ed as natu

jects.

be confider-Companie and theire fucceffors, That all and every the ral born fub- fubjects of us, our heires or fucceffors, which fhall goe to and inhabite within the faid lands and premifles hereby mentioned to be granted, and every of theire children which fhall happen to be borne. there, or on the feas in going thither or returneing from thence, fhall have and enjoy all liberties and immunities of free and naturall fubjects within any of the dominions of us, our heires or fucceffors, to all intents, conftructions and purposes whatfoever, as if they and every Power to ad- of them were borne within the realme of England. And that minifter the the Governour, and deputy Governour of the faid Companie oaths of al- for the time being or either of them, and any two or more fupremacy of fuch of the faid Affiftants as fhall be thereunto appointed to the per- by the faid Governour and Companie at any of their courts fhall hereat- or affemblies to be held as aforefaid, shall and may at all ter fettle in tymes and from tyme to tyme hereafter have full power and the lands authority to adminifter and give the oath and oathes of fu

legiance &

fons who

hereby

granted.

Power to make laws and ordi

premacie and allegiance or either of them, to all and every perfon and perfons which shall at any tyme or tymes hereafter goe or paffe to the lands and premiffes hereby mentioned to be granted to inhabite in the fame. And wee do of our further grace, certaine knowledge and meere motion, give and grant nances not to the faid Governour and Companie and their fucceffors, contrary to that it shall and may be lawfull to and for the Governour or the laws of deputy Governour and fuch of the Affiftants and Freemen England. of the faid Companie for the tyme being as fhall be affembled in any of their generall courts aforefaid, or in any other courts to be specially fummoned and affembled for that purpofe, or the greater part of them (whereof the Governour or deputy Governour and fixe of the Affiftants to be always feven) from tyme to tyme to make, ordaine and establish all manner of wholefome and reasonable orders, lawes, ftatutes and ordinances, directions and inftructions not contrary to the lawes of this our realme of England, as well for the fettling of the formes and ceremonies of government and magiftracie fitt and neceffary for the faid plantation and the inhabitants there, and for nameing and ftyling of all forts of officers both fuperiour and inferiour which they fhall find needful for that government and plantation, and the diftinguifhing and fetting forth of the feverall duties, powers and limits of every fuch office and place, and the formes of fuch oathes warrantable by the lawes and ftatutes of this our realme of England as fhall be refpectively miniftered unto them, for the execution of the said several offices and places, as alfo for the difpofing and ordering of the elections of fuch

of

All fuch

der the com

mon feal

be obferved

of the faid officers as fhall be annuall, and of fuch others as fhall be to fucceed in cafe of death or removall, and miniftring the faid oathes to the new elected officers, and for impofition of lawfull fynes, mulets, imprisonment, or other lawfull correction, according to the courfe of other Corporations in this our realme of England, and for the directing, N. B. ruleing and difpofeing of all other matters and things whereby our faid people inhabiting there may be fo religioufly, peaceably and civilly governed, as theire good life and orderly conversation may winne and invite the natives of that country to the knowledge and obedience of the onely true God and Saviour of mankind, and the chriftian faith, which in our royall intention and the adventurers free profeffion is the principal end of this plantation. Willing, commanding and laws, pubrequiring, and by these prefents for us, our heires and fuc- lifhed in ceffors, ordaineing and appointing, that all fuch orders, writing unlawes, ftatutes and ordinances, inftructions and directions as fhall be made by the Governour or Deputy-Governour of of the comthe faid Company and fuch of the Affiftants and Freemen as pany, fhall aforefaid, and published in writing under theire common and execut feale, fhall be carefully and duely obferved, kept, performed ed. and putt in execution according to the true intent and meaneing of the fame. And these our letters patents, or the duplicate, or exemplification, thereof, fhall be to all and every fuch officers, fuperiour and inferiour, from tyme to tyme, for the putting of the fame orders, lawes, ftatutes, and ordinances, inftructions and directions in due execution, against us, our heires and fucceffors, a fufficient warrant and difcharge. And wee doe further, for us, our heirs, and fuc- The goverceflors, give and grant to the faid Governour and Companie ther officers and their fucceffors, by thefe prefents, That all and every imployed by fuch chiefe commanders, captains, governours and other the company officers and minifters, as by the faid orders, lawes, statutes, England ordinances, inftructions or directions of the faid Governour shall govern and Companie for the tyme being, fhall be from tyme to the inhabityme hereafter imployed either in the government of the faid tants thereinhabitants and plantation, or in the way by fea thither or to the said from thence, according to the natures and limits of theire laws. offices and places refpectively, fhall from tyme to tyme hereafter for ever within the precincts and parts of New-England hereby mentioned to be granted and confirmed, or in the way by fea thither, or from thence, have full and abfolute power and authority to correct, punish, pardon, governe and rule fuch fubjects of us, our heires, and fucceffors, as fhall from tyme to tyme adventure themselves in any voyage thither or

from

nors and o

in New

of according

Power to

company re

from thence, or that fhall at any tyme hereafter inhabite within the precincts and parts of New-England aforefaid, according to the orders, lawes, ordinances, inftructions and directions aforefaid, not being repugnant to the lawes and itatutes of our realme of England as aforefaid. And wee do the officers further, for us, our heires and fucceffors, give and grant to of the faid the faid Governour and Companie and their fucceffors, by fident in the thefe prefents, 'I'hat it fhall and may be lawful to and for the premiffes chief commanders, governours and officers of the faid comhereby granted and panie for the tyme being, who shall be refident in the faid to the other part of New-England in America by these prefents granted, inhabitants and others there inhabiteing, by their appointment and diof the fame, rection from tyme to tyme and at all tymes hereafter, for themfelves their fpeciall defence and fafety to incounter, repulfe, repell by force of and refift by force of armes, as well by fea as by land, and arms against by all fitting wayes and meanes whatsoever, all such person

to defend

invaders.

