And to

and ordinances not

of them, whereof the governor, or deputy governor, and fix
of the affiftants, to be always seven, to erect and make such
judicatories for the hearing and determining of all actions,
caufes, matters and things happening within the said colony
or plantation, and which shall be in dispute and depending
there, as they shall think fit and convenient; and allo, from
time to time, to make, ordain and establish all manner of

wholesome and reasonable laws, ftatutes, ordinances, direcmake laws, tions and instructions, not contrary to the laws of this realm

of England, as well for settling the forms and ceremonies

of
contrary to government and magistracy, fit and necessary for the said
the laws of plantation, and the inhabitants there, as for naming and
England. styling all sorts of officers, both superior and inferior, which

they fhall find needful for the government and plantation of
the said colony, and the distinguishing and setting forth of
the several duties, powers and limits of every such office and
place, and the forms of such oaths, not being contrary to the
laws and statutes of this our realm of England, to be admi-
nistered for the execution of the said several offices and places;
as also for the disposing and ordering of the election of such
of the said officers as are to be annually chosen, and of such
others as shall succeed, in case of death or removal, and ad-
ministring the said oath to the new-elected officers, and grant-
ing necessary commissions, and for imposition of lawful fines,
mulets, imprisonments, or other punishments, upon offenders

and delinquents, according to the course of other corporations
Reference within this our kingdom of England; and the same laws,
to other cor- fines, mulets and executions, to alter, change, revoke, annull,
porations
within the

release or pardon, under their common seal, as by the said kingdom of general assembly, or the major part of them, shall be thought England. fit; and for the directing, ruling and difpofing of all other

matters and things, whereby our faid pecple, inhabitants
there, may be so religiously, peaceably and civilly governed,
as their good life, and orderly conversation, may win and

nvite the natives of the country to the knowledge and obe-
dience of the only true God and Saviour of mankind, and the
Christian Faith; which in our royal intentions, and the ad-
venturers free profeffion, is the only and principal end of this
plantation; willing, commanding and requiring, and by these

presents, for us, our heirs and successors, ordaining and ap-
The said pointing, that all such laws, statutes and ordinances, instruc-
laws shall be tions, impositions and directions, as shall be so made by the
published in
writing
governor, deputy governor and assistants, as aforesaid, and

published

common

said com

any enemies

published in writing under their common seal, shall carefully under their
and duly be observed, kept, performed, and put in execution, feal.
according to the true intent, and meaning of the fame ; and
these our letters patents, or the duplicate or exemplification
thereof, shall be, to all and every such officers, superiors and
inferiors, from time to time, for the putting of the same orders,
laws, statutes, ordinances, instructions and directions, in
due execution, against us, our heirs and fucceffors a fufficient
warrant and discharge. And we do further, for us, our The gov. of
heirs and successors, give and grant unto the said governor
and company, and their successors, by these presents, that pany hall
it shall and may be lawful to and for the chief commanders, to affemble
governors and officers of the said company for the time and array,
being, who shall be resident in the parts of New-England and arm the
hereafter mentioned, and others inhabiting there, by their of the colo
leave, admittance, appointment or direction, from time to ny, and con-
time, and all times hereafter, for their special defence and duct them to

war against
safety, to assemble, marshal, array, and put in warlike
posture, the inhabitants of the said colony, and to commis- that shall in-
fionate, impower and authorize such person or persons as vade them ;
they fhall think fit, to lead and conduct the said inhabitants,
and to encounter, expulse, repel, and resist by force of arms,
as well by fea as by land, and also to kill, flay and de-
stroy, by all fitting ways, enterprizes and means whatsoever,
all and every such person or persons as shall, at any time
hereafter attempt or enterprize the destruction, invasion, de-
triment or annoyance of the said inhabitants and planta-
tion, and to use and exercise the law martial in such cases
only as occasion shall require, and to take or surprize, by
all ways and means whatsoever, all and every such person
or persons, with their ships, armour, ammunition, and other
goods, of such as ihall, in such hostile manner, invade or
attempt the defeating of the faid plantation, or the hurt of
the faid company and inhabitants, and, upon just causes, to and like-
invade and destroy the natives or other enemies of the said wise upon
colony. Nevertheless our will and pleasure is, and we do invade and
hereby declare unto all christian kings, princes and states, destroy their
that if any persons, which shall hereafter be of the said com-
pany or plantation, or any other, by appointment of the said Proviso in
governor and company, for the time being, shall at any time cafe they
or times hereafter rob or spoil, by sea or by land, and do

injure any any hurt, violence, or unlawful hostility, to any of the prince or subjects of us, our heirs or successors, or any of the subjects itate, in a

England.

enemies.

