and after fuch election or elections made of fuch governor, de-: puty-governor, affiftant, or affiftants, or any other officer of the faid company, in manner and form aforefaid, the authority, office, and power before given to the former governor, deputygovernor, and other officer and officers fo removed, in whole ftead and place new fhall be chofen, fhall, as to him and them, and every of them refpectively, ceafe and determine: Provided always, and our will and pleafure is, That as well fuch as are by these prefents appointed to be the prefent governor, deputygovernor, and affiftants of the faid company, as thofe which fhall fucceed them, and all other officers to be appointed and chosen asTM aforefaid, fhall, before the undertaking the execution of the faid offices and places refpectively, give their folemn engagement by path or otherwife, for the due and faithful performance of their duties in their feveral offices and places, before fuch perfon or perfons as are by these presents hereafter appointed to take and receive the fame; (that is to fay) the faid Benedict Arnold, who is herein before nominated and appointed the present governor of the faid company, fhall give the aforefaid engagement before William Brenton, or any two of the faid affiftants of the faid company, unto whom we do, by these presents, give full power and authority to require and receive the fame; and the faid William Brenton, who is hereby before nominated and appointed the prefent deputy-governor of the faid company, fhall give the aforefaid engagement before the faid Benedict Arnold, or any two of the affiftants of the faid company, unto whom we do, by these prefents, give full power and authority to require and receive the fame; and the faid William Boulton, John Porter, Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, John Smith, John Greene, John Coge. fhall, James Barker, William Field, and, Jofeph Clarke, who are herein before nominated and appointed the present affistants of the. company, fhall give the faid engagement to their offices and places refpectively belonging, before the faid Benedict Arnold and William Brenton, or one of them, to whom refpectively we do hereby, give full power and authority to require, adminifter, or receive the fame. And further, our will and pleafure is, that all and every other future governor, or deputy-governor, to be elected and chofen by virtue of thefe prefents, fhall give the faid engagement. before two or more of the faid affistants, of the faid company for the time being, unto whom we do, by these prefents, give full, power and authority to require, adminifter, or receive the fame; and the faid affiftants, and every of them, and all and every other officer or officers, to be hereafter elected and chofen by virtue of thefe prefents, from time to time, fhall give the like engagements to their offices and places refpectively belonging, before the governor or deputy-governor for the time being; unto which faid governor or deputy-governor, we do by thefe, prefents give full power and authority to require, adminifter, or receive the fame accordingly. And we do likewife for us, our heirs, and fucceffors, give and

grant

grant unto the faid governor and company and their fucceffors, by these prefents, that for the more peaceable and orderly government of the faid plantations, it fhall and may be lawful for the governor, deputy-governor, affiftants, and all other officers and minifters of the faid company, in the administration of justice and exercise of government in the faid plantations, to use, exercise, and put in execution, fuch methods, rules, orders, and directions, not being contrary and repugnant to the laws and ftatutes of this our realm, as have been heretofore given, ufed, and accustomed in fuch cafes refpectively, to be put in practice, until at the next or fome other general affembly, especial provifion fhall be made in the cafes aforefaid. And we do further, for us, our heirs, and fucceffors, give and grant unto the faid governor and company, and their fucceffors, by these presents, that it fhall and may be lawful to and for the faid governor, or in his abfence the deputy-governor and major part of the faid affiftants for the time being, at any time, when the faid general affembly is not fitting, to nominate, ap point, and conftitute fuch and fo many commanders, governors, and military officers, as to them fhall feem requifite, for the leading, conducting, and training up the inhabitants of the faid plantations in martial affairs, and for the defence and fafeguard of the faid plantations; and that it fhall and may be lawful to and for all and every fuch commander, governor, and military officer, that fhall be fo as aforefaid, or by the governor, or in his abfence the deputy-governor and fix of the affistants, and major part of the freemen of the faid company, prefent at any general affemblies, nominated, appointed, and conftituted, according to the tenor of his and their respective commiffions and directions, to affemble, exercife in arms, marshal, array, and put in warlike posture, the inhabitants of the faid colony, for their efpecial defence and fafety; and to lead and conduct the faid inhabitants, and to encounter, repulfe, and refift by force of arms, as well by fea as by land, to kill, flay, and deftroy, by all fitting ways, enterprizes, and means whatfoever, 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 or plantations; and to use and exercife the law martial, in fuch cafes only as occafion fhall neceffarily require; and to take and furprife, by all ways and means whatfoever, all and every fuch perfon and perfons, with their fhip or fhips, armour, ammunition, or other goods of fuch perfons as fhall in hoftile manner invade or attempt the defeating of the faid plantation, or the hurt of the 1 faid company and inhabitants; and upon juft caufes to invade and deftroy the natives, Indians, or other enemies of the faid colony. Nevertheless, our will and pleasure is, and we do hereby declare, to the rest of our colonies in New-England, that it fhall not be lawful for this our faid colony of Rhode-Ifland and Providence Plantations in America, in New-England, to invade the natives inhabiting within the bounds and limits of their faid colonies, without

