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<DATE>2012-11-28</DATE>
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<NAME>Colm MacCrossan</NAME>
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<DIV1 TYPE="charter">
<PB REF="1" MS="y">
<PB REF="2">
<PB N="1" REF="2" MS="y">
<HEAD>THE CHARTER OF THE <HI>BAHAMA</HI> I&s;lands.</HEAD>
<P><HI>CHARLES</HI> the Second, by the Grace of GOD, King of <HI>England, Scotland, France,</HI> and <HI>Ireland,</HI> Defender of the Faith, <HI>&amp;c.</HI> To All to whom the&s;e pre&s;ents &s;hall come greeting.</P>
<P>KNOW YEE That We for divers good Cau&s;es and Con&s;iderations, us, hereunto e&s;pecially moving, of our e&s;pecial Grace, certain Knowledge, and meer Motion: HAVE Given and Granted, and by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, DO Give and Grant unto our Right tru&s;ty and Right intirely Beloved Co&s;en <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle;</HI> our Right tru&s;ty and Right Well-beloved Co&s;en and Coun|cellour <HI>William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven;</HI> our Right tru&s;t and Well-beloved Councellours, <HI>John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, An|thony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Chancellour and Under-Trea&s;urer
<PB N="2" REF="3">of our Exchequer; Sir <HI>George Carterett</HI> Knight, and Baronet, Vice-Chamberlain of our Hou&s;hold; and our Tru&s;ty and Well-beloved Sir <HI>Peter Colleton</HI> Baronet, their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns. All tho&s;e I&s;lands called <HI>Baha|ma,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">The Bounds</NOTE> Clentheria, Vianis, Providence, Inagua,</HI> and all other tho&s;e I&s;lands lying in the Degrees of Twenty and two, to Twenty and &s;even North Latitude, com|monly known by the Name of the <HI>Bahama I&s;lands,</HI> or the I&s;lands of the <HI>Lucayes.</HI></P>
<P>Together, with all and &s;ingular Ports, Harbours, Bays, Rivers, and I&s;lets belonging unto the I&s;lands afore|&s;aid; with the Fi&s;hing of all Sorts of Fi&s;h; Whales, Sturgeons, and all other Royal Fi&s;hes in the Sea, Bays, I&s;lets, and Rivers within the Premi&s;es; and the Fi&s;h therein taken: Together with the Royalty of the Sea upon the Coa&s;t within the Limits afore&s;aid.</P>
<P>And moreover, All Vains, Mines, and Quarries, as well di&s;covered as not di&s;covered, of Gold, Silver, Gems, precious Stones, and all other what&s;oever, be it of Stones, Mettals, or any other thing what&s;oever found, or to be found within the I&s;lands and Limits afore&s;aid.</P>
<P>And furthermore, The Patronage and Avow&s;ons of all the Churches and Chapels (which as Chri&s;tian Re|ligion &s;hall increa&s;e) within the I&s;lands, I&s;les, I&s;lets, and Limites afore&s;aid &s;hall happen hereafter to be Erected; together with Licen&s;e and Power to Build and Found Churches, Chapels, and Oratories in convenient and fit Places within the &s;aid Bounds and Limits, and to cau&s;e them to be Dedicated and Con&s;ecrated according to the Eccle&s;ia&s;tical Laws of our Kingdom of <HI>England:</HI> Together with all and &s;ingular the like, and as ample Rights, Juri&s;dictions, Priviledges, Prerogatives, Roy|alties Liberties, Immunities, and Franchi&s;es of what kind &s;oever with in the I&s;lands, I&s;les, I&s;lets, and Limits afore&s;aid.</P>
<P>To Have,
<NOTE PLACE="marg"><HI>Juri&s;dict. of a Count</HI> Palatine.</NOTE> U&s;e, Exerci&s;e and Enjoy; the &s;ame as amply fully, and in as ample manner as any Bi&s;hop of <HI>Durham</HI> in our Kingdom of <HI>England,</HI> ever heretofore Held, U&s;ed, or Enjoyed; or of Right ought or could Have, U&s;e, or Enjoy.</P>
<P>And them, The &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI>
<PB N="3" REF="3">Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colle|ton</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns.</P>
<P>We do by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, for us, our Heirs and Suc|ce&s;&s;ors, Make, Create, and Con&s;titute the true and ab&s;olute Lords and Proprietors of the &s;aid I&s;lands; and of all other, the Premi&s;es, &s;aving always the Faith, Al|legiance, and Soveraign Dominion due to us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, for the &s;ame.</P>
