerly Latitude inclusively and in length of and within all the Breadth aforesaid throughout all the main Lands from Sea to Sea together also with all the firm Lands Soils Grounds Havens Ports Rivers Waters Fishings Mines and Minerals as well Royal Mines of Gold and Silver as other Mines and Minerals Precious Stones Quarries and all and singular other Commodities Jurisdictions Royalties Priviledges Franchises and Preheminences both within the said Tract of Land upon the Main and also within the Islands and Seas adjoyning Provided always that the said Lands Islands or any the Premises by the said Letters Patents intended and meant to be granted were not then actually possessed or inhabited by any other Christian Prince or State or within the Bounds Limits or Territories of the Southern Colony then before granted by the said late King James the first to be planted by divers of his Subjects in the South parts To have and to hold possess and enjoy all and singular the aforesaid Continent Lands Territories Islands Hereditaments and Precincts Seas Waters Fishings withall and all manner of their Commodities Royalties Liberties Preheminencies and Profits that should from thenceforth arise from thence with all and singular their Appurtenances and every part and parcel thereof unto the said Council and their Successors and Assigns for ever to the sole and proper Use and Benefit of the said Council and their Successors and Assigns for ever To be holden of his said late Majesty King James the first his Heirs and Successors as of his Mannor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent in free and Common Sockage and not in Capite nor by Knights Service Yielding and Paying therefore to the said late King his Heirs and Successors the fifth part of the Oar of Gold and Silver which should from time to time and at all times then after happen to be found gotten had and obtained in at or within any of the said Lands Limits Territories or Precincts or in or within any part or parcel thereof for or in respect of all and all manner of Duties Demands and Services whatsoever to be done made or paid to the said late King James the first his Heirs and Successors as in and by the said Letters Patents amongst sundry other Clauses Powers Priviledges and Grants therein contained more at large appeareth and whereas the said Council Established at Plymouth in the County of Devon for the Planting Ruling Ordering and Governing of New England in America did by their Deed indented under their Common Seal bearing date the Nineteenth Day of March in the Third Year of the Reign of Our Royal Grandfather King Charles the First of ever Blessed Memory Give Grant Bargain Sell Infeoff Alien and Confirm to Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young Knights Thomas Southcott John Humphreys John Endicott and Symond Whetcombe their Heirs and Assigns and their Associates for ever all that part of New-England in America aforesaid which lyes and extends between a great River there commonly called Monomack alias Merimack and a certain other River there called Charles River being in a bottom of a certain Bay there commonly called Massachusets alias Mattachusetts alias Massatusetts Bay and also all and singular those Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the space of three English Miles on the South part of the said Charles River or of any and every Part thereof and also all and singular the Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever lying and being within the space of three English Miles to the Southward of the southermost part of the said Bay called Massachusets alias Mattachusetts alias Massatusets-Bay and also all those Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever which lye and be within the space of three English Miles to the Northward of the said River called Monomack alias Merimack or to the Northward of any and every part thereof and all Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the Limits aforesaid North and South in Latitude and in Breadth and in Length and Longitude of and within all the breadth aforesaid throughout the Main Lands there from the Atlantick and Western Sea and Ocean on the East part to the South Sea on the West part and all Lands and Grounds Place and Places Soil Woods and Wood grounds Havens Ports Rivers Waters Fishings and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the said bounds and limits and every part and parcel thereof and also all Islands lying in America aforesaid in the said Seas or either of them on the Western or Eastern Coasts or parts of the said Tracts of Land by the said Indenture mentioned to be given and granted bargained sold enfeoffed alien'd and confirmed or any of them and also all Mines and Minerals as well Royal Mines of Gold and Silver as other Mines and Minerals whatsoever in the said Lands and Premises or any part thereof and all Jurisdictions Rights Royalties Liberties Freedoms Immunities Priviledges Franchises Preheminencies and Commodities whatsoever which they the said Council Established at Plymouth in the County of Devon for the Planning Ruling Ordering and Governing of New-England in America then had or might use exercise or enjoy in or within the said Lands or Premises by the same Indenture mentioned to be given granted bargained sold enfeoffed and confirmed in or within any part or parcel thereof To have and to hold the said part of New-England in America which lyes and extends and is abutted as aforesaid and every part and parcel thereof and all the said Islands Rivers Ports Havens Waters Fishings Mines Minerals Jurisdictions Franchises Royalties Liberties Priviledges Commodities Hereditaments and Premises whatsoever with the Appurtenances unto the said Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young Thomas Southcott John Humphreys John Endicott and Simond Whetcombe their Heirs and Assigns and their Associates for ever to the only proper and absolute use and behoof of the said Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young
