other necef

bove fhall be

province.;

confonant,

England.

and tribunals, forms of judicature, and manner of proceedings, and of all do belong, although in these prefents exprefs mention be not fary judicial made thereof; and by judges, by them delegated, to award powers. procefs, hold pleas, and determine, in all the faid courts and tribunals, all actions, fuits, and caufes whatsoever, as well criminal as civil, personal, real, and mixt. Which laws, fo, The laws as aforefaid, to be published, our will and pleafure is, and fo made as awe injoin, require, and command, fhall be moft abfolute and binding available in law; and that all the liege people and fubjects of us, upon all the our heirs and fucceffors, do obferve and keep the fame invio- inhabitants lably, in thofe parts, fo far as they concern them, under the of the faid pain therein expreffed, or to be expreffed; provided neverthelefs, that the faid laws be confonant to reafon, and be not provided repugnant or contrary, but, as near as conveniently may be, they are agreeable to the laws, ftatutes, and rights of this our kingdom and not reof England; and faving and referving to us, our heirs and pugnant to fucceflors, the receiving, hearing, and determining of the the laws of appeal and appeals of all or any perfon or perfons of, in, or belonging to the territories aforefaid, or touching any judg- Refervation ment to be there made or given. And forafmuch as in the of an appeal to the King. government of fo great a country, fudden accidents do often happen, whereunto it will be neceflary to apply a remedy, before the freeholders of the faid province, or their delegates or deputies, can be affembled to the making of laws; neither will it be convenient, that inftantly, upon every fuch emergent occafion, fo great a multitude fhould be called together; therefore, for the better government of the faid country, we will and ordain, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, do grant unto the faid William Penn, and his heirs, by themfelves, or by their magiftrates and officers, in that behalf duly to be ordained, as aforefaid, to make and conftitute fit and wholefome ordinances, from time to time, within the faid country, to be kept and obferved, as well for the preservation of the peace, as for the better government of the people there inhabiting, and publicly to notify the fame, to all perfons whom the fame doth or may any way concern; which ordinances, our will and pleasure is, fhall be obferved inviolably within the faid province, under pains therein to be expreffed; fo as the faid ordinances be confonant to reason, and be not repugnant nor contrary, but, fo as may be agreeable to the laws of our kingdom of England; and fo as the faid ordinances be not extended in any fort, to bind, charge, or take away the right or intereft of any perfon or perfons, for or in their life, members, freehold, goods or chattels. And our further will and pleasure is, That the laws for regulating

O 2

and

and governing of property, within the faid province, as well for the descent and enjoyment of lands, as likewife for the enjoyment and fucceffion of goods and chattels, and likewise as to felonies, fhall be and continue the fame as they fhall be for the time being, by the general courfe of the law in our kingdom of England, until the faid laws fhall be altered by the faid William Penn, his heirs or affigns, and by the freemen of the faid province, their delegates or deputies, or the greater part of them. And to the end the said William Penn, or his heirs, or other the planters, owners, or inhabitants of the faid province may not, at any time hereafter, by misconftruction of the powers aforefaid, through inadvertency or defign, depart from that faith, and due allegiance which, by the laws of this our kingdom of England, they and all our fubjects in our dominions and territories always owe unto us, our heirs and fucceffors, by colour of any extent or largeness of powers hereby given, or pretended to be given, or by force or colour of any laws hereafter to be made in the faid province, by virtue of any fuch powers; our further will and pleasure is, that a tranfcript or duplicate of all laws which fhall be fo as aforefaid made and published within the said province, fhall, within five years after the making thereof, be tranfmitted and delivered to the privy council, for the time being, of us, our heirs and fucceffors; And if any of the said laws, within fix months after that they fhall be so tranfmitted and delivered, be declared by us, our heirs and fucceffors, in our or their privy council, inconfiftent with the fovereignty or lawful prerogative of us, our heirs or fucceffors, or contrary to the faith or allegiance due by the legal government of this realm, from the faid William Penn, or his heirs, or of the planters and inhabitants of the faid province; and that thereupon any of the faid laws fhall be adjuged and declared to be void by us, our heirs and fucceffors, under our or their privy feal; that then and from thenceforth fuch laws, concerning which fuch judgment and declaration fhall be made, fhall become void; otherwife the faid laws fo tranfmitted fhall remain and ftand in full force, according to the true intent, and meaning thereof. Furthermore, that this new colony may the more happily encrease by the multitude of people reforting thither, therefore we, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, do give and grant, by these presents, power, licence, and liberty, unto all the liege people and fubjects, both present and future, of us, our heirs and fucceffors, (excepting thofe who fhall be especially forbidden) to transport themselves and families unto the faid country, with fuch convenient ship

