Manors respectively, so as no farther Tenure shall be created, but that upon all further or other Alienations thereafter to be made, the said Lands so aliened shall be held of the same Lord and his Heirs, of whom the Aliener did then before hold, and by the like Rents and Services which were before due and accustomed.

SECT. XX.

AND FURTHER our Pleasure is, and by these Presents, for us, our Heirs and Successors, we do covenant and grant to and with the said William Penn, his Heirs and Assigns, That we, our Heirs and Successors, shall at no Time hereafter set or make, or cause to be set or made, any Imposition, Custom, or other Taxation, Rate or Contribution whatsoever, in and upon the Dwellers and Inhabitants of the aforesaid Province, or their Lands, Tenements, Goods or Chattles within the said Province, or in and upon any Goods or Merchandizes within the Province, or to be laden or unladen within the Ports or Harbours of the said Province, unless the same be with the Consent of the Proprietary, or chief Governor, or Assembly, or by Act of Parliament in England.

SECT. XXI.

AND our Pleasure is, and for us, our Heirs and Successors, we charge and command,

That this our Declaration shall from henceforth from Time to Time be received and allowed in all our Courts, and before all the Judges of us, our Heirs and Successors, for a sufficient lawful Discharge, Payment and Acquittance; commanding all the Officers and Ministers of us, our Heirs and Successors, and enjoining them upon Pain of our highest Displeasure, that they do not presume at any Time to attempt any thing to the contrary of the Premisses, or that do in any sort withstand the same, but that they be at all Times aiding and assisting, as is fitting to the said William Penn, and his Heirs, and unto the Inhabitants and Merchants of the Province aforesaid, their Servants, Ministers, Factors, and Assigns, in the full Use and Fruition of the Benefit of this our Charter.

SECT. XXII.

AND our farther Pleasure is, and we do hereby, for us, our Heirs and Successors, charge and require, That if any of the Inhabitants of the said Province, to the Number of Twenty, shall at any Time hereafter be desirous, and shall by any Writing, or by any Person deputed by them, signify such their Desire to the Bishop of London for the Time being, That any Preacher or Preachers, to be approved of by the said Bishop, may be sent

unto them for their Instruction; That then such Preacher or Preachers shall and may reside within the said Province, without any Denial or Molestation whatsover.

SECT. XXIII.

AND if perchance hereafter any Doubt or Question should arise, concerning the true Sense and Meaning of any Word, Clause, or Sentence contained in this our present Charter, we will, ordain, and command, That at all Times, and in all Things, such Interpretation be made thereof, and allowed in any of our Courts whatsoever, as shall be adjudged most advantageous and favourable unto the said William Penn, his Heirs and Assigns: Provided always no Interpretation be admitted thereof, by which the Allegiance due unto us, our Heirs and Successors, may suffer any Prejudice or Diminution; although express Mention be not made in these Presents of the true yearly Value, or Certainty of the Premisses, or any Part thereof, or of other Gifts and Grants made by us and our Progenitors or Predecessors unto the said William Penn: Any Statute, Act, Ordinance, Provision, Proclamation, or Restraint heretofore had, made, published, ordained, or provided, or any other Thing, Cause or Matter whatsoever, to the contrary thereof in any

wise notwithstanding.

IN WITNESS whereof we have caused these our Letters to be made Patent: Witness OUR SELF, at Westminster, the Fourth Day of March, in the three and thirtieth Year of our Reign. Annoque Domini One Thousand Six Hundred and Eighty-one.

By Writ of Privy Seal,

PIGOTT.

The FRAME of the Government of the Province of Pensilvania in America: Together with certain Laws agreed upon in England. By the Governor and divers Freemen of the aforesaid Province. To be further explained and continued there, by the first Provincial Council that shall be held, if they see meet.

The PREFACE. ·

WHEN the great and wise GOD had

made the World, of all his Creatures it pleased him to chuse Man his Deputy to rule it; and to fit him for so great a Charge and Trust, he did not only qualify him with Skill and Power, but with Integrity to use them justly. This native Goodness was equally his Honour and his Happiness;

and whilst he stood here, all went well; there was no need of coercive or compulsive Means; the Precept of divine Love and Truth in his Bosom was the Guide and Keeper of his Innocency. But Lust prevailing against Duty, made a lamentable Breach upon it; and the Law, that had before no Power over him, took place upon him and his disobedient Posterity, that such as would not live conformable to the holy Law within, should fall under the Reproof and Correction of the just Law without, in a judicial Administration.

THIS the Apostle teaches in divers of his Epistles: The Law (says he) was added because of Transgression: In another Place, Knowing that the Law was not made for the righteous Man; but for the disobedient and ungodly, for Sinners, for unholy and prophane, for Murderers, for Whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with Mankind, and for Men-stealers, for Liars, for perjured Persons, &c. But this is not all, he opens and carries the Matter of Government a little further: Let every Soul be subject to the higher Powers; for there is no Power but of GOD. The Powers that be are ordained of GOD: Whosoever therefore resisteth the Power, resisteth the Ordinance of GOD. For Rulers are not a Terror to good Works, but to evil: Wilt thou then not be afraid of the Power? do that which is good, and thou shalt