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And to

and ordi

nances not contrary to

of them, whereof the governor, or deputy governor, and fix of the affiftants, to be always feven, to erect and make fuch judicatories for the hearing and determining of all actions, caufes, matters and things happening within the said colony or plantation, and which fhall be in difpute and depending there, as they shall think fit and convenient; and alfo, from time to time, to make, ordain and establish all manner of wholesome and reasonable laws, ftatutes, ordinances, direcmake laws, tions and inftructions, not contrary to the laws of this realm of England, as well for fettling the forms and ceremonies of government and magiftracy, fit and neceffary for the faid the laws of plantation, and the inhabitants there, as for naming and England. ftyling all forts of officers, both fuperior and inferior, which they fhall find needful for the government and plantation of the faid colony, and the diftinguishing and fetting forth of the several duties, powers and limits of every fuch office and place, and the forms of fuch oaths, not being contrary to the laws and ftatutes of this our realm of England, to be adminiftered for the execution of the said several offices and places; as also for the difpofing and ordering of the election of fuch of the faid officers as are to be annually chofen, and of fuch others as fhall fucceed, in cafe of death or removal, and adminiftring the said oath to the new-elected officers, and granting neceffary commiffions, and for impofition 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 fame laws, to other cor- fines, mulcts and executions, to alter, change, revoke, annull, porations release or pardon, under their common feal, as by the faid kingdom of general affembly, or the major part of them, shall be thought England. fit; and for the directing, ruling and difpofing of all other

within the

matters and things, whereby our faid people, inhabitants there, may be fo religiously, peaceably and civilly governed, as their good life, and orderly converfation, may win and invite the natives of the country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God and Saviour of mankind, and the Christian Faith; which in our royal intentions, and the adventurers free profeffion, is the only and principal end of this plantation; willing, commanding and requiring, and by these prefents, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, ordaining and appointing, that all fuch laws, ftatutes and ordinances, inftruclaws fhall be tions, impofitions and directions, as fhall be fo made by the published in governor, deputy governor and affiftants, as aforefaid, and writing

The faid

published

common

feal.

have power

inhabitants

any enemies

published in writing under their common feal, fhall carefully under their and duly be observed, kept, performed, and put in execution, 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 fuch officers, fuperiors and inferiors, from time to time, for the putting of the fame orders, laws, ftatutes, ordinances, inftructions 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 fucceffors, give and grant unto the faid governor faid comand company, and their fucceffors, by thefe prefents, that pany thall it fhall and may be lawful to and for the chief commanders, to affemble governors and officers of the faid company for the time and array, being, who fhall be refident in the parts of New-England and arm the hereafter mentioned, and others inhabiting there, by their of the cololeave, admittance, appointment or direction, from time to ny, and contime, and all times hereafter, for their special defence and duct them to fafety, to affemble, marfhal, array, and put in warlike war againft pofture, the inhabitants of the faid colony, and to commif- that shall infionate, impower and authorize fuch perfon or perfons as vade them; they fhall think fit, to lead and conduct the faid inhabitants, and to encounter, expulfe, repel, and refift by force of arms, as well by fea as by land, and also to kill, flay and deftroy, by all fitting ways, enterprizes and means whatsoever, all and every fuch perfon or perfons as fhall, at any time hereafter attempt or enterprize the deftruction, invafion, detriment or annoyance of the faid inhabitants and plantation, and to use and exercise the law martial in such cases only as occafion fhall require, and to take or furprize, by all ways and means whatsoever, all and every fuch perfon or perfons, with their fhips, armour, ammunition, and other goods, of fuch as fhall, in fuch hoftile manner, invade or attempt the defeating of the faid plantation, or the hurt of the faid company and inhabitants, and, upon juft caufes, to and likeinvade and destroy the natives or other enemies of the faid wife upon just causes to colony. Nevertheless our will and pleasure is, and we do invade and hereby declare unto all chriftian kings, princes and states, deftroy their that if any perfons, which fhall hereafter be of the faid com- enemies. pany or plantation, or any other, by appointment of the faid Provifo in governor and company, for the time being, fhall at any time cafe they or times hereafter rob or spoil, by fea or by land, and do injure any any hurt, violence, or unlawful hoftility, to any of the prince or fubjects of us, our heirs or fucceffors, or any of the fubjects state, in aof mity with England.