Thomas Southcott John Humphreys John Endicott and Symond Whetcombe their Heirs and Assigns and their Associates for evermore To be holden of our said Royal Grandfather King Charles the First his Heirs and Successors as of his Mannor of East-Greenwich in the County of Kent in free and common Sockage and not in Capite nor by Knights Service yielding and paying therefore unto our said Royal Grandfather his Heirs and Successors the fifth part of the Oar of Gold and Silver which should from time to time and at all times hereafter happen to be found gotten had and obtained in any of the said Lands within the said Limits or in or within any part thereof for and in satisfaction of all manner of Duties Demands and Services whatsoever to be done made or paid to Our said Royal Grandfather his Heirs or Successors as in and by the said recited Indenture may more at large appear And Whereas Our said Royal Grandfather in and by his Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England bearing date at Westminster the fourth day of March in the fourth Year of his Reign for the Consideration therein mentioned did grant and confirm unto the said Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young Thomas Southcott John Humphreys John Endicott and Symond Whetcombe and to their Associates after named viz Siâ— Ralph Saltenstall Knight Isaac Johnson Samuel Aldersey John Ven Matthew Craddock George Harwood Increase Nowell Richard Perry Richard Bellingham Nathanael Wright Samuel Vassall Theophilus Eaton Thomas Golfe Thomas Adams John Brown Samuel Brown Thomas Hutchins William Vassall William Pincheon and George Foxcroft their Heirs and Assigns all the said part of New-England in America lying and extending between the Bounds and Limits in the said Indenture expressed and all Lands and Grounds Place and Places Soils Woods and Wood grounds Havens Ports Rivers Waters Mines Minerals Jurisdictions Rights Royalties Liberties Freedoms Immunities Priviledges Franchises Preheminencies and Hereditaments whatsoever bargained sold enfeoffed and confirmed or mentioned or intended to be given granted bargained sold enfeoffed aliened and confirmed to them the said Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young Thomas Southcott John Humphreys John Endicott and Symond Whetcombe their Heirs and Assigns and to their Associates for ever by the said recited Indenture To have and to hold the said part of New England in America and other the Premises thereby mentioned to be granted and confirmed and every part and parcel thereof with the appurtenances to the said Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young Sir Richard Saltenstall Thomas Southcott John Humphrys John Endicott Symond Whetcombe Isaac Johnson Samuel Aldersey John Ven Matthew Craddock George Harwood Increase Nowell Richard Perry Richard Bellingham Nathaniel Wright Samuel Vassal Theophilus Eaton Thomas Golfe Thomas Adams John Brown Samuel Brown Thomas Hutchins William Vassall William Pincheon and George Foxcroft their Heirs and Assigns for ever to their only proper and absolute use and behoof for evermore To be holden of our said Royal Grandfather his Heirs and Successors as of his Mannor of East-Greenwich aforesaid in free and common Sockage and not in Capite nor by Knights Service and also yielding and paying therefore to Our said Royal Grandfather his Heirs and Successors the fifth part only of all the Oar of Gold and Silver which from time to time and at all times after should be there gotten had or obtained for all Services Exactions and Demands whatsoever according to the Tenor and Reservation in the said recited Indenture expressed And further Our said Royal Grandfather by the said Letters Patents did give and grant unto the said Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young Sir Richard Saltenstall Thomas Southcott John Humphreys John Endicott Symond Whetcomb Isaac Johnson Samuel Aldersey John Ven Matthew Craddock George Harwood Increase Nowell Richard Perry Richard Bellingham Nathanael Wright Samuel Vassall William Pincheon and George Foxcroft their Heirs and Assigns all that said part of New England in America which lyes and extends between a great River there commonly called Monomack alias Merimack River and a certain other River there called Charles River being in the bottom of a certain Bay there commonly called Massachusets alias Mattachusetts alias Massatusetts Bay and also all and singular those Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the space of three English Miles on the