OF LANCASTER COUNTY. 43 



as a respect in the king, as it truly was, to my father, whom he often 

 mentions with praise."^ 



The Charter, under date March 4, 1681, exists in the office of the Sec- 

 retary of tlie Commonwealtli, and "is written on strong parchments, in 

 the old English handwriting, with each line underscored with lines of red 

 ink, that give it a curious appearance. The borders are gorgeously fur- 

 belowed with heraldic devices, and the top of the first page exhibits a 

 finely executed likeness of his majesty, in good preservation."^ It is now 

 hung up in a frame. As this document is of permanent interest to every 

 Pemisylvanian, the reader will find it reproduced in full in Division X, 

 No. 1. 



Nearly a month after the signing of the Charter, the King on the 

 second day of April, issued a declaration informing the inhabitants 

 and planters of the province that William Penn, their absolute pro- 

 prietary, was clothed Avith all the powers and preeminences necessary 

 for the government. A few days later, on April 8, the proprietary ad- 

 dressed the following proclamation to the inhabitants of Pennsylvauia: 



" My Friends : I wish joii all happiness here and hereafter. These are 

 to let you know that it hath pleased God, in his providence, to cast you 

 within my lot and care. It is a business that, though I never undertook 

 before, yet God hath given me an understanding of my duty, and an ho- 

 nest mind to do it uprightly. I hope you will not be troubled at your 

 change, and the king's choice, for you are now fixed, at the mercy of no 

 governor that comes to make his fortune great. You shall be governed 

 by laws of your own making, and live a free, and, if you will, a sober 

 and industrious people. I shall not usurp the right of a.iij, or oppress 

 his person. God has furnished me with a better resolution, and has given 

 me his grace to keep it. In short, whatever sober and free men can 

 reasonably desire for the security aud improvement of their happiness, I 

 shall heartily comply with, and in five months' resolve, if it please God, 

 to see you. In the meantime, pray submit to the commands of my dep- 

 uty, so fiir as thc}^ are consistent with the law, and pay him those dues 

 that formerly you paid to the order of the Governor of New York, for 

 my use and benefit ; and so I beseech God to direct you in the way of 

 righteousness, and therein prosper you and your children after you. 



I am your true friend, 



William Penn. 



London, 8th of the month called April, 1681. 



Captain William Markham, a cousin of William Penn, Avas the deputy 

 referred to in the preceding proclamation, Avhose commission, bearing- 

 date April 10, 1681, contained the following directions: 



1. To call a council, consisting of nine, he to preside. 

 1 Reg. Peims.— I. 297. i Dniilap in Mem. of Penn. Hist. Soc. I. 164. 



