CHARLES THE SECOND, BY THE GRACE OF GOD, King of England, Scotland,
France and Ireland, defender of the Faith, &c.; To all to whome theis
presents shall come Greetinge:
WHEREAS, by the severall Navigacons, discoveryes and susccessfull
Plantacons of diverse of our loving Subjects of this our Realme of
England, Severall Lands, Islands,Places, Colonies and Plantacons have
byn obtayned and setled in that parte of the Continent of America called
New England, and thereby the Trade and Comerce there hath byn of late
yeares much increased,
AND WHEREAS, wee have byn informed by the humble Peticon of our Trusty
and welbeloved John Winthrop, John Mason, Samuell Willis, Henry Clerke,
Mathew Allen, John Tappen, Nathan Gold, Richard Treate, Richard Lord,
Henry Woolicott, John Talcott, Daniell Clerke, John Ogden, Thomas Wells,
Obedias Brewen, John Clerke, Anthony Haukins, John Deming and Mathew
Camfeild, being Persons Principally interested in our Colony or
Plantacon of Connecticut in New England, that the same Colony or the
greatest parte thereof was purchased and obteyned for greate and
valuable Consideracons, And some other part thereof gained by Conquest
and with much difficulty, and att the onely endeavours, expence and
Charge of them and their Associates, and those vnder whome they Clayme,
Subdued and improved, and thereby become a considerable enlargement and
addicon of our Dominions and interest there.
--NOW KNOW YEA, that in consideracion thereof, and in regard the said
Colony is remote from other the English Plantacons in the Places
aforesaid, And to the end the Affaires and Business which shall from
tyme to tyme happen or arise concerning the same may be duely Ordered
and managed.
WEE HAVE thought fitt, and att the humble Peticon of the Persons
aforesaid, and are graciously pleased to Create and Make them a Body
Pollitique and Corporate, with the powers and Priviliges herein after
menconed; And Accordingly Our will and pleasure is, and of our especiall
grace, certeine knowledge and meere mocon wee have Ordeyned, Constituted
and Declared, And by theis presents, for vs, our heires and Successors,
Doe Ordeine, Constitute and Declare That they, the said John Winthrop,
John Mason, Samuell Willis, Henry Clerke, Mathew Allen, John Tappen,
Nathan Gold, Richard Treate, Richard Lord, Henry Woollcot, John Talcot,
Daniell Clerke, John Ogden, Thomas Wells, Obadiah Brewen, John Clerke,
Anthony Hawkins, John Deming and Mathew Camfeild, and all such others as
now are or hereafter shall bee Admitted and made free of the Company and
Society of our Collony of Connecticut in America, shall from tyme to
tyme and forever hereafter, bee one Body Corporate and Pollitique in
fact and name, by the Name of Governour and Company of the English
Collony of Connecticut in New England in America; And that by the same
name they and their Successors shall and may have perpetuall Succession,
and shall and mey bee Persons able and Capable in the law to Plead and
bee Impleaded, to Answere and to be Answered vnto, to Defend and bee
Defended in all and Singular, Suits, Causes, quarrelles, Matters, Accons
and things of what kind or nature soever, And alsoe to have, take,
possesse, acquire and purchase lands Tenements or hereditaments, or any
goods or Chattells, and the same to, Lease, Graunt, Demise, Alien,
bargaine, Sell and dispose of, as other our leige People of this our
Realme of England, or any other Corporacon or Body Politique within the
same may lawfully doe.