fhall rob or

of any prince or ftate, being then in league with us, our heirs or fucceffors, upon complaint of fuch injury done to any fuch prince or ftate, or their fubjects, we, our heirs and fucceffors, will make open proclamation within any parts of our realm of England, fit for that purpose, that the perfon or perfons committing any fuch robbery or spoil fhall, within the time limited by fuch proclamation, make full restitution or fatisfaction of all fuch injuries done or committed; fo as the faid prince or others fo complaining may be fully fatisfied and contented: And if the faid perfon or perfons, who fhall commit any fuch robbery or spoil, shall not make satisfaction accordingly, within fuch time fo to be limited, that then it fhall and may be lawful for us, our heirs and fucceffors, to put fuch perfon or perfons out of our allegiance and protection; and that it fhall 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, Refervation abettors, and counfellors in that behalf. Provided alfo, and to theKing's fubjects re- our exprefs will and pleasure is, and we do, by thefe prefiding in o- fents, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, ordain and appoint, ther parts of that thefe prefents fhall not, in any manner, hinder any of ons of a li- our loving fubjects whatsoever to use and exercife the trade berty of fish- of fishing, upon the coaft of New-England in America; ing and dry- but they, and every or any of them, fhall have full and free ing their fith within power and liberty to continue and ufe the faid trade of fishing the faid co- upon the faid coaft, in any of the feas thereunto adjoining, or any arms of the feas, or falt-water rivers, where they have been accuftomed to fifh; and to build and fet upon the wafte lands belonging to the faid colony of Connecticut, fuch warfs, ftages, and work-houses, as fhall be neceffary for the falting, drying, and keeping of their fish, to be taken or gotten upon that coaft; any thing in these Grant of the prefents 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,

his domini

lony.

company.

do give, grant and confirm, unto the faid governor and company, and their fucceffors, all that part of our dominions in New England in America, bounded on the Eaft by the Narrogancett River, commonly called Narrogancett Bay, where the faid river falleth into the fea, and on the North by the line of the Maffachufets plantation, and on the South by the sea, and in longitude, as the line of the Maffa

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Maffachufets colony running from Eaft to Weft, (that is to fay) from the faid Narrogancett Bay, on the East, to the South Sea, on the Weft part, with the islands thereunto adjoining, together with all the firm lands, foils, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, waters, fifhings, mines, minerals, precious ftones, quarries, and all and fingular commodities, jurifdictions, royalties, privileges, franchifes, preeminencies, and hereditaments what foever, within the faid tract, bounds. lands, and islands aforefaid, or to them, or any of them belonging. To have and to hold the fame, unto the faid Habendum. governor and company, their fucceffor, and affigns, for ever, upon truft, and for the ufe and benefit of themselves, and their affociates, freemen of the faid colony, their heirs and affigns; to be holden of us, our heirs and fucceffors, Tenendum. as of our manor of Eaft Greenwich, in free and common foccage, and not in capite, nor by knights fervice; Yield- Reddendum ing and paying therefore to us, our heirs and fucceffors, only the fifth part of all the ore of gold and filver, which from time to time and all times hereafter, fhall be there gotten, had or obtained, in lieu of all fervices, duties and demands whatsoever, to be to us, our heirs or fucceffors, therefore or thereout rendered, made, or paid. And lastly, we do for us, our heirs and fucceffors, grant to the faid governor and company, and their fucceffors, by thefe prefents, that these our letters patents fhall be firm, good, and effectual in the law, to all intents, conftructions and purposes whatsoever, according to our true intent and meaning herein before declared, as fhall be conftrued, reputed, and adjudged moft favourable on the behalf, and for the best benefit and behoof of the faid governor and company, and their fucceffors, although exprefs mention, &c. In witnefs, &c. Witness the King, at Westminster, the three and twentieth day of April,

Per Breve de Privato Sigillo.

E

Rhode Island CHARTER, granted by King Charles II. in the Fourteenth Year of his Reign.

Quintadecima pars Patentium Anno Regni Regis CAROLI Secundi Quintodecimo.

CH

HARLES the Second, by the grace of God, &c. To all to whom these prefents fhall come, greeting. Whereas we have been informed by the humble petition of our trufty and well beloved fubjects, John Clarke, on the behalf of Benjamin Arnold, William Brenton, William Codington, Nicholas Eafton, William Boulfton, John Porter, John Smith, Samuel Gorton, John Weekes, Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, Gregory Dexter, John Cogefhall, Jofeph Clarke, Randall Houlden, John Greene, John Roome, Samuel Wildbore, William Field, James Barker, Richard Tew, Thomas Hartis, and William Dyre, and the rest of the purchasers, and free inhabitants of our island called Rhode Island, and the reft of the colony of Providence Plantations, in the Narraganfet Bay, in New England in America, That they, purfuing with peace and loyal minds, their fober, ferious, and religious intentions, of godly edifying themfelves, and one another, in the holy Chriftian faith and worship as they were perfuaded, together with the gaining over and converfion of the poor ignorant Indian natives, in thofe parts of America, to the fincere profeffion and obedience of the fame faith and worfhip, did not only by the confent and good encouragement of our royal progenitors, tranfport themfelves out of this kingdom of England into America; but alfo fince their arrival there, after their first fettlement amongst other our fubjects in those parts, for the avoiding of discord, and those many evils which were likely to enfue upon thofe our fubjects, not being able to bear in thofe remote parts their different apprehenfions in religious concernments; and in pursuance of the aforefaid ends, did once again leave their defirable stations and habitations, and with exceffive labour and travel, hazard and charge, did tranfplant themselves into the midft 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

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