The King's Subjects in this Colony to enjoy all the Privileges of free and natural fubjects. Oath of Su Obedience. To erect Judicatories. be transported thither; Nevertheless, not to be difcharged of Payment to Us, our Heirs and Succeffors, of the Duties, Customs and Subfidies which are or ought to be paid or payable for the fame. And further, Our Will and Pleasure is, and We do for Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, ordain, declare, and grant unto the faid Governor and Company, and their Succeffors, That all, and every the Subjects of Us, Our Heirs, or Succeffors, which fhall go to inhabit within the said Colony, and every of their Children which fhall happen to be born there, or on the Seas in going thither, or returning from thence, fhall have and enjoy all Liberties and Immunities of free and natural Subjects within any the Dominions of Us, Our Heirs or Succeffors, to all Intents, Conftructions and Purposes whatsoever, as if they and every of them were born within the Realm of England; And We do authorise and impower the Governor, or in his Abfence the Deputy-Governor for the Time being, to appoint Two or more of the said Affistants at any of their Courts or Affemblies to be held as aforesaid, to have Power Power to ad- and Authority to adminifter the Oath of Supremacy and Obedience to all minifter the and every Perfon and Perfons which shall at any Time or Times hereafter premacy and go or país into the faid Colony of Connecticut, unto which faid Afiftants fo to be appointed as aforefaid, We do by these Prefents give full Power and Authority to administer the faid Oath accordingly. And We do further of Our efpecial Grace, certain Knowledge, and mere Motion, give, and grant unto the faid Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, in America, and their Succeffors, That it shall and may be lawful to and for the Governor, or Deputy-Governor, and fuch of the Abftants of the faid Company for the Time being as fhall be Affembled in any of the General Courts aforefaid, or in any Courts to be especially Summoned, or Affembled for that Purpose, or the grearer Part of them, whereof the Governor, or Deputy-Governor, and Six of the Affiftants to be always, Seven, to Erect, and Make fuch Judicatories, for the Hearing, and Determining of all Actions, Caufes, Matters, and Things happening within the faid Colony, or Plantation, and which shall be in Difpute, and Depending there, as they fhall think Fit, and Convenient, and alfo from Time to Time to Make, Ordain, and Establish all Manner of Wholefome, and Reasonable Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, Directions, and Inftructions, not Contrary to the Laws of this Realm, of England, as well for Settling the Forms, and Ceremonies of Government, and Magiftracy, Fit, and Neceffary for the faid Plantation, and the Inhabitants there, as for Naming, and Stiling all Sorts of Officers, both Superiour and Inferiour, which they fhall Find Needful for the Government, and Plantation of the faid Colony, and the Distinguishing, and fetting forth of the feveral Duties, Powers, and Limits of every fuch Office, and Place, and the Forms of fuch Oaths not being Contrary to the Laws, and Statutes of this Our Realm of England, to be Adminiftred for the Execution of the laid several Offices, and Places as alfo for the Difpofing, and Ordering of the Election of such of the faid Officers as are to be Annually Chofen, and of fuch others as fhall Succeed in cafe of Death, or Removal, and Adminiftring the faid Oath to the NewElected Officers, and Granting Neceffary Commiffions, and for Impofition of Lawful Fines, Mulets, Imprisonment or other Punishment upon Offenders, and Delinquents according to the Course of other Corporations within this our Kingdom of England, and the fame Laws, Fines, Mulets, and Executions, to alter, change, revoke, annul, release, or pardon under their Common Seal, as by the faid General Affembly, or the major Part of them fhall be thought fit, and for the directing, ruling and difpofing of all other 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 Knowlege and Obedience of the Only True GOD, and the Saviour of Mankind, and the Chriftian 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 Presents for us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, ordaining and appointing, that all fuch Laws, Statutes and Ordinances, Inftructions, Impofitions and Directions as fhall be fo made by the To ordain & establish laws for fettling the Forms of government, &c. To impofe &c. Laws to be published. Governor, Laws to be put in Execu tion. Power to af Pofture the Law Martial. Governor, Deputy-Governor, and Affiftants as aforefaid, and published in