South part of the said River called Charles River or of any or every part thereof and also all and singular the Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever lying and being within the space of three English Miles to the Southward of the southermost part of the said Bay called Massachusets alias Mattachusetts alias Massatusets Bay and also all those Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever which lye and be within the space of three English Miles to the Northward of the said River called Monomack alias Merimack or to the Northward of any and every part thereof and all Lands and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the Limits aforesaid North and South in Latitude and in Breadth and in Length and Longitude of and within all the breadth aforesaid throughout the Main Lands there from the Atlantick or Western Sea and Ocean on the East part to the South Sea on the West part and all Lands Grounds Place and Places Soils Woods and Wood-lands Havens Ports Rivers Waters and Hereditaments whatsoever lying within the said Bounds and Limits and every part and parcel thereof and also all Islands in America aforesaid in the said Seas or either of them on the Western or Eastern Coasts or Parts of the said Tracts of Lands thereby mentioned to be given and granted or any of them and all Mines and Minerals as well Royal Mines of Gold and Silver as other Mines and Minerals whatsoever in the said Lands and Premises or any part thereof and free Liberty of Fishing in or within any of the Rivers or Waters within the bounds and limits aforesaid and the Seas thereunto adjoyning and all Fishes Royal Fishes Whales Balene Sturgeon and other Fishes of what kind or Nature soever that should at any time thereafter be taken in or within the said Seas or Waters or any of them by the said Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young Sir Richard Saltenstall Thomas Southcott John Humphreys John Endicott Symond Whetcombe Isaac Johnson Samuel Aldersey John Ven Matthew Craddock George Harwood Increase Nowell Richard Perry Richard Bellingham Nathaniel Wright Samuel Vassall Theophilus Eaton Thomas Golfe Thomas Adams John Brown Samuel Brown Thomas Hutchins William Vassall William Pincheon and George Foxcroft their Heirs or Assigns or by any other Person or Persons whatsoever there inhabiting by them or any of them to be appointed to Fish therein Provided always that if the said Lands Islands or any the Premises before mentioned and by the said Letters Patents last mentioned intended and meant to be granted were at the time of the granting of the said former Letters Patents Dated the third day of November in the Eighteenth Year of the Reign of his late Majesty King James the First
actually possessed or inhabited by any other Christian Prince or State or were within the Bounds Limits or Territories of the said Southern Colony then before granted by the said King to be Planted by divers of his loving Subjects in the South parts of America That then the said Grant of our said Royal Grandfather should not extend to any such parts or parcels thereof so formerly inhabited or lying within the bounds of the Southern Plantation as aforesaid But as to those Parts or Parcels so possessed or inhabited by any such Christian Prince or State or being within the boundaries aforesaid should be utterly void To have and to hold possess and enjoy the said parts of New England in America which lye extend and are abutted as aforesaid and every part and parcel thereof and all the Islands Rivers Ports Havens Waters Fishings Fishes Mines Minerals Jurisdictions Franchises Royalties Liberties Priviledges Commodities and Premises whatsoever with the Appurtenances unto the said Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young Sir Richard Saltenstall Thomas Southcott John Humphreys John Endicott Symond Whetcombe Isaac Johnson Samuel Aldersey John Ven Matthew Craddock George Harwood Increase Nowell Richard Perry Richard Bellingham Nathaniel Wright Samuel Vassall Theophilus Eaton Thomas Golfe Thomas Adams John Brown Samuel Brown Thomas Hutchins William Vassall William Pincheon and George Foxcroft their Heirs and Assigns for ever To the only proper and absolute use and behoof of the said Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young Sir Richard Saltenstall Thomas Southcott John Humphreys John Endicott Symond Whetcombe Isaac Johnson Samuel Aldersey John Ven Matthew Craddock George Harwood Increase Nowell Richard Perry Richard Bellingham Nathaniel Wright Samuel Vassall Theophilus Eaton Thomas Golfe Thomas Adams John Brown Samuel Brown Thomas Hutchins William Vassall William Pencheon and George Foxcroft their Heirs and Assigns for evermore To be holden of Our said Royal Grandfather his Heirs and Successors as of his Mannor of East Greenwich in the County of Kent within the Realm of England in free and common Sockage and not in Capite nor by Knights Service And also yielding and paying therefore to Our said Royal Grandfather his Heirs and Successors the fifth part only of all the Oar of Gold and Silver which from time to time and at all times hereafter should be gotten had or obtained for all Services Exactions and Demands whatsoever Provided always and his Majesties express Will and meaning was that