<P>To Have, and to Hold, Po&s;&s;e&s;s, and Enjoy the &s;aid I&s;lands, I&s;les, I&s;lets, and all and &s;ingular other the Pre|mi&s;es, unto them the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albe|marle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton,</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns for ever.</P>
<P>To be Holden of us, our Heirs, and Succe&s;&s;ors,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Tenure.</NOTE> as of our Mannor of <HI>Ea&s;t-Greenwick</HI> in our County of <HI>Kent,</HI> in free and common Soccage, and not <HI>in Capite,</HI> or by Knights-&s;ervice: Yielding and paying yearly to us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors for the &s;ame, the Fourth part of all Gold and Silver Oar, which within the Li|mits hereby granted, &s;hall from time to time happen to be found. And al&s;o Yeilding and paying to us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors as often as we or they &s;hall hap|pen to come or enter in to the &s;aid I&s;lands, one Pound of fine Silver.</P>
<P>And fora&s;much as we have Made and Ordained the afore&s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton,</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, the True Lords and Proprietors of the I&s;lands afore&s;aid: <HI>Know ye</HI> therefore moreover that we repo&s;ing e&s;pecial Tru&s;t and Confidence in their Fideli|ty, Wi&s;dom, Ju&s;tice, and Provident Circum&s;pection for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors. Do Grant full and ab&s;o|lute Power by Vertue of the&s;e Pre&s;ents, to them the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton,</HI> and their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, for the good and happy Government of the &s;aid I&s;lands, full Power and Authority to Erect, Con&s;titute, and make &s;everal Counties, Baronies, and
<PB N="4" REF="4">Colonies, of, and within the afore&s;aid I&s;lands, Lands, and Hereditaments, in, and by the&s;e Pre&s;ents granted, or mentioned to be granted as afore&s;aid, with &s;everal and di&s;tinct Juri&s;dictions, Power, Liberties and Privi|ledges: And al&s;o to Make, Ordain, and Enact, and un|der their Seals to publi&s;h any Laws and Con&s;titutions what&s;oever, either appertaining to the Publick E&s;tate of the &s;aid I&s;lands, or of any di&s;tinct or particular Coun|ty, Barony, or Colony, of or within the &s;ame, or to the private Utility of particular Per&s;ons, according to their be&s;t Di&s;cretion, by and with the Advice, A&s;&s;ent and Ap|probation of the Free-Men of the &s;aid I&s;lands, or of the Free-Men of the County, Barony, or Colony for which &s;uch Laws or Con&s;titution &s;hall be made, or of the grea|ter part of them, or of their Delegates or Deputies, whom for Enacting of the &s;aid Laws, When, and as often as need &s;hall require. We Will, that the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Cra|ven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton,</HI> and their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, &s;hall from time, to time, A&s;&s;embled in &s;uch Manner and Form as to them &s;hall &s;eem be&s;t; and the &s;ame Law duely to Execute upon the People within the &s;aid I&s;lands, County, Barony, or Colony, and the Li|mits thereof for the time being, or which &s;hall be Con|&s;tituted under the Power or Government of them, or any of them; either &s;ailing towards the &s;aid I&s;lands, or returning from thence towards <HI>England,</HI> or any other of ours or Forreign Dominions, by Impo&s;ition of Pen|alty, Impri&s;onment, or any other Puni&s;hment. Yea, if it &s;hall be needful, and the quality of the Offence re|quire it, by taking away Member and Life, either by them the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>Georege Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton,</HI> and their Heirs, or by them or their Deputies, Lieute|nants, Judges, Ju&s;tices, Magi&s;trates, Officers and Mi|ni&s;ters to be Ordained or Appointed according to the Tenor and true intention of the&s;e Pre&s;ents. And like|wi&s;e to Erect and make any Court or Courts what&s;oever of Judicature or otherwi&s;e, as &s;hall be requi&s;ite; and to
