934- A P P E N- DM X : to Vol. III. 



wills, ftiall be held and reputed, and we do hold and repute them as 

 cnfranchifed [r]. 



LVII. We declare their enfranchlfement, granted in our iflands, to 

 be equivalant to their being born free in thofe iflands ; and flaves made 

 free, have no need of our letters of naturalization, to qualify them 

 for enjoying the advantages of our natural-born fubjeds of our realm, 

 in the lands and countries fubject to our obedience, even although they 

 inay have been born in a foreign country. 



LVIII. We command all thofe who have been manumifed^to fhew 

 a particular refpedl to their former mafters, their widows, and children ; 

 fo that any Injury which they may do to them, or any of them, fiiall 

 be puniflicd more feverely than if they had done it to another [j]. 

 We declare them, however, to be intirely freed and abfolved from ail 

 other burthens, fervice-;, and claims, which their former mafters may 

 pretend to have, either on their perfons, their goods, or inheritances, 

 in quality of patrons. 



LIX. We grant to freed-men the fame rights, privileges, and im- 

 munities, which are enjoyed by perfons born free. We will, that they 

 merit the liberty they have received, and that the fenfe of this benefit 

 produce in them, both in regard to their perfons and property, the 

 lame efteds that the blefling of natural liberty caufes in our other 

 fubjeds. 



LX. We declare all the forfeitures and fines, that are not appro- 

 priated to any fpecial ufe by thefe prefents, to belong to us, and to 

 be paid to the perfons entrufted with the receipt of our revenues. We 

 will, however, that one third of fuch forfeitures and fines fliall be de- 

 duded for the benefit of the hofpital eftabliflied in the ifland, where 

 the faid penalties (hall be adjudged. 



[»•] This mode of granting enfranchifement hy implication, is agreeable to the villeinage cufloms. 

 By which, it a man bound himfelf in a bond to his villein for a fum of money, granted him 

 an annuity by deed, or gave him an eftate in fee, for life, or years, the villein became enfranchifed; 

 for this was reputed ' ' dealing with him on the footing of a heeman ; or veiling an ovvnerftiip, 

 " truft, or power in him, ejitireiy inconfiftent with his former llate of bondage." 



But in calc the lord ijidictcd him tor felony, it was othenvi.'e; the lord could not inflidt a 

 capital punlllimeiit on his villein, without calling in the alTillance of the law. 



Blackjl, Comm. vol. II. p. 94. 



[ij According to Bra^on, a flave enfranchifed might be deprived of his liberty, and brought 

 back to his former fervitude, for in^ratitutlc to his nialler. 



^ SECT. 