ping, as, by the laws of this our kingdom of England, they ought to use, and with fitting provifions, paying only the cuftoms thereof due, and there to fettle themselves, dwell and inhabit, and plant for the public and their own private advantage. And furthermore, that our fubjects may be the rather encouraged to undertake this expedition with ready and chearful minds, know ye, That we, of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, do give and grant, by virtue of thefe prefents, as well unto the faid William Penn, and his heirs, as to all others, who fhall, from time to time, repair unto the faid country, with a purpose to inhabit there, or to trade with the natives of the faid country, full licence to lade and freight in any ports whatsoever, of us, our heirs and fucceffors, according to the laws made, or to be made, within our kingdom of England, and into the faid country, by them, their fervants, or affigns, to transport all and fingular their goods, wares, and merchandize, as likewife all forts of grain. whatsoever, and all other things whatfoever neceffary for food or cloathing, not prohibited by the laws and ftatutes of our kingdoms and dominions to be carried out of the faid kingdoms, without any lett or moleftation of us, our heirs and fucceffors, or of any the heir of us, our heirs and fucceffors; faving always to us, our heirs, and fucceffors, the legal impofitions, cuftoms, and other duties and payments for the faid wares, and merchandize, by any law or ftatute due, or to be due, to us, our heirs or fucceffors. And we do further for us, our heirs and fucceffors, give and grant unto the faid William Penn, his heirs and affigns, free and abfolute power to divide the faid country and iflands into towns, hundreds, and counties, and to erect and incorporate towns into boroughs, and boroughs into cities, and make and conftitute fairs and markets therein, with all other convenient privileges and immunities, according to the merit of the inhabitants, and the fitnefs of the places, and to do all and every other thing and things touching the premises, which to him or them shall seem meet and requifite, albeit they be fuch as of their own nature might otherwife require a more efpecial commandment and warrant than in thefe prefents is expreffed. We will alfo, Grant of a and by these prefents, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, we do licence to give and grant licence by this our charter, unto the said tants of this William Penn, his heirs and affigns, and to all the inhabitants province, to and dwellers, in the province aforefaid, both present and to importgoods come, to import and unlade, by themselves, or their fervants, into Engfactors or affigns, all merchandize or goods whatfoever, as land,but in fhall arife of the fruits and commodities of the faid province, to no other

either

the inhabi

from thence

country:

port, to export the fame into any other country.