<PB N="5" REF="4">Appoint and E&s;tabli&s;h any Judges, or Ju&s;tices, Magi|&s;trates, or Officers what&s;oever, as well within the &s;aid I&s;lands as at Sea, in &s;uch Manner and Form as unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton,</HI> or their Heirs &s;hall &s;eem mo&s;t convenient: Al&s;o to Remit, Relea&s;e, Pardon and Aboli&s;h, either before Judgment or after, all Crimes and Offences what&s;oever again&s;t the &s;aid Laws, and to do all and every other thing and things which unto the compleat E&s;tabli&s;hment of Ju&s;tice unto Courts, Se&s;&s;ions, and Forms of Judicature and Manners of proceedings therein do belong, although in the&s;e Pre&s;ents expre&s;s Mention is not made thereof, and by Judges by him or them delegated to Award, Proce&s;s, hold Pleas, and determine in all the &s;aid Courts and Places of Judicature, all Actions, Suits, and Cau&s;es what|&s;oever, as well Criminal as Civil, Real, Mixt, Per&s;onal, or of any other kind or nature what&s;oever; which Laws &s;o as afore&s;aid to be Publi&s;hed. Our will and plea|&s;ure is, and we do enjoyn, require and command, &s;hall be ab&s;olute, Firm, and Available in Law; and that all the Leige People of us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors within the &s;aid I&s;lands; do ob&s;erve and keep the &s;ame inviol|ably in tho&s;e Parts &s;o far as they concern them, under the Pains and Penalties therein expre&s;&s;ed, or to be ex|pre&s;&s;ed: Provided neverthele&s;s that the &s;aid Laws be con&s;onant to Rea&s;on, and as near as may be convenient|ly agreeable to the Laws and Cu&s;toms of this our Kingdom of <HI>England.</HI></P>
<P>And becau&s;e &s;uch A&s;&s;emblies of Free-holders cannot be &s;o &s;uddainly called as there may be occa&s;ion to require the &s;ame: We do therefore by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, Give and Grant unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns by them&s;elves or their Magi&s;t|rates in that behalf lawfully Authorized, full Power and Authority from time to time, to make and ordain fit and whol&s;ome Orders and Ordinances within the a|fore&s;aid I&s;lands, or any County, Barony or Province, of,
<PB N="6" REF="5">or within the &s;ame, to be kept and ob&s;erved as well for the keeping of the Peace, as for the better Government of the People there abiding, and to publi&s;h the &s;ame to All to whom it may concern, which Ordinance we do by the&s;e Pre&s;ents &s;trictly Charge and Command to be inviolably ob&s;erved within the &s;aid I&s;lands under the Penalties therein expre&s;&s;ed, &s;o as &s;uch Ordinances be rea&s;onable and not repugnant or contrary, but as near as may be agreeable to the Laws and Statutes of this our Kingdom of <HI>England,</HI> and &s;o as the &s;ame Ordinances do not extend to the binding, charging or taking away of the Rights or Intere&s;t of any Per&s;on or Per&s;ons, in their Free-hold, Goods, or Chattels, what&s;oever.</P>
<P>And to the end, the &s;aid I&s;lands may be the more happily encrea&s;ed by the multitude of People re&s;orting thither, and may likewi&s;e be the more &s;trongly defend|ed from the Incur&s;ions of <HI>Salvages</HI> and other <HI>Enemies, Pirates</HI> and <HI>Robbers:</HI> Therefore, we for us, our Heirs, and Succe&s;&s;ors, do Give and Grant by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, Power, Licen&s;e, and Liberty unto all the liege People of us, our Heirs, and Succenors, in our Kingdom of <HI>Eng|land</HI> or el&s;ewhere within any other our Dominions, I&s;lands, Colonies, or Plantations, (excepting tho&s;e who &s;hall be e&s;pecially forbidden) to tran&s;port them&s;elves and Families into the &s;aid I&s;land with convenient Ship|ping and, fitting Provi&s;ions, and there to &s;ettle them|&s;elves, Dwell, and Inhabit any Law, Act, Statute, Or|dinance, or other Thing to the contrary in any wife notwith&s;tanding.</P>
<P>And we will al&s;o, and of our more e&s;pecial Grace, for us, our Heirs, and Succe&s;&s;ors, do &s;trictly Enjoyn, Ordain, Con&s;titute and Command, that the &s;aid I&s;lands, &s;hall be of our Allegiance, and that all and &s;ingular the Sub|jects and Liege People of us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, tran&s;ported, or to be tran&s;ported into the &s;aid I&s;lands, and the Children of them, and &s;uch as &s;hall de&s;cend from them, there born, or hereafter to be born, be, and &s;hall be Denizons and Leiges of us, our Heirs, and Suc|ce&s;&s;ors, of this our Kingdom of <HI>England,</HI> and be in all things Held, Treated, and Reputed as the leige faithful People of us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, born within this
