No. I. 



^' The Charter of Charles the /Second, of England, Scotland, France and 

 Ireland, King, defender of the faith, &c., unto William Penn, Proprietary 

 and Governor of tlie Province 0/ Pennsylvania," [1681.] 



" Charles, by the grace of God, King of England, Scotland, France and 

 Ireland, defender of the faith, &c., to all, to whom these presents shall 

 come, Greeting: 



"Whereas our trusty and well-beloved subject William Penn, Esquire, 

 son and heir of Sir William Penn deceased, (out of a commendable de- 

 sire to enlarge our British empire, and promote such useful commodities, 

 as may be of benefit to us and our dominions, as also to reiduce the 

 savage Natives, by just and gentle manners, to the love of civil society, 

 and christian religion) hath humbly besought leave of US, to transport 

 an ample colony unto a certain country, hereinafter described, in the 

 parts o^ America not yet cultivated and planted; and hath likewise so 

 humbly besought our royal Majesty to give, grant and confirm all the 

 said country, with certain privileges and jurisdictions, requisite for the 

 good government and safety of the said country and colony, to him, and 

 his heirs forever. 



SECTIOX I. 



" Know ye, therefore, that we, (favoring the petition and good purpose 

 of the said William Penn, and having regard to the memory and merits 

 of his late father, in divers services, and particularly to his conduct, 

 courage and discretion, under our dearest brother James Duke of York, 

 in that signal battle and victory, fought and obtained, against the Dutcli 

 fleet, commanded by the Heer Van Opdam, in tlie year 1665: In consid- 

 eration thereof, of our special grace, certain knowledge, and mere motion) 

 have given and granted, and, by this our present Charter, for us. our 

 heirs and successors, do give and grant unto the said WiUicmi Penn, his 

 heirs and assigns, all that tract, or part, of land, in America, with the 

 islands therein contained, as the same is bounded, on the east, by Dela- 

 ware river, from twelve miles distance northwards of New Castle town, 

 unto the three and fortieth degree of northern latitude, if the said river 

 doth extend so far northward, but if the said river shall not extend so 

 far northward, then, by the said river, so far as it doth extend ; and from 

 the head of the said river, the eastern bounds are to be determined by a 

 meridian line, to be drawn from the head of the said river, unto the said 



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