Writing under their Common Seal, fhall carefully and duly be obferved, 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, fhall be to all and every fuch Officers, Superiors and Inferiors from Time to Time, for the putting of the fame Orders, Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, Inftructions, and Directions in due Execution, against Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, a fufficient Warrant and Discharge. And We do further for Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, give and grant unto the faid Governor and Company, and their Succeffors, by these Presents, That it fhall and may be lawful to, and for the Chief Commanders, Governors and Officers of the faid Company for the Time being, who fhall be refident in the Parts of New-England hereafter mentioned, and others inhabiting there, by their Leave, Admittance, Appointment, or Direction, from Time to Time, and at all Times hereafter, for their special Defence and Safety, to Affemble, Martial-Array, and put in warlike Pofture the Inhabitants of the faid Colony, and to Commiffionate, Impower, and Authorize fuch Perfon or Perfons as 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 Sea as by Land, and alfo to kill, flay, and deftroy by all fitting Ways, Enterprizes, and Means whatsoever, all and every fuch Perfon or Perfons as shall at any Time hereafter Attempt or Enterprize the Destruction, Invasion, Detriment, or Annoyance of the said Inhabitants or Plantation, and to use and exercife the Law Martial in fuch Cafes only as Occafion To ufe the fhall require; and to take or furprize by all Ways and Means whatsoever, all and every fuch Perfon and Perfons, with their Ships, 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 invade and deftroy the Natives, or other Enemies of the faid Colony. Nevertheless, Our Will and Pleasure is, and We do hereby declare unto all Chriftian Kings, Princes, and States, that if any Perfons which fhall hereafter be of the faid Company or Plantation, or any other by appointment of the faid Governor and Company for the Time being, fhall at any Time or Times hereafter rob or fpoil by Sea or by Land, and do any Hurt, Violence, or unlawful Hoftility to any of the Subjects of Us, Our Heirs or Succeffors, or any of the Subjects of any Prince or State being then inLeague with Us,OurHeirs or Succeffors, upon complaint of fuch Injury done to any fuch Prince or State, or their Subjects, We, Our Heirs and Succeffors 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 Reftitution or Satisfaction 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 fhall not make Satisfaction accordingly, within fuch Time fo to be limited, that then it fhall and may be lawful for Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, to put fuch Perfon or Persons out of Our Allegiance and Protection; and that it shall and may be lawful and free for all Princes or others to profecute with Hoftility fuch Offenders, and every of them, their, and every of their Procurors, Aiders, Abettors and Counsellors in that Behalf. Provided alfo, And Our exprefs Will and Pleasure is, and We do by these Presents for Us, Our Heirs, and Succeffors, Ordain and Appoint, that thefe Prefents fhall not in any Manner hinder any of Our loving Subjects whatsoever to use and exercise the Trade of Fishing upon the Coaft of New-England, in America, but they and every or any of them fhall have full and free Power, upon the coast and Liberty, to continue, and use the said Trade of Fishing upon the said Coast, in any of the Seas thereunto adjoining, or any Arms of the Seas, or Salt Water Rivers where they have been accustomed to fish, and to build and fet up on the wafte Land belonging to the faid Colony of Connecticut, Wharves, &c. fuch Wharves, Stages, and Work-Houfes as fhall be neceffary for the falting, upon waste Declaration His Majesty's to all Princes and States,againft fuch as fpoil by Sea or Land. fhall rob or. Liberty referved for all his Majefty's fubjects to fish To build drying, Lands. Grant of the Lands within the limits ex preffed to the Gov. & Company, withthe Commodities thereof, &c. To be held in free and common Soc cage. The Patent to have the most favora ble Conftruc tion for the Benefit of the (8) drying, and keeping of their Fish to be taken, or gotten upon that Coast, any Thing in these Presents contained to the contrary notwithstanding. And Know Ye further, That We, of Our abundant Grace, certain Knowlege, and mere Motion, have given, granted, and confirmed, and by thefe Prefents for Us, our Heirs and Succeffors, do give, grant, and confirm unto the faid Governor and Company, and their Succeffors, all that Part of Our Dominions in New-England