AND FURTHER, that the said Governour and Company, and their Successors
shall and may for ever hereafter have a Comon Seale to serve and vse for
all Causes, matters, things and affaires, whatsoever of them and their
Successors, and the same Seale to alter, change, breake and make new
from tyme to tyme att their wills and pleasures, as they shall thinke
fitt. And further, wee will and Ordeine, and by theis presents for vs,
our heires and Successors Doe Declare and appoint, that for the better
ordering and manageing of the affaires and businesse of the said Company
and their Successors, there shall be one Governour, one Deputy Governour
and Twelve Assistants to bee from tyme to tyme Constituted, Elected and
Chosen out of the Freemen of the said Company for the tyme being, in
such manner and forme as hereafter in these presents is expressed; which
said Officers shall apply themselves to take care for the best
disposeing and Ordering of the Generall business and affaires of and
concerning the lands and hereditaments herein after menconed to bee
graunted, and the Plantacon thereof and the Government of the People
thereof. And for the better execucon of our Royall Pleasure herein, WEE
DOE for vs, our heires and Successors, Assigne, name, Constitute and
appoint the aforesaid John Winthrop to bee the first and present
Governour of the said Company; And the said John Mason to bee the Deputy
Governour; And the said Samuell Willis, Mathew Allen, Nathan Gold, Henry
Clerke, Richard Treat, John Ogden, Thomas Tappen, John Talcott, Thomas
Wells, Henry Woolcot, Richard Lord and Daniell Clerke to bee the Twelve
present Assistants of the said Company; to contynue in the said severall
Offices respectively, vntill the second Thursday which shall bee in the
moneth of October now next comeing.
AND FURTHER, wee will, and by theis presents for vs, our heires and
Successors DOE Ordaine and Graunt that the Governour of the said Company
for the tyme being, or, in his absence by occasion of sicknes, or
otherwise by his leave or permission, the Deputy Governour for the tyme
being, shall and may from tyme to tyme vpon all occasions give Order for
the assembling of the said Company and calling them together to Consult
and advise of the businesse and Affairs of the said Company, And that
for ever hereafter Twice in every yeare, (That is to say,) on every
Second Thursday in October and on every Second Thursday in May, or
oftener, in Case it shall bee requisite, The Assistants and freemen of
the said Company, or such of them, (not exceeding twoe Persons from each
Place, Towne or Citty) whoe, shall bee from tyme to tyme therevnto
Elected or deputed by the major parte of the freemen of the respective
Townes, Cittyes and Places for which they shall bee soe elected or
Deputed, shall have a generall meeting or Assembly, then and their to
Consult and advise in and about the Affaires And businesse of the said
Company; And that the Governour, or in his absence the Deputy Governour
of the said Company for the tyme being, and such of the Assistants and
freemen of the said Company as shall be soe Elected or Deputed and bee
present att such meeting or Assembly, or the greatest number of them,
whereof the Governour or Deputy Governour and Six of the Assistants, at
least, to bee Seaven, shall be called the Generall Assembly, and shall
have full power and authority to alter and change their dayes and tymes
of meeting or Generall Assemblies for Electing the Governour, Deputy
Governour and Assistants or other Officers or any other Courts,
Assemblies or meetings, and to Choose, Nominate and appoint such and soe
many other Persons as they shall thinke fitt and shall bee willing to
accept the same, to bee free of the said Company and Body Politique, and
them into the same to Admitt and to Elect, and Constitute such Officers
as they shall thinke fitt and requisite for the Ordering, Manageing and
disposeing of the Affaires of the said Governour and Company and their
Successors. AND WEE DOE hereby for vs, our heires and Successors,
Establish and Ordeine, that once in the yeare for ever hereafter,
namely, the said Second Thursday in May, the Governour, Deputy
Governour, and Assistants of the said Company and other Officers of the
said Company, or such of them as the said Generall Assembly shall thinke
fitt, shall bee in the said Generall Court and Assembly to be held from
that day or tyme, newly Chosen for the yeare ensuing, by such greater
parte of the said Company for the tyme being then and there present. And
if the Governour, Deputy Governour and Assistants by these presents
appointed, or such as hereafter bee newly Chosen into their Roomes, or
any of them, or any other the Officers to bee appointed for the said
Company shall dye or bee removed from his or their severall Offices or
Places before the said Generall day of Eleccon, whome wee doe hereby
Declare for any misdemeanour or default to bee removeable by the
Governour, Assistants and Company, or such greater part of them in any
of the said publique Courts to be Assembled as is aforesaid, That then
and in every such Case itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the
Governour, Deputy Governour and Assistants and Company aforesaid, or
such greater parte of them soe to bee Assembled as is aforesaid in any
of their Assemblies, to proceede to a New Eleccon of one or more of
their Company in the Roome or place, Roomes or Places of such Governour,
Deputy Governour, Assistant or other Officer or Officers soe dyeing or
removed, according to their discretions; and immediately vpon and after
such Eleccon or Eleccons made of such Governour, Deputy Governour,
Assistant or Assistants, or any other Officer of the said Company in
manner and forme, Aforesaid, The Authority Office and Power before given
to the former Governour, Deputy Governour or other Officer and Officers
soe removed, in whose stead and Place new shall be chosen, shall as to
him and them and every of them respectively cease and determine.