committed

faid compa

and perfons as fhall at any tyme hereafter attempt or enterprife the deftruction, invafion, detriment, or annoyance of the faid plantation or inhabitants: And to take and furprife by all wayes and meanes whatsoever all and every such perfon and perfons, with their fhipps, armour, munition and other goods, as fhall in hoftile manner invade and attempt the defeatinge of the faid plantation, or the hurt of the faid Companie and inhabitants. Nevertheless, our will and pleafure is, and we do hereby declare to all Chriftian Kings, Provifion Princes and States, That if any perfon or perfons which for the cafe fhall hereafter be of the faid Companie or plantation, or any of injuries other by lycenfe or appointment of faid Governour and Comby the mem- panie for the tyme being, fhall at any tyme or tymes herebers of the after robb or fpoyle by fea or by land, or do any hurt, violence, or unlawfull hoftility to any of the fubjects of us, our nyagainst others of the heires or fucceffors, or any of the fubjects of any Prince or King's fub- State being then in league and amity with us, our heires and jects, or the fucceffors, and that upon fuch injury done, and upon juft fubjects of any other complaint of fuch Prince or State or theire fubjects, Wee, our heires, or fucceffors, fhall make open proclamation within any of the parts within our realme of England commodious for that purpose, that the perfon or perfons having committed any fuch robbery or fpoyle, fhall, within the terme limited by fuch a proclamation, make full restitution or fatisfaction of all fuch injuries done, fo as the faid Princes or others fo complaining may hould themselves fully fatisfied and contented. And that if the faid perfon or perfons having committed fuch robbery or fpoyle fhall not make, or caufe to be made, fatisfaction accordingly, within fuch tyme so to

Prince or

State.

be

hereby

be lymitted, that then it shall be lawfull for us, our heires and fucceffors, to putt the faid perfon or perfons out of our allegiance and protection; and that it fhall be lawfull and free for all Princes to profecute with hoftility the faid offenders and every of them, theire and every of theire procurers, ayders, abettors and comforters in that behalfe. Provided Provifo referving to alfo, and our expreffe will and pleasure is, and wee do by the King's these presents for us, our heires and fucceffors, ordaine and other fubappoint, that thefe prefents fhall not in any manner énure, jects the right of fishor be taken to abridge, barre or hinder any of our lovinge ing on the fubjects whatsoever to use and exercife the trade of fishing coaft of the upon that coast of New-England in America by thefe pre-premifes fents mentioned to be granted: But that they or any and granted. every or any of them fhall have full and free power and liberty to continue and ufe theire faid trade of fishing upon the faid coaft in any of the feas thereunto adjoineing, or any armes of the feas or falt-water rivers where they have beene wont to fish, and to build and fet up upon the lands by these prefents granted, fuch wharfes, ftages, and workhouses as fhall be neceffary for the falting, drying, keeping and packing up of theire fifh to be taken or gotten upon that coast; and to cut downe and take fuch trees and other materialls there growing, or being, as fhall be needfull for that purpofe, and for other neceffary easements, helpes and advantage concerning theire faid trade of fifhing there, in fuch manner and forme as they have beene heretofore at any tyme accustomed to doe, without makeing any wilfull waste or fpoyle, any thing in these prefents contained to the contrary notwithstanding. And wee doe further for us, our heires Thefe letand fucceffors, ordaine and grant the faid Governour and ters patent fhall be good Companie and their fucceffors, by thefe prefents, that thefe in law, and our letters patents fhall be firme, good, effectual, and avail- fhall be conable in all things and to all intents and conftructions of lawe, ftrued in faaccording to our true meaning herein before declared, and our of fhall be conftrued, reputed, and adjudged in all cafes moft notwithfavourably on the behalfe and for the benefit and behoofe of ftanding any the faid Governour and Companie and their fucceffors: Al-mons imperfectithough expreffe mention of the true yearly value, or certain- ons in them ty, of the premiffes, or any of them, or of any other gifts or or any forgrants, by us or any other of our progenitors or predeceffors, or other act to the forefaid Governour and Companie before this time of authority made, in these prefents is not made, or any ftatute, act, to the c< ordinance, provifion, proclamation or reftraint to the contrary thereof heretofore had, made, publifhed, ordained or provided, or any other matter, caufe, or thing whatsoever I

to

vour of the

company,

omiffions or

mer ftatutes

trary.

to the contrarie thereof in any wife notwithstanding. In witness whereof we have caused these our letters to be made patent. Witnefs ourselves at Weftminster, the fourth day of March, in the fourth yeare of our reigne.

This is a true copy of fuch letters patents under the great feal of England. In teftimony whereof I John Winthrop governour of the Maffachusetts aforefaid have caused the publick feal of the fame to be hereunto affixed this 19th day of the month called March 1643.

1644.

Loc. Sigilli.

John Winthrop, Gov.

VIRGINIA