18 AUTHENTIC HISTORY OF LANCASTER COUNTY, 



it be ill, they will cure it. But, if men be bad, let the government be 

 never so good, they will endeavor to warp and spoil it to their turn. 



I know some say, let us have good laws, and no matter for the men 

 that execute them : but let them consider, that though good laws do well, 

 good men do better : for good laws may want good men, and be abolished 

 or evaded by ill men; but good men will never want good laws, nor 

 suffer ill ones. It is true, good laws have some awe upon ill ministers, 

 but that is where they have not power to escape or abolish them, and 

 the people are generally wise and good : but a loose and depraved peo- 

 ple (which is to the question) love laws and an administration like them- 

 selves. That, therefore, which makes a good constitution, must keep it, 

 viz : men of wisdom and virtue, qualities, that because they descend not 

 with worldly inheritances, must be carefully propagated by a virtuous 

 education of youth; for which after ages will owe more to the care and 

 prudence of founders, and the successive magistracy, than to their par- 

 ents, for their private patrimonies. 



These considerations of the weight of government, and the nice and 

 various opinions about it, made it uneasy to me to think of publishing 

 the ensuing frame and conditional laws, forseeing both the censures, they 

 will meet with, from men of differing humours and engagements, and the 

 occasion they may give of discourse beyond my design. 



But, next to the power of necessity, (which is a solicitor, that will take 

 no denial) this induced me to a compliance, that we have (with reverence 

 to God, and good conscience to men) to the best of our skill, contrived 

 and composed the frame and laws of this government, to the great end of 

 all government, viz: To support power in reverence with the people^ and 

 to secure the people frovti the abuse of power; that they may be free by their 

 just obedience, and the magistrates honourable, for their just administra- 

 tion: for liberty without obedience is confusion, and obedience without 

 liberty is slavery. To carry this evenness is partly owing to the consti- 

 tution, and partly to the magistracy: where either of these fail, govern- 

 ment will be subject to convulsions; but where both are wanting, it 

 must be totally subverted: then where both meet, the goverment is like 

 to endure. Which I humbly pray and hope Ood will please to make the 

 lot of this of Pensilvania. Amen. 



WILLIAM PENN. 



THE FRAME, &C. 



To all people, to whom these presents shall come. Whereas, king 

 Charles the Second, by his letters patents, under the great seal of Eng- 

 land^ for the consideration therein mentioned, hath been graciously pleased 

 to give and grant unto me William Peim, (by the name of William 

 Penn^ Esquire, son and heir of Sir William Penn^ deceased) and to my 