PULMVIDED, alsoe, and our will and pleasure is, That as well such as are
by theis presents appointed to bee the present Governour, Deputy
Governour and Assistants of the said Company as those that shall succeed
them, and all other Officers to bee appointed and Chosen as aforesaid,
shall, before they vndertake the Execucon of their said Offices and
places respectively, take their severall and respective Corporall Oathes
for the due and faithfull performance of their dutyes in their severall
Offices and Places, before such Person or Persons as are by these
Presents hereafter appoynted to take and receive the same; That is to
say, the said John Winthrop, whoe is herein before nominated and
appointed the present Governour of the said Company, shall take the said
Oath before one or more of the Masters of our Court of Chancery for the
tyme being, vnto which Master of Chancery WEE DOE, by theis presents,
give full power and authority to administer the said Oath to the said
John Winthrop accordingly. And the said John Mason, whoe is herein
before nominated and appointed the present Deputy Governour of the said
Company, shall take the said Oath before the said John Winthrop, or any
twoe of the Assistants of the said Company, vnto whome WEE DOE by these
presents, give full power and authority to Administer the said Oath to
the said John Mason accordingly. And the said Samuell Willis, Henry
Clerke, Mathew Allen, John Tappen, Nathan Gold, Richard Treate, Richard
Lord, Henry Woolcott, John Talcott, Daniell Clerke, John Ogden and
Thomas Welles, whoe are herein before Nominated and appointed the
present Assistants of the said Company, shall take the Oath before the
said John Winthrop and John Mason, or one of them, to whome WEE DOE
hereby give full power and authority to Administer the same accordingly.
And our further will and pleasure, is that all and every Governour or
Deputy Governour to bee Elected and Chosen by vertue of theis presents,
shall take the said Oath before two or more of the Assistants of the
said Company for the tyme being, vnto whom wee doe, by theis presents,
give full power and authority to give and Administer the said Oath
accordingly. And the said Assistants and every of them, and all and
every other Officer or Officers to bee hereafter Chosen from tyme to
tyme, to take the said Oath before the Governour or Deputy Governour for
the tyme being, vnto which said Governour or Deputy Governour wee doe,
by theis presents, give full power and authority to Administer the same
accordingly.
AND FURTHER, of our more ample grace, certeine knowledge and meere mocon
WEE HAVE given and Graunted, and by theis presents, for vs, our heires
and Successors, ULME give and Graunt vnto the said Governour and Company
of the English Colony of Connecticut in New England in America, and to
every Inhabitant there, and to every Person and Persons Trading thither,
And to every such Person and Persons as are or shall bee free of the
said Collony, full power and authority from tyme to tyme and att all
tymes hereafter, to take, Ship, Transport and Carry away, for and
towards the Plantacon and defence of the said Collony such of our
loveing Subjects and Strangers as shall or will willingly accompany them
in and to their said Collony and Plantacon: (Except such Person and
Persons as are or shall bee therein restrayned by vs, our heires and
Successors:) And alsoe to Ship and Transport all and all manner of
goods, Chattells, Merchandizes and other things whatsoever that are or
shall be vsefull or necessary for the Inhabitants of the said Collony
and may lawfully bee Transported thither; Neverthe lesse, not to bee
discharged of payment to vs, our heires and Successors, of the Dutyes,
Customes and Subsidies which are or ought to bee paid or payable for the
same.