<PB N="7" REF="5">our &s;aid Kingdom, or any other of our Dominions, and may inherit, or otherwi&s;e purcha&s;e and receive take, have, hold, buy and po&s;&s;e&s;s any Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments within the &s;aid Places, and them may Occupy, and Enjoy, Give, Sell Alien, and Bequeath: As likewi&s;e, all Liberties, Franchi&s;es, and Privileges, of this our Kingdom of <HI>England</HI> and of other our Do|minions afore&s;aid; may freely and quietly have, Po&s;&s;e&s;s, and Enjoy, as our leige People, born within the &s;ame, without the mole&s;tation, lett, vexation, trouble or grievance, of us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, any Statute, Act, Ordinance, or Provi&s;ions to the contrary not|with&s;tanding.</P>
<P>And farthermore, that our Subjects of this our &s;aid Kingdom of <HI>England,</HI> and other our Dominions, may be the rather incouraged to undertake this Expedition, with ready and cheerful mind; <HI>Know Yee,</HI> That we of our e&s;pecial Grace, certain Knowledg, and meer Motion, do Give and Grant, by vertue of the&s;e Pre&s;ents, as well as to the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton,</HI> and their Heirs, as unto all others as &s;hall from time to time repair unto the &s;aid I&s;lands, with a purpo&s;e to inhabit there, or to trade with the Natives thereof, free Liberty and Licen&s;e to Lade and Fraight in any Ports what&s;o|ever, of us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Licen&s;e to tran&s;port Goods and Merchan|di&s;e.</NOTE> and into the &s;aid I&s;lands, by them then Servantsand A&s;&s;igns, to tran&s;port, all and &s;ingular their Goods, Wares, and Merchandizes; as likewi&s;e all &s;orts of Grain what&s;oever, and any other Thing what&s;oever, nece&s;&s;ary for their Food and Cloath|ing (not prohibited by the Laws and Statutes of our Kingdoms and Dominions to be carried out of the &s;ame without any lett, or mole&s;tation of us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, or of any other our Officers and Mini&s;ters what&s;oever) &s;aving al&s;o, to us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, the Cu&s;toms, and other Duties and Payments due for the &s;aid Wares and Merchandizes, according to the &s;everal Rates of the Places from whence the &s;ame &s;hall be Tran&s;ported.</P>
<PB N="8" REF="6">
<P>We will al&s;o, and by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, do give, and grant Licen&s;e by this our Charter, unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albermarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton,</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, and to all the Inhabitants and Dwellers in the I&s;lands afore&s;aid, both pre&s;ent and to come, full Power, and ab&s;olute Authority to import or unlade by them&s;elves, or their Servants, Factors, or A&s;&s;igns, all Merchandizes and Goods what&s;oever that &s;hall ari&s;e of the Fruits and Commodities of the &s;aid I&s;lands, either by Land, or Sea, into any the Ports of us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, in our Kingdom of <HI>England, Scotland</HI> and <HI>Ireland,</HI> or otherwi&s;e to di&s;po&s;e of the &s;aid Goods in the &s;aid Ports; and if need be, within one Year next after the unlading to lade the &s;aid Merchan|dizes and Goods again into the &s;ame, or other Ships, and to Export the &s;ame into any other Countries, either of our Dominions or Forreign, (being in Amity with us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors) &s;o as they pay &s;uch Cu|&s;toms, Sub&s;idies, and other Duties for the &s;ame, to us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, as the re&s;t of the Subjects of this our Kingdom for the time being &s;hall be bound to pay, beyond which, we will not that the Inhabitants of the &s;aid I&s;lands &s;hall be any way Charged: <HI>Provided</HI> neverthele&s;s, and our Will and Plea&s;ure is, and we have further for the con&s;iderations afore&s;aid, of our e&s;pecial Grace, Certain Knowledg, and meer Motion, given and Granted, and by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors. Do Give and Grant unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;to|pher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, full and free Licen&s;e, Liberty, Power and Au|thority at any time or times, from and after the Fea&s;t of St. <HI>Michael the Archangel,</HI> next en&s;uing, the date hereof to Export and carry out of any of our Dominions into the &s;aid I&s;lands Cu&s;tom free, all Sorts of Tools which &s;hall be u&s;eful and nece&s;&s;ary for the Planters there in the Accommodation and Improvement of the Premi&s;es, any thing before in the&s;e Pre&s;ents contained,