without the knowledge and confent of the faid other colonies. And it is hereby declared, that it shall not be lawful to or for the rest of the colonies to invade or moleft the native Indians, or any other inhabitants, inhabiting within the bounds or limits hereafter mentioned (they having fubjected themfelves unto us, and being by us taken into our special protection), without the knowledge and confent of the governor and company of our colony of Rhode-Island and Providence plantation. Alfo our will and pleafure is, and we do hereby declare unto all Chriftian kings, princes, and ftates, that if any perfon, 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 spoil, by fea or land, or do any hurt, or unlawful hoftility, to any of the fubjects of us, our heirs, and fucceffors, or to any of the fubjects of any prince. or ftate being then in league with us, our heirs, and fucceffors; upon complaint of fuch injury done to any fuch prince or state, 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 reftitution 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 fpoil, fhall not make fatisfaction accordingly, within fuch time fo to be limited, that then we, our heirs and fucceffors, will put fuch perfon or perfons out of our allegiance and protection; and that then it sbail 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 procurers, aiders, abettors, and council-. lors, in that behalf. Provided alfo, and our exprefs will and pleafure is, and we do by thefe prefents, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, ordain and appoint, that thefe prefents fhall not in any manner hinder any of our loving fubje&s whatsoever, from ufing and exercifing the trade of fishing upon the coaft of New-England, in America, but that they, and every or any of them, fhall have full and free power and liberty to continue and use the trade of fishing upon the faid coaft, in any of the feas thereunto adjoining, or any arms of the fea, or falt water, rivers and creeks, where they have been accustomed to fish, and to build and fet upon the wafte land belonging to the faid colony and plantations fuch wharfs, flages, and work-boufes, as fhall be neceffary for the falting, drying, and keeping, of their fish to be taken or gotten upon that coaft. And further, for the encouragement of the inhabitants of our faid colony of Providence plantation, to fet upon the business of taking whales, it fhall be lawful for them, or any of them, having ftruck a whale, dubertus, or other great fish, it or them to purfue unto that coaft, and into any bay, river, cove, creek or shore, be