only one fifth part of all the Gold and Silver Oar above mentioned in the whole and no more should be answered reserved or payable unto our said Royal Grandfather his Heirs and Successors by Colour or Vertue of the said last mentioned Letters Patents the double Reservations or Recitals aforesaid any thing therein contained notwithstanding And to the end that the Affairs and Business which from time to time should happen and arise concerning the said Lands and the Plantations of the same might be the better Managed and Ordered and for the good Government thereof our said Royal Grandfather King Charles the First did by his said Letters Patents Create and make the said Sir Henry Roswell Sir John Young Sir Richard Saltenstal Thomas Southcott John Humphreys John Endicott Symond Whetcombe Isaac Johnson Samuel Aldersey John Ven Matthew Craddock George Harwood Increase Nowell Richard Peâ—ry Richard Bellingham Nathanael Wright Samuel Vassall and Theophilus Eaton Thomas Golfe Thomas Adams John Brown Samuel Brown Thomas Hutches William Vassall William Pincheon and George Foxcroft and all such others as should thereafter be admitted and made free of the Company and Society therein after mentioned one Body Corporate and Politique in Fact and Name by the Name of the Governour and Company of the Massachusetts-Bay in New England and did grant unto them and their Successors divers Powers Liberties and Priviledges as in and by the â—aid Letters Patents may more fully and at large appear And Whereas the said Governour and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New England by Vertue of the aid Letters Patents did settle a Colony of the English in the said parts of America and divers good Subjects of this Kingdom incouraged and invited by the said Letters Patents did Transport themselves and their Effects into the same whereby the said Plantation did become very populous and divers Counties Towns and Places were Created Erected made and set forth or designed within the said parts of America by the said Governour and Company for the time being The first Charter vacated by a Judgment in Chancery Anno 1684. And Whereas in the Term of the Holy Trinity in the thirty sixth Year of the Reign of our Dearest Unkle King Charles the Second a Judgment was given in Our Court of Chancery then sitting at Westminster upon a Writ of Scire facias brought and prosecuted in the said Court against the Governour and Company of the Massachusetts-Bay in New-England that the said Letters Patents of our said Royal Grandfather King Charles the First bearing date at Westminster the 4th day of March in the fourth Year of his Reign made and granted to the said Governour and Company of the Massachusetts Bay in New-England and the Enrollment of the same should be cancelled vacated and annihilated and should be brought into the said Court to be cancelled as in and by the said Judgment remaining upon Record in the said Court doth more at large appear And whereas several Persons employed as Agents in behalf of our said Colony of the Massachusetts Bay in New England have made their humble Application unto us The Agents of that Colony Petitioned to be reincorporated as formerly That we would be graciously pleased by our Royal Charter to Incorporate our Subjects in our said Colony and to grant and confirm unto them such powers priviledges and Franchizes as in our Royal Wisdom should be thought most Conducing to our Interest and Service and to the Welfare and happy State of our Subjects in New-England And We being graciously pleased to gratifie our said Subjects and also to the end our good Subjects within our Colony of New Plymouth in New-England aforesaid may be brought under such a form of Government as may put them in a better Condition of Defence and considering as well the Granting unto them as unto our Subjects in the said Colony of the Massachusetts Bay our Royal Charter with reasonable Powers and Priviledges will much tend not only to the safety but to the flourishing Estate of our Subjects in the said parts of New-England and also to the advancing of the Ends for which the said Plantations were at first Encouraged Of our Special Grace certain Knowledge and meer Motion have Willed and Ordained and We do by these presents for us our Heirs and Successors Will and Ordain That the Territories and Colonies commonly called or known by the Names of the Colony of the Massachusetts Bay and Colony of New-Plymouth the Province of Main the Territory called Accada or Nova Scotia and all that Tract of