AND FURTHER, Our will and pleasure is, and WEE DOE for vs, our heires
and Successors, Ordeyne, Declare and Graunt vnto the said Governour and
Company and their Successors, That all and every the Subjects of vs, our
heires or Successors which shall goe to Inhabite within the said Colony,
and every of their Children which shall happen to bee borne there or on
the Sea in goeing thither or returneing from thence, shall have and
enjoye all liberties and immunities of free and naturall Subjects within
any the Dominions of vs, our heires or Successors, to all intents,
Construccons and purposes whatsoever, as if they and every of them were
borne within the Realme of England,
AND WEE DOE authorize and impower the Governour, or in his absence the
Deputy Governour for the tyme being, to appointe two or more of the said
assistants att any of their Courts or Assemblyes to bee held as
aforesaid, to have power and authority to Administer the Oath of
Supremacy and obedience to all and every Person and Persons which shall
att any tyme or tymes hereafter goe or passe into the said Colony of
Connecticutt, vnto which said Assistants soe to bee appointed as
aforesaid, WEE DOE, by these presents, give full power and authority to
Administer the said Oath accordingly.
AND WEE DOE FURTHER, of our especiall grace, certeine knowledge and
meere mocon, give and Graunt vnto the said Governour and Company of the
English Colony of Connecticutt in New England in America, and their
Successors, that itt shall and may bee lawful to and for the Governour
or Deputy Governour and such of the Assistants of the said Company for
the tyme being as shall bee Assembled in any of the Generall Courts
aforesaid, or in any Courts to be especially Sumoned or Assembled for
that purpose, or the greater parte of them, whereof the Governour or
Deputy Governour and Six of the Assistants, to be all wayes Seaven, to
Erect and make such Judicatories for the heareing and Determining of all
Accons, Causes, matters and things happening within the said Colony or
Plantacon and which shall bee in dispute and depending there, as they
shall thinke fitt and convenient; And alsoe from tyme to tyme to Make,
Ordaine and Establish All manner of wholesome and reasonable Lawes,
Statutes, Ordinances, Direccons and Instruccons, not contrary to the
laws of this Realme of England, as well for setling the formes and
Ceremonies of Government and Magestracy fitt and necessary for the said
Plantacon and the Inhabitants there as for naming and Stileing all sorts
of Officers, both superior and inferior, which they shall find needfull
for the Government and Plantacon of the said Colony, and the
distinguishing and setting forth of the severall Dutyes, Powers and
Lymitts of every such Office and Place, and the formes of such Oaths,
not being contrary to the Laws and Statutes of this our Realme of
England, to bee administered for the Execucon of the said severall
Offices and Places; As alsoe for the disposeing and Ordering of the
Eleccon of such of the said Officers as are to bee Annually Chosen, and
of such others as shall succeed in case of death or removall, and
Administering the said Oath to the new Elected Officers, and Graunting
necessary Comissions, and for imposicon of lawfull Fines, Mulcts,
Imprisonment or other Punishment vpon Offenders and Delinquents,
according to the Course of other Corporacons within this our Kingdome of
England, and the same Lawes, fines, Mulcts and Execucons to alter,
change, revoke, adnull, release or Pardon, vnder their Comon Seale, As
by the said Generall Assembly or the major part of them shall be thought
fitt; And for the directing, ruleing and disposing of all other matters
and things whereby our said people, Inhabitants there, may bee soe
religiously, peaceably and civilly Governed as their good life and
orderly Conversacon may wynn and invite the Natives of the Country to
the knowledge and obedience of the onely true God and Saviour of
mankind, and the Christian faith, which in our Royall intencons and the
Adventurers free profession is the onely and principall end of this
Plantacon; WILLING, Commanding and requireing, and by these presents,
for vs, our heires and Successors, Ordaineing and appointeing. That all
such Lawes, Statutes and Ordinances, Instruccons, Imposicons, and
Direccons as shall bee soe made by the Governour, Deputy Governour, and
Assistants, as aforesaid, and published in writeing vnder their Comon
Seale, shall carefully and duely bee observed, kept, performed and putt
in execucion, according to the true intent and meaning of the same.