<PB N="9" REF="6">or any Law, Act, Statute, Prohibition, or other Matter or Thing heretofore Had, Made, Enacted, or Provided; or hereafter to be Had, Made, Enacted, or Provided, or the contrary in any wi&s;e Notwith&s;tanding.</P>
<P>And Furthermore, of our more ample and e&s;pecial Grace, certain Knowledg, and meer Motion, we do for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, Grant unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri|&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, full and ab&s;olute Power and Authority to Make, Erect, and Con&s;titute within the &s;aid I&s;lands, and the I&s;les and I&s;lets afore&s;aid, &s;uch and &s;o many Sea Ports, Harbours, Creeks, and other Places for di&s;charge and unlading of Goods and Merchandizes out of Ships, Boats, and other Ve&s;&s;els; and for lading them in &s;uch and &s;o many Places, and with &s;uch Juri&s;dictions, Priviledges, and Franchi&s;es unto the &s;aid Ports belonging as to them &s;hall &s;eem mo&s;t expedient: And that all and &s;ingular the Ships, Boats, and other Ve&s;&s;els, which &s;hall come for Mer|chandizes and Trade into the &s;aid I&s;lands, or &s;hall de|part out of the &s;ame, &s;hall be laden and unladen at &s;uch Ports only as &s;hall be Erected and Con&s;tituted by the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton,</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, and not el&s;ewhere any U&s;e, Cu&s;tom, or any thing to the contrary in any wi&s;e Notwith&s;tanding.</P>
<P>And we do furthermore Will, Appoint and Ordain, and by the&s;e Pre&s;ents for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, do Grant unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Authony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colle|ton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns. That they the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Cra|ven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, may from time to time for ever,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Power to A&s;&s;e&s;s Cu|&s;toms.</NOTE> have and en|joy the Cu&s;toms and Sub&s;idies in the Ports. Harbours, Creeks, and other places within the afore&s;aid I&s;lands, payable for Goods, Merchandizes, and Wares there
<PB N="10" REF="7">laded, or to be laded, or unladed, the &s;aid Cu&s;toms to be rea&s;onably A&s;&s;e&s;&s;ed upon any occa&s;ion by them&s;elves, and by and with the con&s;ent of the Free People there, or the greater part of them as afore&s;aid. To whom we give Power by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, upon ju&s;t Cau&s;e and in a due proportion to A&s;&s;e&s;s and Impo&s;e the &s;ame.</P>
<P>And further, of our e&s;pecial Grace, certain Know|ledg,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Power to Create Te|nures.</NOTE> and meer Motion, we have Given, and Granted, and by the&s;e Pre&s;ents for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;|&s;ors, do Give, Grant, unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, full and ab&s;olute Licen&s;e, Power and Authority. That they the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Lord <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkely, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, from time to time hereafter for ever, at his, and their Will and Plea&s;ure, may A&s;&s;ign, Alien, Grant, Demi&s;e, or Enfeoff the Pre|mi&s;es or any part or parcel thereof, to him or them, that &s;hall be willing to purcha&s;e the &s;ame, and to &s;uch Per&s;on, and Per&s;ons as they &s;hall think fit, To have and to hold to them the &s;aid Per&s;on, or Per|&s;ons, their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns in Fee Simple, or Fee Tail or for Term of Life, or Lives, or Years, to be held of them the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, An|thony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton,</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, by &s;uch Rents, Services, and Cu&s;toms, as &s;hall &s;eem fit to the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Cra|ven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns; and not immediately of us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors: And to the &s;ame Per&s;on, or Per&s;ons, and to all and every of them, we do Give and Grant by the&s;e Pre&s;ents for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, Licen&s;e, Authority, and Power, that &s;uch Per&s;on, or Per&s;ons may have and take the Premi&s;es, or any