Broadstreet John Richards Nathanael Saltonstall Wait Winthrop John Phillips James Russel Samuel Sewall Samuel Appleton Bartholomew Gedney John Hathorn Elisha Hutchinson Robert Pike Jonathan Corwin John Jolliffe Adam Winthrop Richard Middlecot John Foster Pater Serjeant Joseph Lynd Samuel Heyman Stephen Mason Thomas Hinkley William Bradford John Walley Barnabas Lothrop Job Alcot Samuel Daniel and Silvanus Davis Esq the first and present Councellors or Assistants of our said Province to continue in their said respective Offices or Trusts of Councellors or Assistants until the last Wednesday in May To continue until May 1693. and until others are chosen by the Assembly which shall be in the Year of our Lord 1693 and until other Councellors or Assistants shall be chosen and appointed in their stead in such manner as in these Presents is expressed And we do further by these Presents constitute and appoint our trusty and Well beloved Isaac Addington Esq to be our first and present Secretary of our said Province during our pleasure And our Will and Pleasure is That the Governour of our said Province for the time being shall have Authority from time to time at his Discretion The Governour with seven Assistants to be a Council to assemble and call together the Councellors or Assistants of our said Province for the time being And that the said Governour with the said Assistants or Councellours or seven of them at the least shall and may from time to time hold and keep a Council for the ordering and directing the Affairs of our said Province And further We Will and by these Presents for Us our Heirs and Successors do Ordain and Grant that there shall and may be convened A general Court or Assembly to be held the last Wednesday in May or oftener every Year held and kept by the Governour for the time being upon every last Wednesday in the Month of May every Year for ever and at all such other times as the Governour of our said Province shall think sit appoint a Great and General Court or Assembly which said Great General Court or Assembly shall consist of the Governour and Council or Assistants for the time being and of such Free-holders of our said Province or Territory as shall be from time to time elected or deputed by the major part of the Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the respective Towns or Places who shall be present at such Elections each of the said Towns and Places being hereby impowred to elect and depute Two Persons and no more to serve for and represent them respectively in the said Great and General Court or Assembly Two Assembly-men to be Chosen by the Freeholders in every Town To which Great and General Court or Assembly to be held as aforesaid We do hereby for Us our Heirs and Successors give and grant full Power and Authority from time to time to direct appoint and declare what number each County Town and Place shall elect and depute to serve for and represent them respectively in the said Great and General Court or Assembly Provided always that no Free holder or other person shall have a Vote in the Election of Members to Serve in any Great and General Court or Assembly to be held as aforesaid who at the time of such Election shall not have an Estate of Free hold in Land within our said Province or Territory to the value of Forty Shillings per Ann. at the least or other Estate to the value of Fifty Pounds sterling And that every Person who shall be so elected shall before he Sit or Act in the said Great and General Court or Assembly take the Oaths mentioned in an Act of Parliament made in the First Year of our Reign entituled An Act for Abrogating of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy and appointing other Oaths and thereby appointed to be taken instead of the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy And shall make repeat and subscribe the Declaration mentioned in the said Act before the Governour or Lieutenant or Deputy-Governour or any Two of the Assistants for the time being who shall be thereunto authorized and appointed by our said Governour The Governour has Power to Adjourn Prorogue and Dissolve the Assembly And that the Governour for the time being shall have full Power and Authority from time to time as he shall judge necessary to Adjourn Prorogue and Dissolve all Great and General Courts or Assemblies met and conven'd as aforesaid And our Will and Pleasure is and we do hereby for Us our Heirs and Successors grant establish and ordain That yearly once in every Year for ever hereafter the aforesaid number of Eight and twenty Councellors or Assistants shall be by the General Court or Assembly newly Chosen that is to say Eighteen at least of the Inhabitants of or Proprietors of Lands within the Territory formerly called the Colony of the Massachusetts-Bay and Four at the least of the Inhabitants of or Proprietors of Lands within the Territory formerly called New-Plymouth and Three at the least of the Inhabitants of The Governours Councellors to be Inhabitants or Proprietors of Land in New England or Proprietors of Lands within the Territory formerly called the Province of Maine and one at the least of the Inhabitants of or Proprietors of Land within the Territory lying between the River of Sagadahock and Nova Scotia And that the said Councellors or Assistants or any of them shall or may at any time hereafter be removed or displaced from their respective Places or Trust of Councellors or Assistants by any Great or General Court or Assembly and that if any of the said Councellors or Assistants shall happen to die or be removed as aforesaid before the General Day of Election that then and in every such Case the Great and General Court or Assembly at their first sitting may proceed to a New Election of one or more Councellors or Assistants in the room or place of such Councellors and Assistants so dying or removed And We do further grant and ordain Judges Sheriffs Justices c. to be appointed with the Consent of the Governours Council That it shall and may be lawful for the said