Thall rob or

of mity with

pre

of any prince or state, being then in league with us, our
heirs or fuccessors, upon complaint of such injury done to
any such prince or state, or their subjects, we, our heirs and
fucceffors, will make open proclamation within any parts
of our realm of England, fit for that purpose, that the person
or persons committing any such robbery or spoil fhall, within
the time limited by such proclamation, make full restitution
or fatisfaction of all such injuries done or committed ; fo as
the said prince or others so complaining may be fully satisfied
and contented : And if the faid person or perforis, who shall
commit any such robbery or spoil, shall not make satisfaction
accordingly, within such time fo to be limited, that then it
shall and may be lawful for us, our heirs and successors, to
put such person or persons out of our allegiance and pro-
tection ; and that it tall and may be lawful and free for all
princes and others to profecute with hoftilities such offenders,

and every of them, their and every of their procurers, aiders, Reservation abettors, and counsellors in that behalf. Provided also, and to theKing's

our express will and pleasure is, and we do, by these
subjects re-
fiding in o-fents, for us, our heirs and successors, ordain and appoint,
ther parts of that these presents shall not, in any manner, hinder any of
ons of a li- our loving subjects whatsoever to use and exercise the trade
berty of fish- of fishing, upon the coast of New-England in America ;
ing and dry- but they, and every or any of them, shall have full and free
f ih within power and liberty to continue and use the said trade of fishing
the said co- upon the said coast, in any of the seas thereunto adjoin-
lony. irg, or any arms of the seas, or falt-water rivers, where

they have been accustomed to fish; and to build and fet
upon the waste lands belonging to the said colony of Con-
necticut, fuch warfs, stages, and work-houses, as shall be
neceffary for the salting, drying, and keeping of their fish,

to be taken or gotten upon that coast; any thing in these Grant of the presents contained to the contrary notwithstanding. And foil of the know ye further, that we, of our more abundant grace, certain colony to the knowledge, and mere motion, have given, granted and confaid gov. and

firmed, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, company.

do give, grant and confirn, unto the said governor and
company, and their successors, all that part of our domi-
nions in New England in America, bounded on the East
by the Narrogancett River, commonly called Narrogancett
Bay, where the said river falleth into the sea, and on the
North by the line of the Massachusets plantation, and on
the South by the sea, and in longitude, as the line of the

Mafia

1

Maffachufets colony running from East to West, (that is to
Tay) from the said Narrogancett Bay, on the East, to the
South Sea, on the West part, with the islands thereunto
adjoining, together with all the firm lands, foils, grounds,
havens, ports, rivers, waters, fishings, mines, minerals,
precious stones, quarries, and all and singular commodities,
jurisdictions, royalties, privileges, franchises, preeminencies,
and heredicaments whatsoever, within the said tract, bounds.
lands, and islands aforesaid, or to them, or any of them
belonging. To have and to hold the same, unto the said Habendum.
governor and company, their successor, and affigns, for
ever, upon trust, and for the use and benefit of themselves,
and their associates, freemen of the said colony, their heirs
and afligns; to be holden of us, our heirs and succeffors, Tenendum.
as of our manor of East Greenwich, in free and common
foccage., and not in capite, nor by knights service ; Yield- Reddendum
ing and paying therefore to us, our heirs and successors,
only the fifth part of all the ore of gold and silver, which
from time to time and all times hereafter, shall be there gotten,
had or obtained, in lieu of all services, duties and demands
whatsoever, to be to us, our heirs or fucceffors, therefore
or thereout rendered, inade, or paid. And lastly, we do for
us, our heirs and successors, grant to the said governor and
company, and their successors, by these presents, that these
our letters patents shall be firm, good, and effectual in the
law, to all intents, constructions and purposes whatsoever,
according to our true intent and meaning herein before de
clared, as shall be construed, reputed, and adjudged most
favourable on the behalf, and for the best benefit and behoof
of the said governor and company, and their successors, al-
though express mention, &c. In witness, &c. Witness
the King, at Westminster, the three and twentieth day
of April,

Per Breve de Privato Sigillo,

E

Rhode Inand CHARTER, granted by King Charles II.

in the Fourteenth Year of his Reign.

Quintadecima pars Patentium Anno Regni Regis CAROLI

Secundi Quintodecimo.

HARLES the Second, by the grace of God, &c. To all

to whom these presents shall come, greeting. Whereas we have been informed by the humble petition of our trusty and well beloved subjects, John Clarke, on the behalf of Benjamin Arnold, William Brenton, William Codington, Nicholas Easton, William Boulston, John Porter, John Smith, Samuel Gorton, John Weekes, Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, Gregory Dexter, John Cogeshall, Joseph Clarke, Randali Houlden, John Greene, John Roome, Samuel Wildbore, William Field, James Barker, Richard Tew, Thomas Hartis, and William Dyre, and the reit of the purchasers, and free inhabitants of our island called Rhode Island, and the rest of the colony of Providence Plantations, in the Narraganset Bay, in New England in America, That they, pursuing with peace and loyal minds, their fober, serious, and religious intentions, of godly edifying themselves, and one another, in the holy Chriftian faith and worship as they were persuaded, together with the gaining over and conversion of the poor ignorant Indian natives, in those parts of America, to the sincere profession and obedience of the same faith and worfhip, did not only by the consent and good encouragement of our royal progenitors, transport themselves out of this king, dom of England into America ; but also fince their arrival there, after their first settlement amongst other our subjects in those parts, for the avoiding of discord, and those many evils which were likely to ensue upon those our subjects, not being able to bear in those remote parts their different apprehenfions in religious concernments; and in pursuance of the aforesaid ends, did once again leave their desirable stations and habitations, and with excessive labour and travel, hazard and charge, did transplant themselves into the midst of the Indian natives, who, as we are informed, are the most potent princes and people of all that country; whereby the good provi

dence