<PB N="11" REF="7">Parcel thereof, of the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albe|marle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, and the &s;ame to hold to them&s;elves, their Heirs or A&s;&s;igns, in what E&s;tate of Inheritance &s;oever, in Fee Simple, or in Fee Tail, or otherwi&s;e, as to them, the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;to|pher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns &s;hall &s;eem expedient: The Statute in the Parliament of <HI>Edward</HI> Son of King <HI>Henry,</HI> hereto|fore King of <HI>England,</HI> our Predece&s;&s;or, commonly called the Statute of <HI>Quia emptores terrarum,</HI> or any other Statute, Act, Ordinance, U&s;e, Law, Cu&s;tom, or any other Matter, Cau&s;e, or thing heretofore Publi&s;hed or Provided to the contrary, in any wi&s;e notwith&s;tanding: And becau&s;e many Per&s;ons born or inhabiting in the &s;aid I&s;lands for their De&s;ert and Services, may expect and be capable of Marks of Ho|nour and Favour, which in re&s;pect of the great Di|&s;tance cannot conveniently be conferred by us. Our Will and Plea&s;ure therefore is, and we do by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, Give, and Grant, unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Power to Confer Ho|nour.</NOTE> John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Car|terett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, full Power and Authority to Give, and Confer unto, and upon &s;uch of the Inhabitants of the &s;aid I&s;lands, as they &s;hall think, do, or &s;hall Merit the &s;ame, &s;uch Marks of Favour and Titles of Honour as they &s;hall think fit, &s;o as tho&s;e Titles or Honour be not the &s;ame as are enjoyned by, or conferred upon any the Subjects of this our Kingdom of <HI>England.</HI></P>
<P>And further, al&s;o we do by the Pre&s;ents, for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, Give, and Grant Licen&s;e to them the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colle|ton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, full Power, Liberty, and Licen&s;e to Erect, Rai&s;e, and Build within the &s;aid
<PB N="12" REF="8">I&s;lands and Places afore&s;aid, or any Part, or Parts thereof, &s;uch and &s;o many Forts, Fortre&s;&s;es, Ca&s;tles, Cities, Boroughs, Towns, Villages, and other Forti|fications what&s;oever; and the &s;ame or any of them to fortifie and furni&s;h with Ordinance, Powder, Shot, Armour, and all other Weapons, Amunition, and Ha|biliments of War, both Offen&s;ive, and Defen&s;ive, as &s;hall be thought fit and convenient for the &s;afety and welfare of the &s;aid I&s;lands, or any part thereof, and the &s;ame or any of them from time to time, as oc|ca&s;ion &s;hall require to Di&s;mantle, Disfurni&s;h, Demo|li&s;h and pull down. And al&s;o to Place, Con&s;titute, and Appoint, in, or over all or any of the &s;aid Ca&s;tles, Forts, Fortifications, Cities, Towns, and Places a|fore&s;aid; Governours, Deputy-Governours, Magi|&s;trates, Sheriffs, and other Officers, Civil, and Milli|tary, as to them &s;hall &s;eem meet. And to the &s;aid Cities, Boroughs, Towns, Villages, or any other Place, or Places within the &s;aid I&s;lands, to Grant Let|ters or Charters of Incorporation; with all Liberties, Franchi&s;es and Priviledges requi&s;ite and u&s;ual, or to, or within any Corporations within this our Kingdom of <HI>England,</HI> granted or belonging, and in the &s;ame Cities, Boroughs, Towns, and other Places, to Con|&s;titute, Erect, and Appoint &s;uch, and &s;o many Mar|kets, Marts and Fairs, as &s;hall in that behalf be thought fit and nece&s;&s;ary.</P>