AND these our letters Patents, or the Duplicate or Exemplification
thereof, shall bee to all and every such Officers, Superiors and
inferiors, from tyme to tyme, for the Putting of the same Orders, Lawes,
Statutes, Ordinances, Instruccons and Direccons in due Execucon, against
vs, our heires and Successors, a sufficient warrant and discharge.
AND WEE DOE FURTHER, for vs, our heires and Successors, give and Graunt
vnto the said Governor and Company and their Successors, by these
presents, That itt shall and may bee lawfull to and for the chiefe
Commanders, Governours and Officers of the said Company for the tyme
being whoe shall bee resident in the parts of New England hereafter
menconed, and others inhabitating there by their leave, admittance,
appointment or direccon, from tyme to tyme and att all tymes hereafter,
for their speciall defence and safety, to Assemble, Martiall, Array, and
putt in Warlike posture the Inhabitants of the said Colony, and to;
Commissionate, Impower and authorize such Person or Persons as they
shall thinke fitt to lead and Conduct the said Inhabitants, and to
encounter, expulse, repell and resist by force of Armes, as well by Sea
as by land, And alsoe to kill, Slay and destroy, by all fitting wayes,
enterprizes and meanes whatsoever, all and every such Person or Persons
as shall at any tyme hereafter Attempt or enterprize the destruccon,
Invasion, detriment or annoyance of the said Inhabitants or Plantacon,
And to vse and exercise the law Martiall, in such Cases onely as
occasion shall require, And to take or surprize by all wayes and meanes
whatsoever, all and every such Person and Persons, with their Shipps,
Armour, Ammunicon, and other goods of such as shall in such hostile
manner invade or attempt the defeating of the said Plantacon or the hurt
of the said Company and Inhabitants; and vpon just Causes to invade and
destroy the Natives or other Enemyes of the said Colony.
NEVERTHELESSE, Our Will and pleasure is, AND WEE DOE hereby Declare vnto
all Christian Kings, Princes and States, That if any Persons which shall
hereafter Bee of the said Company or Plantacon, or any other, by
appointment of the said Governor and Company for the tyme being, shall
at any tyme or tymes hereafter Robb or Spoile by Sea or by land, and doe
any hurt, violence or unlawful hostility to any of the Subjects of vs,
our heires or Successors, or any of the Subjects of any Prince or State
beinge then in league with vs, our heires or Successors, vpon Complaint
of such injury done to any such Prince or State, or their Subjects WEE,
our heires and Successors, will make open Proclamacon within any parts
of our Realme of England fitt for that purpose, That the Person or
Persons committinge any such Robbery or Spoile, shall within the tyme
lymitted by such Proclamacon, make full restitucon or satisfaccon of all
such injuries done or committed, Soe as the said Prince or others soe
complayneing may bee fully satisfied and contented. And if the said
Person or Persons whoe shall committ any such Robbery or Spoile shall
not make satisfaccon accordingly, within such tyme soe to bee limited,
That then itt shall and may bee lawful for vs, our heires and
Successors, to put such Person or Persons out of our Allegiance and
Proteccon: And that it shall and may bee lawfull and free for all
Princes or others to Prosecute with hostility such Offenders and every
of them, their and every of their Procurers, ayders, Abettors and
Councellors in that behalfe. PULMVIDED, alsoe, and our expresse will and
pleasure is, AND WEE DOE by these presents for vs, our heires and
Successors, Ordeyne and appointe that these presents shall not in any
manner hinder any of our loveing Subjects whatsoever to vse and exercise
the Trade of Fishinge vpon the coast of New England in America, but they
and every or any of them shall have full and free power and liberty to
contynue and vse the said Trade of Fishing upon the said Coast, in any
of the Seas therevnto adioyning, or any Armes of the Seas or Salt Water
Rivers where they have byn accustomed to Fish, and to build and sett
vpon the wast land belonging to the said Colony of Connecticutt, such
Wharfes, Stages and workehouses as shall bee necessary for the Salting,
dryeing and keeping of their Fish to bee taken or gotten vpon that
Coast, any thinge in these presents conteyened to the contrary
notwithstanding.
