46 AUTHENTIC HISTOEY OF LANCASTEK COUNTY. 



No. 6. 



"THE CHARTER OF PRIVILEGES, 



"Granted by William Penn^ Esquire, to the inhabitants of Pennsyhania 

 and territories: 



•' William Penn^ Proprietary and Governor of the province of Pennsyl- 

 vania, and territories thereunto belonging, to all to whom these presents 

 shall come, sendeth Greeting: 



" Wheeeas, King Charles the second, by his letters patent, under the 

 great seal of England, bearing date the fourth day of March, in the year 

 one thousand six hundred and eighty, was graciously pleased to give and 

 grant unto me and my heirs and assigns forever this province of Penn- 

 sylvania, with divers great powers and jurisdictions for the well govern- 

 ment thereof 



'■^And whereas, the King's dearest brother, James, Duke of York and 

 Albany, d:c., by his deeds of feofi'ment, under his hand and seal, duly 

 perfected, bearing date tlie 2'ith day of August, one thousand six hundred 

 eighty and two, did grant unto me, my heirs and assigns, all that tract of 

 land now called the territories of Pennsylvania, together with powers 

 and jurisdictions for the good government thereof 



^^And whereas, for the encouragement of all the freemen and planters 

 that might be concerned in the said province and territories, and for the 

 good government thereof, I, the said William Penn, in the year one 

 thousand six hundred and eighty and three, for me, my heirs and assigns, 

 grant and confirm unto all the freemen, planters and adventurers 

 therein, divers liberties, franchises and properties, as, by the said grant, 

 entitled, ' The frame of the government of the i^rovince of Pennsylvania 

 and territories thereunto belonging, in America,^ may appear ; which char- 

 ter, or frame, being found, in some parts of it, not so suitable to the 

 present circumstances of the inhabitants, was, in the Third month, in the 

 year one thousand seven hundred, delivered up to me, by six parts of 

 seven of the freemen of this province and territories, in General Assem- 

 bly met, provision being made in the said charter for that end and 

 purpose. 



^^And whereas, I was then pleased to promise, that I would restore the 

 said charter to them again, with necessary alterations, or, in lieu thereof, 

 give them another, better adapted to answer the present circumstances 

 and conditions of the said inhabitants; which they have now, by the Ee- 