<P>And further, al&s;o to Erect and Make in the I&s;lands afore&s;aid, or any part thereof, &s;o many Mannors with &s;uch Seigniories as to them &s;hall &s;eem meet and con|venient, and in every of the &s;aid Mannors <HI>To Have</HI> and hold a Court Baron, with all things what&s;oever, which to a <HI>Court-Baron</HI> do belong. And <HI>To Have</HI> and to hold <HI>Viewes of Franck-Pledge</HI> and <HI>Court-Leet</HI> for the Con&s;ervation of the Peace, and better Go|vernment of tho&s;e Parts with &s;uch Limits, Juri&s;dicti|ons, and Precincts as by the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven John</HI> Lord <HI>Ber|keley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> or their Heirs &s;hall be Appointed for that purpo&s;e, with all things what&s;oever, which
<PB N="13" REF="8">to a <HI>Court-Leet,</HI> or <HI>View of Franck-Pledge</HI> do belong, the &s;ame Courts to be Holden by Stewards to be de|puted and Authorized by the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> or their Heirs, or by the Lords of the Mannors and Leets for the time being, when the &s;ame &s;hall be Erected; and becau&s;e that, in &s;o remote a Country, and &s;ituate among &s;o many bar|barous Nations, the Inva&s;ions as well of <HI>Salvages</HI> or other <HI>Enemies, Pirats,</HI> and <HI>Robbers,</HI> may probably be feared: Therefore we have given, and for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, do give Power by the&s;e Pr&s;ents, unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle,
<NOTE PLACE="marg">Power to make War.</NOTE> William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns by them&s;elves, or their Cap|tains, or other Officers, to Leavy, Mu&s;ter, and Train all &s;orts of Men, of what Condition &s;oever, or where|&s;oever born, whether in the &s;aid I&s;lands or el&s;ewhere for the time being; and to make War, and to pur&s;ue the <HI>Enemies</HI> afore&s;aid, as well by Sea as by Land; Yea, even without Limits of the &s;aid I&s;lands, (and by Gods a&s;&s;i&s;tance) to vanqui&s;h and take them, and be|ing taken, to put them to Death by the Law of War, and to &s;ave them at their plea&s;ure, and to do all and every other thing which to the Charge and Office of a Captain General of any Army belongeth, or hath accu&s;tomed to belong, as fully and freely, as any Cap|tain General of an Army hath ever had the &s;ame.</P>
<P>Al&s;o, our Will and Plea&s;ure is, and by this our Charter, we do give unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, full <HI>Power, Liberty,</HI> and <HI>Authority,</HI> in ca&s;e of <HI>Rebellion, Tumult,</HI> or <HI>Sedition,</HI> (if any &s;hould happen, which God forbid) either upon the Land within the I&s;lands afore&s;aid, or upon the <HI>Main Sea,</HI> in making a Voyage thither, or returning from thence, by him and them|&s;elves, their Captains, Deputies, or Officers, to be
<PB N="14" REF="9">authority under his, or their Seals for that purpo&s;e. To whom al&s;o, for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, we do Give and Grant by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, full Power and Authority to Exerci&s;e Martial Law again&s;t mutinous and &s;editious Per&s;ons of tho&s;e parts, &s;uch as &s;hall re|fu&s;e to &s;ubmit them&s;elves to their Government, or &s;hall refu&s;e to &s;erve in the Wars, or &s;hall fly to the Enemy, for&s;ake their Colours, or En&s;igns, or be Loy|terers, or Straglers, or otherwi&s;e how&s;oever offending again&s;t Law, Cu&s;tom, or Di&s;cipline Military, as freely, and in as ample manner and form, as any Captain Ge|neral of an Army by vertue of his Office, might, or hath accu&s;tomed to u&s;e the &s;ame.</P>
<P>And our further plea&s;ure is, and by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors: We do Grant unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord; <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, and to the Tenants and Inha|bitants of the &s;aid I&s;lands, both pre&s;ent and to come, and to every of them, that the &s;aid I&s;lands, and the Tenants and Inhabitants thereof &s;hall not from hence|forth be held or reputed any Member or Part of any Colony what&s;oever, in <HI>America,</HI> or el&s;ewhere, now Tran&s;ported or made, or hereafter to be Tran&s;ported or made; nor &s;hall be depending on, or &s;ubject to their Government in any thing, but be ab&s;olutely &s;e|perated and divided from the &s;ame: And our Will and Plea&s;ure is, by the&s;e Pre&s;ents that they be &s;eperated, and that they be &s;ubject immediately to our Crown of <HI>England,</HI> as depending thereof for ever.</P>