Governour with the Advice and Consent of the Council or Asistants from time to time to nominate and appoint Judges Commissioners of Oyer and Terminer Sheriffs Provosts Marshals Justices of the Peace and other Officers to our Council and Courts of Justice belonging Provided alwayes that no such Nomination or Appointment of Officers be made without Notice first given or Summons issued out seven days before such Nomination or Appointment unto such of the said Councellors or Assistants as shall be at that time residing within our said Province And our Will and Pleasure is That the Governour and Lieutenant or Deputy-Governour and Councellors or Assistants for the time being and all other Officers to be Appointed or Chosen as aforesaid shall before the undertaking the Execution of their Offices
until Repealed by the Assembly under our or their Sign Manual and Signet or by Order in our or their Privy Council unto the Governour for the time being then such and so many of them as shall be so disallowed and rejected shall thenceforth cease and determine and become utterly void and of none effect Provided always that in Case We our Heirs or Successors shall not within the term of three Years after the presenting of such Orders Laws Statutes or Ordinances as aforesaid signifie our or their Disallowance of the same then the said Orders Laws Statutes or Ordinances shall be and Continue in full Force and Effect according to the true intent and meaning of the same until the Expiration thereof or that the same shall be repealed by the General Assembly of our said Province for the time being Provided also that it shall and may be lawful for the said Governour and General Assembly to make or pass any Grant of Lands lying within the Bounds of the Colonies formerly called the Colonies of the Massachusetts-Bay and New-Plymouth and Province of Main The General Court has Power to pass any grants of Land in Massachusetts Plymouth or the Province of Mayn Grants or Land between Sagadahook and St. Laurence to have the Royal Approbation in such manner as heretofore they might have done by virtue of any former Charter or Letters Patents which Grants of Lands within the Bounds aforesaid We do hereby Will and Ordain to be and continue for ever of full Force and Effect without Our further Approbation or Consent And so as nevertheless and it is our Royal Will and Pleasure that no Grant or Grants of any Lands lying or extending from the River of Sagadahock to the Gulph of St. Laurence and Canada Rivers and to the Main Sea Northward and Eastward to be made or past by the Governour and General Assembly of our said Province be of any force validity or effect until We our Heirs and Successors shall have signified our or their Approbation of the same And we do by these Presents for Us our Heirs and Successors grant establish and ordain that the Governour of our said Province or Territory for the time being shall have full power by himself or by any chief Commander or other Officer or Officers to be appointed by him from time to time to Train Instruct Exercise and Govern the Militia there and for the special Defence and safety of our said Province or Territory to Assemble in Martial Array and put in Warlike Posture the Inhabitants of our said Province or Territory and to Lead and Conduct them and with them to Encounter Expulse Repel Resist and Pursue by Force of Arms The Governour to Command the Militia as well by Sea as by Land within or without the Limits of our said Province or Territory and also to kill slay destroy and conquer by all fitting wayes enterprizes and means whatsoever all and every such Person and Persons as shall at any time hereafter attempt or enterprize the destruction invasion detriment or annoyance of our said Province or Territory and to use and exercise the Law Martial in time of actual War Invasion or Rebellion as occasion shall necessarily require and also from time to time to Erect Forts and to Fortifie any Place or Places within our said Province or Territory and the same to furnish wiâ—hall necessary Ammunition Provision and Stores of War for offence or defence and to commit from time to time the Custody and Government of the same to such person or persons as to him shall seem meet and the said Forts and Fortifications to demolish at his pleasure and to take and surprize by all wayes and means whatsoever all and every such Person or Persons with their Ships Arms Ammunition and other Goods as shall in a Hostile manner Invade or attempt the Invading Conquering or Annoying of our said Province or Territory Provided always and We do by these Presents for Us our Heirs and Successors Grant Establish and Ordain That the said Governour shall not at any time hereafter by Virtue of any Power hereby granted No Persons to be Transported out of the Province without their own Consent or hereafter to be granted to him Transport any of the Inhabitants of our said Province or Territory or oblige them to March out of the Limits of the same without their free and voluntary Consent or the Consent of the great and general Court or Assembly of our said Province or Territory nor grant Commissions for Exercising the Law Martial upon any the Inhabitants of our said Province or Territory without the Advice and Consent of the Council