in America, bounden on the Eaft by NarragansetRiver, commonly called Narraganset-Bay, where the faid River falleth into the Sea; and on the North by the Line of the Maffachusetts-Plantation; and on the South by the Sea; and in Longitude as the Line of the MaffachusettsColony, running from Eaft to Weft, That is to fay, From the faid Narraganfet-Bay on the Eaft, to the South Sea on the West Part, with the Islands thereunto adjoining, together with all firm Lands, Soils, Grounds, Havens, Ports, Rivers, Waters, Fishings, Mines, Minerals, precious Stones, Quarries, and all and fingular other Commodities, Jurifdictions, Royalties, Privileges, Franchises, Preheminences, and Hereditaments whatsoever, within the laid Tract, Bounds, Lands, and Islands aforefaid, or to them or any of them belonging. To have and to hold the fame unto the faid Governor and Company, their Succeffors 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 Succeffors, as of Our Manor of Eaft-Greenwich, in free and common Soccage, and not in Capite, nor by Knights Service, yielding and paying therefore to Us, Our Heirs and Succeffors, only the Fifth Part of all the Ore of Gold and Silver which from Time to Time, and at all Times hereafter, fhall be there gotten, had, or obtained, in Lieu of all Services, Duties and Demands whatfoever, to be to Us, our Heirs, or Succeffors therefore, or thereout rendered, made, or paid. And lastly, We do for Us, our Heirs and Succeffors, grant to the faid Governor and Company, and their Succeffors, by thele Prefents, That thefe Our Letters Patents, fhall be firm, good and effectual in the Law, to all Intents, Constructions, and Purposes whatsoever, according to Our true Intent and Meaning herein before declared, as fhall be conftrued, reputed and adjudged most favourable on the Behalf, and for the best Benefit, and Behoof of the faid Governor and Company, and their Succeffors, although exprefs Mention of the true Yearly Value or Certainty of the Premifes, or of any of them, or of any other Gifts or Grants by Us, or by any of Our Progenitors, or Predeceffors, heretofore made to the faid Governor and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, in America, aforefaid, in these Prefents is not made, or any Statute, A&t, Ordinance, Provifion, Proclamation, or Restriction heretofore had, made, enacted, ordained, or provided, or any other Matter, Caufe, or Thing whatsoever to the contrary thereof, in any wife notwithstanding. In Witness whereof, We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patents. Witness Ourself at Westminster, the Three and Twentieth Day of April, in the Fourteenth Year of our Reign. By Writ of Privy Seal, HOWARD. OF Confederation and perpetual Union between the States of New-Hampshire, Maf Jachusetts-Bay, Rhode-Ifland and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New-York, NewFerfey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North-Carolina, South-Carolina and Georgia. ARTICLE I. T HE ftile of this confederacy fhall be "The United Stile of the "States of America." ART. II. EACH ftate retains its fovereignty, freedom and independence, and every power, jurifdiction and right, which is not by this confederation exprefly delegated to the United States, in Congrefs affembled. ART. III. THE faid ftates hereby feverally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defence, the fecurity of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to affift each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, fovereignty, trade, or any other pretence whatever. ART. IV. THE better to fecure and perpetuate mutual friendship and intercourfe among the people of the different ftates in this union, the free inhabitants of each of thefe ftates, paupers, vagabonds, and fugitives from juftice excepted, fhall be entitled to all privileges and immunities of free citizens in the feveral states; and the people of each state shall have free ingrefs and regrefs to and from any other ftate, and fhall enjoy therein all the privileges of trade and commerce, fubject to the fame duties, impofitions and restrictions as the inhabitants thereof refpectively, provided that fuch reftriction fhall not extend fo far as to prevent the removal of proper ty imported into any ftate, to any other ftate of which the owner is an inhabitant; provided alfo that no impofition, duties or restriction fhall be laid by any state, on the property of the united states, or either of them. If any perfon guilty of, or charged with treafon, felony, or other high misdemeanor in any ftate, fhall flee from juftice, and be found in any of the united states, he fhall upon demand of the Governor, or executive power, of the ftate from which