<P>And that the Inhabitants of the &s;aid I&s;lands nor any of them &s;hall at any time hereafter be compelled or compellable, or by any ways &s;ubject or liable to appear or an&s;wer to any Matter, Suit, Cau&s;e, or Plaint what|&s;oever out of the I&s;lands afore&s;aid, in any other of our I&s;lands, Colonies, or Dominions in <HI>America</HI> or el&s;e|where, other than in our Realm of <HI>England,</HI> and Do|minion of <HI>Wales.</HI> And becau&s;e it may happen that &s;ome of the People and Inhabitants of the &s;aid I&s;lands, cannot in their private Opinions Conform to the Pub|lick
<PB N="15" REF="9">Exerci&s;e of Religion according to the Liturgy, Forms, and Ceremonies of the Church of <HI>England,</HI> or take or &s;ub&s;cribe the Oaths and Articles made and e&s;tabli&s;hed in that behalf; and for that the &s;ame by rea&s;on of the remote Di&s;tances of the&s;e Places, will as we hope, be no Breach of the Unity and Uniformity E&s;tabli&s;hed in this Nation. Our Will and Plea&s;ure therefore is, and we do by the&s;e Pre&s;ents, for us, our Heirs and Succe&s;&s;ors, Give and Grant unto the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Cra|ven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs or A&s;&s;igns, full and free Licen&s;e, Liberty, and Autho|rity by &s;uch ways and means as they &s;hall think fit to Give and Grant to &s;uch Per&s;on and Per&s;ons inhabiting and being within the &s;aid I&s;lands hereby, mentioned to be Granted as afore&s;aid, or any part thereof, &s;uch Indulgencies and Di&s;pen&s;ations in that behalf, for, and during &s;uch time and times, and with &s;uch Limitati|ons and Re&s;trictions as they the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns, &s;hall in their di&s;cretion think fit and rea&s;onable: And that no Per&s;on or Per&s;ons unto whom &s;uch Liberty &s;hall be given, &s;hall be any way mole&s;ted, puni&s;hed, di&s;|quieted, or called in que&s;tion for any differences in Opinion, or Practice in matters of Religious Concern|ment, who do not actually di&s;turb the Civil Peace of the I&s;land, County, or Colony, that he or they &s;hall make their Aboad in. But all and every &s;uch Per&s;on or Per&s;ons may from time to time and at all times, freely and quietly have and enjoy his and their Judg|ments and Con&s;ciences in Matters of Religion through|out all the &s;aid I&s;lands, they behaving them&s;elves peaceably, and not u&s;ing the Liberty to Licentiou&s;ne&s;s, nor to the Civil Injury nor outward di&s;turbance of others; any Law, Statute, or Clau&s;e contained, or to be contained, U&s;uage or Cu&s;tom of our Realm of <HI>England</HI> to the contrary hereof in any wi&s;e notwith|&s;tanding. And in ca&s;e it &s;hall happen that any Doubt
<PB N="16" REF="10">or Que&s;tion &s;hould ari&s;e concerning the true Sen&s;e and Under&s;tanding of any Word, Clau&s;e, or Sentence con|tained in our pre&s;ent Charter.</P>
<P>We will Ordain and Command, That at all times, and in all things, &s;uch Interpretations be made there|of, and allowed in all and every of our Courts what|&s;oever as lawfully may be adjudged mo&s;t advantageous and favourable to the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albe|marle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> their Heirs and A&s;&s;igns.</P>
<P>Although expre&s;s mention of the true yearly Value, or certainty of the Premi&s;es, or of any of them, or of any other Gifts or Grants, by us, or by any of our Progenitors or Predece&s;&s;ors heretofore made by the &s;aid <HI>Chri&s;topher</HI> Duke of <HI>Albemarle, William</HI> Earl of <HI>Craven, John</HI> Lord <HI>Berkeley, Anthony</HI> Lord <HI>A&s;hley,</HI> Sir <HI>George Carterett,</HI> and Sir <HI>Peter Colleton;</HI> in the&s;e Pre&s;ents is not made, or any Statute, Act, Ordinance, Provi&s;o, Proclamation, or Re&s;triction heretofore Had, Made, Enacted, Ordained or Provided, or any other Matter, Cau&s;e, or Thing what&s;oever, to the contrary hereof in any wi&s;e notwith&s;tanding.</P>
<CLOSER><DATELINE>In Witne&s;s, whereof we have cau&s;ed the&s;e our Let|ters to be made Patents. Witne&s;s Our Self at <HI>We&s;t|min&s;ter,</HI> <DATE>the fir&s;t Day of <HI>November,</HI> In the two and twentieth Year of our Reign.</DATE></DATELINE>
<SIGNED><HI>By Writ of Privy Seal.</HI> PIGOTT.</SIGNED></CLOSER>
<TRAILER>FINIS.</TRAILER>
<PB REF="10">
</DIV1>
</BODY>
</TEXT>
</EEBO>
</ETS>
