break, and make new from time to time, at their will and pleasure, as they shall think fit. And further, we will and ordain, and by these prefents, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, do declare and appoint, That for the better ordering and managing of the affairs and business of the faid Company and their fucceffors, there shall be one Governor, one DeputyGovernor, and ten Affiftants, to be from time to time constituted, elected, and chofen, out of the freemen of the faid Company for the time being, in fuch manner and form as is hereafter in these presents expreffed; which faid officers shall apply themselves to take care for the best difpofing and ordering of the general business and affairs of and concerning the lands and hereditaments herein after mentioned to be grant-: ed, and the plantation thereof, and the government of the people there. And for the better execution of our royal pleasure herein, we do, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, affign, name, constitute and appoint, the aforefaid Benedict Arnold to be the firft and prefent Governor of the faid Company, and the said William Brenton to be the Deputy-Governor, and the faid William Boulton, John Porter,

Roger

Roger Williams, Thomas Olney, John Smith, John Greene, John Cogefhall, James Barker, William Field, and Jofeph Clarke, to be the ten prefent Affiftants of the faid Company, to continue in the faid feveral offices refpectively until the first Wednesday which shall be in the month of May now next coming. And further, we will, and by these presents, for us, our heirs and fucceffors, do ordain and grant, That the Governor of the faid Company for the time being, or in his abfence, by occafion of fickness or otherwife, by his leave or permiffion the Deputy-Governor for the time being, fhall and may, from time to time, upon all occafions, give order for the affembling of the faid Company, and calling them together, to confult and advise of the business and affairs of the faid Company; and that for ever hereafter, twice in every year, that is to say, on every first Wednesday in the month of May, and on every laft Wednesday in October, or oftener, in cafe it shall be requifite, the Affiftants, and fuch of the freemen of the faid Company, not exceeding fix perfons for Newport, four perfons for each of the refpective towns of Providence, Portfmouth, and Warwick, and two persons for each other place, town or city, who fhall be from

time to time thereunto elected or deputed by the major part of the freemen of the respective towns or places for which they fhall be fo elected or deputed, fhall have a general meeting or affembly, then and there to confult, advise and determine, in and about the affairs and bufinefs of the faid Company and Plantations. And further, we do of our efpecial grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion, give and grant unto the faid Governor and Company of the English colony of Rhode-Island and Providence Plantations, in New-England, in America, and their fucceffors, That the Governor, or in his abfence, or by his permiffion, the Deputy-Governor, of the faid Company for the time being, the Affiftants, and such of the freemen of the faid Company as shall be so aforefaid elected or deputed, or fo many of them as fhall be prefent at fuch meeting or affembly as aforefaid, fhall be called the General Affembly; and that they, or the greatest part of them then prefent, whereof the Governor, or Deputy-Governor, and fix of the Affiftants at least, to be feven, fhall have, and have hereby given and granted unto them full power and authority, from time to time, and

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at all times hereafter, to appoint, alter, and change such days, times and places of meeting, and General Affembly, as they shall think fit; and to chufe, nominate, and appoint fuch and fo many perfons as they fhall think fit, and shall be willing to accept the fame, to be free of the faid Company and body politic, and them into the fame to admit; and to elect and conftitute fuch offices and officers, and to grant fuch needful commiffions as they shall think fit and requifite, for ordering, managing, and dispatching of the affairs of the faid Governor and Company, and their fucceffors; and, from time to time, to make, ordain, conftitute, or repeal, fuch laws, ftatutes, orders and ordinances, forms and ceremonies of government and magiftracy, as to them fhall feem meet, for the good and welfare of the faid Company, and for the government and ordering of the lands and hereditaments herein after mentioned to be granted, and of the people that do, or at any time hereafter shall inhabit, or be within the fame; fo as fuch laws, ordinances, and conftitutions, fo made, be not contrary and repugnant unto, but as near as may be agreeable to the laws of this our realm of England, confidering the nature and conftitution of the place and people

there ;

there; and alfo to appoint, order, and direct, erect and settle fuch places and courts of jurifdiction, for hearing and determining of all actions, cafes, matters, and things, happening within the said colony and plantation, and which shall be in difpute, and depending there, as they shall think fit; and also to distinguish and fet forth the feveral names and titles, duties, powers and limits, of each court, office and officer, fuperior and inferior; and alfo to contrive and appoint such forms of oaths and attestations, not repugnant, but as near as may be agreeable, as aforefaid, to the laws and ftatutes of this our realm, as are convenient and requifite, with refpect to the due administration of justice, and due execution and discharge of all offices and places of truft, by the perfons that shall be therein concerned; and alfo to re gulate and order the way and manner of all elections to offices and places of trust, and to prescribe, limit and diftinguish the number and bounds of all places, towns and cities, within the limits and bounds herein after mentioned, and not herein particularly named, who have or shall have the power of electing and fending of freemen to the faid General Affem bly; and alfo to order, direct and authorise,

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