or Assistants of the same Provided in like manner and We do by these Presents The Law-Martial not to be executed on any Inhabitant without the Consent of the Council for Us our Heirs and Successors Constitute and Ordain That when and as often as the Governour of our said Province for the time being shall happen to dye or be displaced by Us our Heirs or Successors or be absent from his Government that then and in any of the said Cases the Lieutenant or Deputy Governour of our said Province for the time being shall have full Power and Authority to do and execute all and every such acts matters and things which our Governour of our said Province for the time being might or could by Virtue of these our Letters Patents lawfully do or execute In the absence of the Governour the Deputy Governour to have the same Power if he were personally present until the return of the Governour so absent or Arrival or Constitution of such other Governour as shall or may be appointed by Us our Heirs or Successors in his stead and that when and as often as the Governour and Lieutenant or Deputy Governour of our said Province or Territory for the time being shall happen to dye or be displaced by Us our Heirs or Successors or be absent from our said Province and that there shall be no person within the said Province Commissionated by Us In the absence of both the Governour Deputy Governour the major part of the Council to have their Power our Heirs or Successors to be Governour within the same then and in every of the said Cases the Council or Assistants of our said Province shall have full Power and Authority and We do hereby give and grant unto the said Council or Assistants of our said Province for the time being or the major part of them full Power and Authority to do and execute all and every such acts matters and things which the said Governour or Lieutenant or Deputy Governour of our said Province or Territory for the time being might or could lawfully do or exercise if they or either of them were personally present until the return of the Governour or Lieutenant or Deputy Governour so absent or Arrival or Constitution of such other Governour or Lieutenant or Deputy Governour as shall and may be appointed by Us our Heirs or Successors from time to time Provided alwayes and it is hereby Declared that nothing herein shall extend or be taken to erect or grant or allow the exercise of any Admiral Court Jurisdiction Power or Authority but that the same shall be and is hereby reserved to Us and our Successors and shall from time to time be erected granted and exercised by Virtue of Commissions to be issued under the Great Seal of England Admiralty Jurisdiction reserved or under the Seal of the High Admiral or the Commissioners for Executing the Office of High Admiral of England And further Our express Will and pleasure is and We do by these presents for Us our Heirs and Successors ordain and appoint that these our Letters Patents shall not in any manner Enure or be taken to abridge barr or hinder any of our loving Subjects whatsoever to use and exercise the Trade of Fishing upon the Coasts of New-England The Trade of Fishing not to be abridg'd but that they and every of them shall have full and free Power and Liberty to continue and use their said Trade of Fishings upon the said Coasts in any of the Seas thereunto adjoyning or any Arms of the said Seas or Salt-water Rivers where they have been wont to Fish and to build and set upon the Lands within our said Province or Colony lying waste and not then possess'd by particular Proprietors such Wharfs Stages and Work-houses as shall be necessary for the salting drying keeping and packing of their Fish to be taken or gotten upon that Coast and to cut down and take such Trees and other Materials there growing or being upon any parts or places lying waste and not then in possession of particular Proprietors as shall be needful for that purpose and for all other necessary easements helps and advantages concerning the Trade of Fishing there in such manner and form as they have been heretofore at any time accustomed to do without making any wilful waste or spoil any thing in these Presents contained to the contrary notwithstanding And Lastly for the better providing and furnishing of Masts for our Royal Navy We do hereby reserve to Us Trees fit for Masts not growing upon any Soil granted to particular persons to be preserved our Heirs and Successors all Trees of the Diameter of twenty four Inches and upwards of twelve Inches from the ground growing upon any Soil or Tract of Land within our said Province or Territory not heretofore granted to any private Persons And We do restrain and forbid all Persons whatsoever from felling cutting or destroying any such Trees without the Royal License of Us our Heirs and Successors first had and obtained upon Penalty of Forfeiting One Hundred Pounds Sterling unto Us our Heirs and Successors for every such Tree so felled cut or destroyed without such License had or obtained in that behalf any thing in these Presents contained to the contrary Notwithstanding In Witness whereof We have caused these our Letters to be made Patents Witness our Selves at Westminster the seventh day of October in the Third Year of our Reign By Writ of Privy Seal PIGOT