he fled, be delivered up and removed to the Rate having jurifdiction of his offence. FULL faith and credit fhall be given in each of these ftates to the records, acts and judicial proceedings of the courts and magiftrates of every other ftate. ART. V. FOR the more convenient management of the general interefts of the United States, delegates fhall be annually appointed in fuch manner as the legislature of each state shall direct, to meet in Congrefs on the first Monday in November, in every year, with a power referved to each state, to recal its delegates, or any of them, at any time within the year, and to fend others in their ftead, for the remainder of the year. No Confederacy and Indepen Sovereignty, dence of the refpective States. Defign of the Confederation, as it regards common fecurity. Social and mutual inter courfe among the States. Manner of conftituting the Congrefs of the States, with the qua lifications & privileges of the Delegates Restraints tpon the feparate States. No ftate fhall be reprefented in congrefs by lefs than two, nor by more. than feven members; and no perfon fhall be capable of being a delegate for more than three years, in any term of fix years; nor fhall any perfon being a delegate, be capable of holding any office under the united states, for which he, or another for his benefit receives any falary, fees or emolument of any kind. EACH ftate fhall maintain its own delegates in a meeting of the ftates, and while they act as members of the committee of the states. In determining questions in the united states, in congrefs affembled, each ftate fhall have one vote. - FREEDOM of speech and debate in congrefs fhall not be impeached or queftioned in any court, or place out of congrefs, and the members of congrefs fhall be protected in their perfons from arrefts and imprisonments, during the time of their going to and from, and attendance on congrefs, except for treafon, felony, or breach of the peace. ART. VI. No ftate without the confent of the united states in congrefs affembled, fhall fend any embaffy to, or receive any embaffy from, or enter into any conference, agreement, alliance or treaty with any king, prince or state; nor fhall any person holding any office of profit or truft under the united states, or any of them, accept of any prefent, emolument, office or title of any kind whatever from any king, prince or foreign ftate; nor fhall the united ftates in congrefs affembled, or any of them, grant any title of nobility. No two or more states fhall enter into any treaty, confederation or alliance whatever between them, without the confent of the united states in congrefs affembled, fpecifying accurately the purposes for which the fame is to be entered into, and how long it fhall continue. No ftate fhall lay any impofts or duties, which may interfere with any ftipulations in treaties, entered into by the united states in congrefs affeinbled, with any king, prince or ftate, in pursuance of any treaties already proposed by congrefs, to the courts of France and Spain. No veffels of war fhall be kept up in time of peace by any ftate, except fuch number only, as fhall be deemed neceffary by the united states in congrefs affembled, for the defence of fuch ftate, or its trade; nor fhall any body of forces be kept up by any ftate, in time of peace, except fuch number only, as in the judgment of the united states, in congrefs affembled, fhall be deemed requifite to garrifon the forts neceffary for the defence of fuch state; but every ftate fhall always keep up a well regulated and difciplined militia, sufficiently armed and accoutred, and fhall provide and constantly have ready for use, in public ftores, a due number of field pieces and tents, and a proper quantity of arms, ammunition and camp equipage. No state shall engage in any war without the confent of the united states in congress affembled, unless fuch state be actually invaded by enemies, or fhall have received certain advice of a refolution being formed by fome nation of Indians to invade fuch ftate, and the danger is fo imminent as not to admit of a delay, till the united states in congrefs affembled can be confulted: nor fhall any ftate grant commiffions to any fhips or veffels of war, nor letters of marque or reprifal, except it be after a declaration of war by the united states in congrefs affembled, and then only against the kingdom or ftate and the subjects thereof, againft which war has been fo declared, and under fuch regulations as fhall be established by the united states in congrefs affembled, unlets fuch state be infefted by pirates, in which cafe veffels of war may be fitted out for that occafion, and kept fo long as the danger Chall |