FIRST FRAME OF GOVERNMENT. 19 



heirs and assigns forever, all that tract of land, or province, called Pcji- 

 silvcmia, in America, with divers great powers, preheminences, royalties, 

 jurisdictions, and authorities, necessary for the well-being and govern- 

 ment thereof: Now know ye, that for the well-being and government 

 of the said province, and for the encouragement of all the freemen and 

 planters, that may be therein concerned, in pursuance of the powers 

 aforementioned, I, the said William Penn, have declared, granted and 

 confirmed, and by these presents, for me, my heirs and assigns, do de- 

 clare, grant and confirm unto all the freemen, planters and adventurers 

 of, in and to the said province, these liberties, franchises and properties, 

 to be held, enjoyed and kept by the freemen, planters and inhabitants of 

 the said province of Pensilvania for ever. 



Imprimis. That the government of this province shall, according to 

 the powers of the patent, consist of the Governor and freemen of the said 

 province, in form of a provincial Council and General Assembly, by 

 whom all laws shall be made, ofl&cers chosen, and public affairs trans- 

 acted, as is hereafter respectively declared, that is to say — 



II. That the freemen of the said province shall, on the twentieth day 

 of the twelfth month, which shall be in this present year one thousand 

 six hundred eighty and two, meet and assemble in some fit place, of which 

 timely notice shall be before hand given by the Governor or his Deputy; 

 and then, and there, shall chuse out of themselves seventy-tivo persons of 

 most note for their wisdom, virtue and ability, who shall meet, on the 

 tenth day of the first month next ensuing, and always be called, and act 

 as, the provincial Council of the said province. 



III. That, at the first choice of such provincial Council, one-third part 

 of the said provincial Council shall be chosen to serve for three years, 

 then next ensuing; one-third part, for two years then next ensuing; and 

 one-third part, for one year then next ensuing such election, and no 

 longer; and that the said third part shall go out accordingly: and on the 

 twentieth day of the twelfth month, as aforesaid, yearly for ever after- 

 wards, the freemen of the said province shall, in like manner, meet and 

 assemble together, and then chuse twenty-four persons, being one-third 

 of the said number, to serve in provincial Council for three years: it 

 being intended, that one-third part of the whole provincial Council (al- 

 ways consisting, and to consist, of seventy-two persons, as aforesaid) 

 falling ofl" yearly, it shall be yearly supplied by such new yearly elec- 

 tions, as aforesaid; and that no one person shall continue therein longer 

 than three years : and, in case any member shall decease before the last 

 election during his time, that then at the next election ensuing his de- 

 cease, another shall be chosen to supply his place, for the remaining time» 

 he was to have served, and no longer. 



ly . That, after the first seven years, every one of the said third parts, 