Penn and

conftitute

lading and

either by land or fea, into any the ports of us, our heirs and fucceflors, in our kingdom of England, and not into any other country whatfoever; and we give him full power to difpofe of the faid goods in the faid ports, and if it need be, and within within one year next after the unlading of the fame, to lade a year after the faid merchandizes and goods again into the fame or other they have been unla- fhips, and to export the fame into any other countries either den in an of our dominions or foreign, according to law: provided English always, that they pay fuch cuftoms and impofitions, fubfidies and duties, for the fame, to us, our heirs and fucceffors, as the reft of our fubjects of our kingdom of England for the time being, fhall be bound to pay; and do observe the acts of navigation, and other laws in that behalf made. And furtherGrant tow. more, of our more ample and special grace, certain knowhis heirs ledge, and mere motion, we do, for us, our heirs and fuccefand affigns, fors, grant unto the faid William Penn, his heirs and affigns, of a power full and abfolute power and authority to make, erect, and to erect and conftitute, within the faid province, and the ifles and iflets feaports and aforefaid, fuch and so many feaports, harbours, creeks, hakeys for vens, keys, and other places, for discharging and unlading of unlading goods and merchandizes out of the fhips, boats, and other goods and veffels, and lading them in fuch and fo many places, and merchan with fuch rights, jurifdictions, and liberties, and privileges unto the faid ports belonging, as to him or them fhall feem moft expedient; and that all and fingular the fhips, boats, and other veffels, which fhall come for merchandize and trade unto the faid province, or out of the fame fhall depart, fhall be laden or unladen only at such ports as shall be erected and conftituted by the faid William Penn, his heirs or affigns; any ufe, cuftom, or other things to the contrary notwithstanding provided that the faid William Penn, and his heirs, and the lieutenants and governors for the time being, fhall admit and receive, in and about all fuch ports, havens, creeks, and keys, all officers and their deputies, who fhall from time to time be appointed for that purpose, by the farmers or commiffioners of our customs for the time being. And we do further receive and appoint and ordain, and by thefe prefents, for us, our heirs enjoy fuch and fucceffors, we do grant unto the faid William Penn, his cuftoms and heirs and affigns, that he the faid William Penn, his heirs and port-duties as fhall be affigns, may from time to time, for ever, have and enjoy the impofed by customs and fubfidies in the ports, harbours, and other creeks them and and places aforefaid, within the province aforefaid, payable or the affembly of the produe for merchandizes and wares there to be laded and unladed; the faid customs and fubfidies to be reasonably affeffed (upon any occafion) by themfelves and the people there, as aforefaid,

dizes:

and of a

power to

vince.

to

any

toms as fhall

The grantee

to be assembled; to whom we give power, by these prefents, Refervation for us, our heirs and fucceffors, upon just caufe, and in a due of fuch cufproportion, to affefs and impofe the fame; faving unto us, our be imposed heirs and fucceffors, fuch impofitions and cuftoms, as by act by act of of parliament are and fhall be appointed. And it is our fur- parliament. ther will and pleasure, That the faid William Penn, his heirs and his heirs and affigns, fhall, from time to time, conftitute and appoint and affigns fhall keep an attorney or agent, to refide in or near our city of London, an attorney who fhall make known the place where he fhall dwell, or or agent at may be found, unto the clerks of our privy council for the London, to time being, or one of them, and fhall be ready to appear in anfwer for any mifdeany of our courts at Weftminfter, to answer for mifde- meanors meanors that shall be committed, or by any wilful default or committed neglect permitted by the said William Penn, his heirs or af- by them. figns, against our laws of trade and navigation'; and after it fhall be afcertained in any of our faid courts what damages we, or our heirs or fucceffors, fhall have fuftained by fuch default or neglect, the said William Penn, his heirs and affigns, shall pay the fame within one year after fuch taxation and demand thereof, from fuch attorney; or in cafe there fhall be no fuch attorney, within the fpace of one year; or such attorney shall not make payment of fuch damages within the space of one year, and answer fuch other forfeitures and penalties within the faid time, as by the acts of parliament in England are or fhall be provided, according to the true intent and meaning of these prefents; then it fhall be lawful for us, our heirs and fucceffors, to seize and refume the government of the said province or country, and the fame to retain until payment shall be made thereof; but notwithstanding any fuch feizure or resumption of the government, nothing concerning the propriety or ownership of any lands, tenements, or other hereditaments, or goods, or chattels, of any of the adventurers, planters, or owners, other than the respective offenders there, fhall be any way affected or molefted thereby. Pro- They shall vided always, and our will and pleasure is, that neither the have no corfaid William Penn, nor his heirs, nor any other the inhabi- refpondence tants of the faid province, fhall at any time hereafter have or ftates that maintain any correfpondence with any other King, Prince or are at war State, or with any of their fubjects, who fhall then be in war land. against us, our heirs or fucceffors; nor fhall the faid William Penn, or his heirs, or any other the inhabitants of the said province, make war, or do any act of hoftility against any other King, Prince, or State, or any of their fubjects, who hall then be in league or amity with us, our heirs, or fucceffors. And because in fo remote a country, and fituate

near

withforeign

with Eng