AND KNOWE YEE FURTHER, That Wee, of our more abundant grace, certaine
knowledge and meere mocon HAVE given, Graunted and Confirmed, And by
theis presents for vs, our heires and Successors, DOE give, Graunt and
Confirme vnto the said Governor and Company and their Successors, AULM
that parte of our Dominions in Newe England in America bounded on the
East by Norrogancett River, commonly called Norrogancett Bay, where the
said River falleth into the Sea, and on the North by the lyne of the
Massachusetts Plantacon, and on the South by the Sea, and in longitude
as the lyne of the Massachusetts Colony, runinge from East to West,
(that is to say,) from the Said Norrogancett Bay on the East to the
South Sea on the West parte, with the Islands thervnto adioyneinge,
Together with all firme lands, Soyles, Grounds, Havens, Ports, Rivers,
Waters, Fishings, Mynes, Mynerals, Precious Stones, Quarries, and all
and singular other Comodities, Iurisdiccons, Royalties, Priviledges,
Francheses, Preheminences, and hereditaments 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 vnto the said Governor and Company, their
Successors and Assignes, for ever vpon Trust and for the vse and
benefitt of themselves and their Associates, freemen of the said Colony,
their heires and Assignes, TO BEE HOLDEN of vs, our heires and
Successors, as of our Mannor of East Greenewich, in Free and Common
Soccage, and not in Capite nor by Knights Service, YULMLDING AND PAYINGE
therefore to vs, our heires and Successors, onely the Fifth parte of all
the Oare of Gold and Silver which from tyme to tyme and at all tymes
hereafter shall bee there gotten, had or obteyned, in liew of all
Services, Dutyes and Demaunds whatsoever, to bee to vs, our heires or
Successors, therefore or thereout rendered, made or paid.
AND LASTLY, Wee doe for vs, our heires, and Successors, Graunt to the
said Governor and Company and their Successors, by these presents, that
these our Letters Patent shall bee firme, good and effectuall in the
lawe to all intents, Construccons and purposes whatsoever, accordinge to
our true intent and meaneing herein before Declared, as shall be
Construed, reputed and adiudged most favourable on the behalfe and for
the best benefitt and behoofe of the said Governor and Company and their
Successors, ALTHOUGH EXPRESSE MENCON of the true yearely value or
certeinty of the premises, or of any of them, or of any other Guifts or
Graunts by vs or by any of our Progenitors or Predecessors heretofore
made to the said Governor and Company of the English Colony of
Connecticut in New England in America aforesaid in theis presents is not
made, or any Statute, Act, Ordinance, Provision, Proclamacon or
Restriccon heretofore had, made. Enacted, Ordeyned or Provided, or any
other matter, Cause or thinge whatsoever to the contrary thereof in any
wise notwithstanding.
IN WITNES whereof, we have caused these our Letters to be made Patent;
WITNES our Selfe, att Westminister, the three and Twentieth day of
Aprill, in the Fowerteenth yeare of our Reigne.
By writt of Privy Seale
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