longing

longing thereto, and it or them, upon the faid coaft, or in the faid bay, river, cove, creek, or fhore, belonging thereto, to kill and order for the best advantage, without moleftation, they making no wilful walle or fpoil; any thing in these presents contained, or any other matter or thing to the contrary notwithstanding. And further alfo, we are graciously pleafed, and do hereby declare, that if any of the inhabitants of our faid colony do fet upon the planting of vineyards, (the foil and climate both feeming naturally to concur to the production of wines) or be induftrious in the difcovery of fishing-banks, in or about the faid colony, we will, from time to time, give and allow all due and fitting encouragement therein, as to others in cafes of like nature. And further, of our more ample grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, we have given and granted, and by thefe prefents, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, do give and grant, unto the faid governor and company of the English colony of Rhode-Ifland and Providence plantation in the Narraganfet bay in New-England, in America, and to every inhabitant there, and to every person and perfons trading thither, and to every fuch perfon or perfons, as are or fhall be free of the faid colony, full power and authority from time to time, and at all times hereafter, to take, fhip, tranfport, and carry away, out of any of our realms and dominions, for and towards the plantation and defence of the faid colony, fuch and fo many of our loving fubjects and ftrangers, as fhall or will willingly accompany them in and to their faid colony and plantation, except fuch perfon or perfons as are or shall be therein reftrained by us, our heirs and fucceffors, or any law or ftatute of this realm; and alfo to fhip and tranfport all and all manner of goods, chattels, merchandife, and other things whatsoever, that are or fhall be useful or neceffary for the faid plantations, and defence thereof, and ufually tranfported, and not prohibited by any law or ftatute of this our realm; yielding and paying unto us, our heirs and fucceffors, fuch the duties, customs and fubfidies, as 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 fucceffors, ordain, declare, and grant, unto the faid governor and company, and their fucceffors, that all and every the fubjects of us, our heirs and fucceffors, which are already planted and fettled within our faid colony of Providence plantation, or which fhall hereafter go to inhabit within the faid colony, and all and every of their children which have been born there, or which shall happen hereafter to be born there, or on the fea going thither or returning from thence, fhall have and enjoy all liberties and immunities of free and natural fubjects, within any the dominions of us, our heirs and fucceffors, to all intents, conftructions, and purpoles whatfoever, as if they and every of them were born within the realm of England, And further know ye, that we, of our more abundant grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, have given, granted, and comfirmed, and by thefe prefents,

for

for us, our heirs and fucceffors, 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, containing the Nahantick and Nanhyganfett, alias Narraganfet bay, and countries and parts adjacent, bounded on the weft, or wefterly, to the middle or channel of a river there, commonly called and known by the name of Pawcatuck alias Pawcawtuck river, and fo along the faid river, as the greater or middle stream thereof reacheth or lies up into the north country, northward unto the head thereof, and from thence by à ftrait line drawn due north, until it meet with the fouth line of the Maffachusetts colony, and on the north or northerly, by the aforefaid fouth or foutherly line of the Maffachusetts colony or plantation, and extending towards the east or eastwardly three English miles, to the eaft and north-east of the moft eaftern and north-eaftern parts of the aforefaid Narraganset bay, as the faid bay lieth or extendeth itfelf from the ocean on the fouth or fouthwardly, unto the mouth of the river which runneth towards the town of Providence, and from thence along the eastwardly fide or bank of the faid river (higher called by the name of Seacunk river) up to the falls called Patucket falls, being the most weftwardly line of Plymouth colony; and fo from the faid falls, in a ftrait line due north, until it meet with the aforefaid line of the Maffachufetts colony, and bounded on the fouth by the ocean, and in particular the lands belonging to the town of Providence, Patuxit, Warwicke, Mifquammacock, alias Pawcatuck, and the rest upon the main land, in the tract aforefaid, together with Rhode-Ifland, Blocke-Ifland, and all the reft of the islands and banks in the Narraganfet-bay, and bordering upon the coast of the tract aforefaid, (Fifher's ifland only excepted) together with all firm lands, foils, grounds, havens, ports, rivers, waters, fishings, mines royal, and all other mines, minerals, precious ftones, quarries, woods, wood-grounds, rocks, flates, and all and fingular other commodities, jurifdictions, royalties, privileges, franchifes, pre-eminences and hereditaments whatfoever, within the faid tract, bounds, lands, and iflands aforefaid, to them or any of them belonging, or in any-wife appertaining. To have and to hold the fame, unto the faid governor and company, and their fucceffors for ever, upon truf, for the use and benefit of theinfelves, and their affociates, freemen of the faid colony, their heirs and affigns. To be holden of us, our heirs and fucceffors, as of the manor of Eaft-Greenwich in our county of Kent, in free and common foccage, and not in capite, nor by knights fervice. Yielding 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 at all times hereafter, fhall be there gotten, had or obtained, in lieu and fatisfaction of all fervices, duties, fines, forfeitures, made or to be made, claims or demands whatsoever, to be to us, our heirs or fucceffors, therefore or thereabout rendered, made or paid; any grant

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